A SIGNIFICANT OPPORTUNITY FOR SYVJC TO PARTICIPATE IN CHANGE & MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN OUR COMMUNITY

 

 

Dear SYVJC,

 

Tikkun Olam is a Jewish imperative, which asks us to perform, acts of kindness to perfect or repair the world. As individuals, we may struggle with finding an effective way to accomplish this; sometimes, an opportunity suddenly presents itself. This past week, I learned of an opportunity for our SYVJC to really make a difference. I want to share this with you and ask for your involvement.

 

St. Mark’s community, under Father Randall’s leadership, has undertaken a remodel of their kitchen into a “Community Kitchen” - a Community Kitchen is a group of people who meet on a regular basis to plan, cook and share healthy, affordable meals. At a meeting about this project, I learned of the hundreds of seniors, families and children who have food scarcity right here in our Valley. Food scarcity is the state of being without reliable access to a sufficient quantity of affordable, nutritious food. The hope is that with a Community Kitchen, various members of our SYV community will collaborate to help these individuals and families not only have access to affordable, healthy food, but also to gain kitchen work skills, which will help them rise socioeconomically.

 

As you know, SYVJC has had the benefit of a warm and supportive relationship with St. Mark’s for many years. We use the St. Mark’s kitchen for many of our gatherings. This project at St. Mark’s is a tremendous opportunity for SYVJC to make a difference, to show up to help, and to support St. Mark’s, as they have supported us.

 

I was among many SYV locals and several SYVJC members who heard from the St. Mark’s committee about their goals for the Community Kitchen. It was an inspiring presentation and offers SYVJC a great opportunity for Tikkun Olam. The Community Kitchen needs us! This work fits perfectly into the intention of our tradition of Tikkun Olam and serves to repair some injustice in our community.

 

If you are interested in joining me on this committee and/or participating in another capacity, please call me. If you have a skillset you feel would be appropriate (teacher, restaurant experience…), please contact me. I enthusiastically hope that we will, as a Jewish community, show up for this important work.

 

Let’s be part of the change.

 

Shalom,

Susie Pierson

spierson@syvjc.org or 805.217.5304