"One who can protest and does not is an accomplice in the act." ~Talmud
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BHC has a history of working to improve the world around us. We have long been a pillar in the Baltimore community for social justice: standing for racial equity, same-sex freedoms, the rights of immigrants, and other justice concerns. Additionally, our social action efforts have aided our local and global community through direct service related to hunger, health, job readiness, immigrant support, and more. BHC takes pride in our social action and justice work, which we see as Tikkun Olam—our Jewish imperative to repair the world—and we hope that you will join the cause.
BHC Justice
In the wake of Freddie Gray’s killing and the #Uprising that followed, BHC congregants, like many in the Baltimore region, came together to learn (and unlearn!) about racism, structural inequities, and the policies and culture that perpetuate both. In the five years since that time, the congregation’s social justice efforts, under the umbrella of BHC Justice, have followed two primary paths: antiracism and immigrant support.
Antiracism
The Antiracism Working Group of BHC Justice works to educate around and advocate for policies that address structural and systemic racism. This has translated into activities that allow participants to learn more and take action to help dismantle racism in themselves and other individuals, organizations, and systems.
Highlights include:
- MLK weekend activities–since 2016–usually as a film screening and talkback, and always in partnership with synagogues and Jewish organizations around the Baltimore area
- Voter turnout and other civic engagement support
Immigration Support
The immigration subcommittee is a part of BHC Justice. Our focus is to provide education and volunteer opportunities for BHC congregants on immigration and refugee issues in our community. We provide opportunities for BHC congregants, who choose to do so, to support immigrants and refugees through their Jewish community, by meeting specific, identified needs, as well as providing support on public policy issues. The immigration subcommittee works with community partners, particularly the Immigration Outreach Service Center (IOSC).
Highlights of our efforts include:
- Immigration Justice Havdallah service with Baltimore City Councilman Zeke Cohen, Giuliana Valencia-Banks from the Esperanza Center and Leslie Seid Margolis, who made two trips to the border. The event was held in conjunction with a display of photos and stories from recent immigrants, provided by the Family Diversity Project: Building Bridges.
- Collecting initiatives, including winter clothing, diapers, feminine hygiene products and school supplies for our partners at the Immigration Outreach Service Center (IOSC).
- Comment writing campaigns for several proposals by the federal government to cut back on refugee, asylum and immigration policies, including the proposed "public charge" rule and recent proposals to change the asylum process.
- Book club discussions of Exit West, A Line Becomes A River and The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down.
- Regular updated to working group members about immigrant-focused events and volunteer opportunities.
- Volunteer opportunities have included Milbrook Elementary School, the DC Detention Visitation Network, the IRC Family Mentoring Program and Al Otro Lado, with a planned trip to the border.
INFO: If you are interested in joining one or both taskforces, contact Julie Simon, jsimonknoll@gmail.com.
Hunger Efforts
According to Maryland Hunger Solutions, 16.2% of Maryland households reported an inability to afford enough food. So, 1 in 6 residents in our state are challenged by hunger. BHC fights hunger in several ways:
Every year, our High Holy Day Food Drive provides approximately 1,000 bags of food to the hungry clients of GEDCO Cares, of which we are a member organization. Congregants participate by bringing in bags or becoming a “food drive family” and spreading bags around their neighborhoods for collection. INFO: Chair, Steve Cornblatt, scornblatt@troutdaniel.com.
BHC provides Our Daily Bread with a steady flow of casseroles. Congregants can prepare these with a simple recipe for barbecue chicken. Pans are supplied as well as the recipe. INFO: Marcia Gampel, Chair, mathmjg@aol.com or 443-857-9619. or simply pick up the pans, recipe and schedule at the Temple Office.
Other synagogue hunger efforts exist, including work by our Brotherhood and Sisterhood and our participation in Community Mitzvah Day.
Get Swabbed
You can help save lives as a Get Swabbed volunteer. In 2013 and 2014, BHC’s Yom Kippur Gift of Life drive garnered nearly 300 potential donors to be added to the Gift of Life Bone Marrow Registry! Now, our continued effort will be aimed at swabbing and registering individuals of the Baltimore community. We have already had drives with schools, camps and other groups, and we have even had two donor matches. Your time commitment would be up to you as the drives are at different times and locations.
INFO: Phyllis Lederman, phyllisgl@verizon.net.
Greening
Many improvements and initiatives have made BHC a greener and more environmentally-conscious congregation in the last 10-15 years. Among these are:
- LED installation projects including exit lights, the Chapel exterior and entrance canopy, the Straus Social Hall, the Park Heights exterior entrance, and many other interior lamps.
- An “Autani” wireless energy control system allows remote control and planning for our exterior illumination, HVAC systems, etc. With it we have gained control over our usage through scientific and immediate feedback.
- Rain Garden. In cooperation with Blue Water Baltimore, we installed a rain garden in the EB Hirsh Early Childhood Center parking lot to capture and filter runoff from much of our impervious surface in the parking lot.
- Tree plantings contributing to Baltimore’s tree canopy which reduce air pollution and filter water.
Teen Social Action/Justice
BHC teens have multiple opportunities for social action and social justice. Each year, BHC’s Confirmation class attends the L’Taken Seminar in Washington D.C., where they learn about lobbying and actually get the chance to interface with their representatives. For a number of years, teens have participated in social action trips to Memphis, Richmond, Philadelphia and beyond. The teens enjoy the opportunity to spend time together in a fun location while lending their skills and energy to social action projects. Social action is also a significant part of our Youth Education program, including special projects on Sunday mornings and with our youth groups, as well as a Youth Education Mitzvah Fair.
INFO: Julie Wohl, Director of Congregational Learning, jwohl@baltimorehebrew.org, 410-764-1587, ext. 290.
