Our tradition teaches us that each one of us is responsible for making the world a better place. At Temple Isaiah individuals of all ages have the opportunity to make a positive impact on the world. Below is a sampling of Social Action initiatives that Temple Isaiah is proud to participate in. Have an idea for something you’d like to see happen? Let us know!
DreamBuilders is an interfaith community of teens and adults building homes for those in need. For the last seven years, Temple Isaiah has partnered with area churches to build homes locally, nationally, and internationally on summer trips and throughout the year. Visit www.dreambuildersmd.org. Contact Amy Levitt for more information.
Food on the 15th is a not-for-profit, citizen-run organization that collects healthy, non-perishable foods (e.g., tuna/chicken packed in water, fruit in juice, soups, canned veggies, plain rice), and delivers it to low-income older adults at Morning Park Apartments in Jessup, MD each month. Food collection boxes are available in Temple Isaiah’s lobby outside of the Sanctuary. We hope you will donate non-perishable food items whenever you are able to do so. Please, no glass or styrofoam. If you would like to become a monthly sponsor, you can sign up here.
There is no minimum age to volunteer — it’s a perfect family-friendly mitzvah opportunity! If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Julie Rosenthal.
Seeking a way to involve your family in community service? Gather together with other families with young children for volunteer projects at Temple Isaiah and out in the community. We gather monthly, most projects are geared towards those with children 3–10, but all are welcome. Contact Rachel Petroff Kessler for more information.
Temple Isaiah members help the Grassroots Day Resource Center on the 2nd Wednesday of the month to help feed the those less fortunate in our community. Non-perishable food (including paper goods and other items) may be dropped off at the Temple Isaiah office during normal business hours. Perishable items (including prepared meals and anything that needs refrigeration) can be dropped off at the synagogue Sunday–Tuesday before our service day. Please place items in the refrigerator in the kitchen off the Sanctuary. Contact Susan Gordon for more information.
Temple Isaiah hosts the Grassroots Cold Weather Shelter for a week each winter. The Cold Weather Shelter is housed by different congregations each week from November-March. Guests are picked up at the mall each evening and provided with dinner, showers, laundry, and a warm place to sleep. In the morning they are given breakfast and brought back to the mall. Many many volunteers from Temple Isaiah work hard through the week to make all of this, and more, happen.
Temple Isaiah also provides a meal for approximately 120 homeless people on the second Wednesday of each month at the Grassroots Day Resource Center in Elkridge. Volunteers provide the food and necessary supplies.
Many many volunteers are needed for both the Cold Weather Shelter and the Day Resource Center meals. Contact Susan Gordon for more information.
Please visit our signup forms to volunteer:
As we celebrate our most sacred holy days, we also think of others. Temple Isaiah members take home empty bags on Rosh Hashanah and bring them back on Yom Kippur full of food to donate. Each year, hundreds of bags are collected and taken to the food pantry at Elizabeth House.
Contact Betsy Singer Marcus for more information.
