Tikkun Olam

Our clergy and TBA members participate in social justice programs including the MetroWest Interfaith Vigil against Hate at Framingham Common following the shooting in Buffalo. Events featuring presentations from Holocaust survivors have also taken place.

TBA Members participate in on-going social action programs with the following partners:

• Jewish Family Services of MetroWest – We collect non-perishable food for the Lucy and Joe Press Food Pantry and school supplies to distribute to families new to the Framingham school system as part of the JFS backpack initiative.
• The Advocates – Each year, TBA Sisterhood provides complete home-cooked Christmas dinners to feed Framingham area group homes
• Hastings House – Each year TBA Brotherhood prepares Thanksgiving meals for the senior residents.
• A Place to Turn – We collect canned goods and diapers for this Food Pantry in Natick.
• Daniel’s Table – We collect non-perishable food and financial donations for this Framingham food pantry
• Anton Cleaners – In the fall we collect winter jackets for Coats for Kids and Anton Cleaners will professionally clean them before distributing to local families.
• MetroWest MLK Day of Service hosted by J-LOFT and Jewish Teen Initiative at CJP – TBA teens and families participates in this annual event, making lasagna and banana bread for families and building desks for students to make a hands-on difference in our community.
• Framingham Centre Common Cultural District – Temple Beth Am sponsored a heart sculpture as part of “Many Cultures One Heart Project” celebrating the diversity of Framingham. The heart sculpture is a creative expression of Cantor Jodi Schechtman and her dedication to the families and students of Framingham. With much appreciation to artist Silvina Mizrahi for creating this special sculpture for TBA Garden of the People.
• Greater Boston Jewish Coalition for Literacy – Volunteers tutor local elementary school students and participate in special events to promote literacy.

Contact TBA Office if you are interested in volunteering at any of these events.

Greater Boston Jewish Coalition for Literacy (GBJCL)

The Greater Boston Jewish Coalition for Literacy (GBJCL) mobilizes the Jewish community to help elementary school children discover the joy of reading by building meaningful relationships with a caring adult.

Through partnerships with synagogues, Jewish community organizations, day schools, and businesses, GBJCL engages volunteers in school-based one-to-one reading tutoring, book drives, and advocacy efforts in high-needs schools.

Participants include “empty nesters,” working professionals, at-home parents, retirees, and teens. Volunteers come from all backgrounds and do not need professional training in education nor are they required to be Jewish.

There are opportunities at Charlotte Dunning Elementary School where the teachers and students are very enthusiastic! GBJCL staff provide guidance and volunteer networking and development events throughout the year. If interested in hearing more about our dedicated and growing TBA team, please feel free to contact Merle Kushner and explore the GBJLC website.

GBJCL is a community engagement effort of the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Boston. JCRC is a coalition of organizations and individuals that represents and advances the values, interests, and priorities of the organized Jewish community in Greater Boston through its network of agencies, programs and partnerships.