ADAT SHALOM'S SOCIAL ACTION GROUP

The mission of Adat Shalom’s Social Action group is to help the world around us. Tikkun Olam is the concept of repairing the world and our members strive to make a difference both locally and globally.

Social justice work is at the forefront of our congregation's mission. In that vein, here is some important information about poverty in our own city.(Coutesy of the Jewish Communal Relations Council of Metropolitan Detroit).

Economic distress is one of the most pressing challenges facing our nation. Issues such as inadequate housing, hunger, costly health care and unemployment are of great and ongoing concern to the Detroit Jewish community.  The Jewish community must mobilize itself, along with partners in the general community, to address economic distress in local, state and national arenas, ensuring that the economy and government work for and include all Americans.

JCPA Mission to Detroit

The fourth African American-Jewish poverty mission hosted by the Jewish Council for Public Affairs (JCPA), JCRC's national umbrella organization, took place in Detroit from June 27-30. Seven pairs of activists - one Jewish, one African American - converged on Detroit from various cities for a four-day conference exploring ways Jews and African Americans can work together to fight poverty. Detroit participants Ben Falik and QuanTez Pressley and JCRC community relations associate Sarah Crane and JOIN Intern Rachael Malerman report on the conference in the Detroit Jewish News.

Hunger Free Summer Campaign

The Detroit Free Press reports on an effort by area corporations and community organizations to provide meals for low-income children over the summer. While these children can count on free or reduced-price meals at school during the school year, students will not receive those meals during the summer.

THIS IS WHAT POVERTY LOOKS LIKE

The reality of poverty is in our community and in our neighborhoods. You could be living next door to someone who struggles on a daily basis to pay his or her bills. Here is the story of one Jewish couple living among us and struggling each month.

The wife is a 45 year old woman who lost her job. While at first she was able to collect unemployment, unfortunately her benefits have run out; she and her husband live on his sole income of $1500 a month. After paying rent, car payments, utilities and medical expenses, they are left with nothing. Each month they struggle with money for groceries, relying on food pantries and the $200 they recieve for a Bridge Card through the Department of Human Services. With gasoline prices soaring and other expenses rising, their monthly budget is in the red month after month. While they are not yet homeless, each day is a struggle to financially survive.