At Beth David, we have a long history of civic engagement and social action as we focus on a central teaching of Judaism – Tikkun Olam – healing the world. As we tell the world on our web site, “Beth David has worked to embrace the idea that all human beings are made betzelem Elohim, in God’s image, and that the entire world and all that is in it should be understood as a gift, on loan to us from God. This Jewish world view demands a great responsibility to care for all who are suffering in our world, as well as the world itself, continually striving to bring holiness and wholeness into our midst.”
A diverse group of your fellow Beth David members is introducing a new program focused on creating positive changes for our neighbors and ourselves that we define! We will listen to the personal concerns and stories of our fellow congregants and turn them into action both within Beth David and in our wider community.
With the support of a 20 year-old, faith based organization, PACT (People Acting in Community Together), we plan to implement a proven methodology for identifying common concerns and working to make beneficial change. PACT offers us their broad base of support here in Silicon Valley and their expertise in working with congregations.
There are already 22 local congregations of all faiths implementing this type of program, including Congregation Beth Am in Los Altos, Congregation Shir Hadash in Los Gatos, and Temple Emanuel in San Jose. Examples of issues other congregations have addressed include:
- Education
- Health Care
- Affordable Housing
- Immigration
- Elder Care & Supporting Aging Parents
- Caring for the Environment
- Community Safety
HOW TO GET INVOLVED IN NOTEN YAD
This is not a fundraising program! This program focuses on community action to address the concerns of our congregants.
1. Become a Listener: You will be trained (a 2 hour session) in how to listen to fellow congregants at one or two home hosted small meetings and help report consensus issues. We have two opportunities to attend the training at Beth David: Monday, January 25th, 7:30 to 9:30 PM and Sunday, February 14th, 10 AM to Noon.
2. Share your personal concerns and stories with a Beth David “Listener”. That means coming to a small meeting just once.
3. Join the coordinating committee of Noten Yad: You’ll help translate the issues we have heard from our fellow Beth David members into community action and create positive change.
4. Once action begins, support that action by attending community meetings with local officials to foster change.
Please let us know of your interest by emailing notenyad@beth-david.org. Tell us in which of the above activities you wish to participate. If you can become a listener, tell us which training meeting you can attend.
Pirke Avot teaches us: “Do not separate yourself from the community”. Noten Yad will add our voices to those congregations of many faiths in our Silicon Valley community to extend a hand.
Please respond positively.
Rabbi Daniel Pressman
Rabbi Aaron Schonbrun