Social Action

Judaism teaches us that we should do justly, love mercy and walk humbly with God. Since M’kor Shalom’s inception in 1974, our congregation has been driven and guided by the principles of tikkun olam (repairing the world), and we have a proud tradition of helping those in our community who need it most.

Here are some of our current Social Action programs:

Urban Garden
In May 2015, M’kor Shalom, in partnership with the Garden State Discovery Museum and Camden Children’s Garden, created a large urban garden in the heart of Camden at the Neighborhood Center. In its first season alone, the garden produced a variety of healthy organic vegetables, fruit and herbs that was given to nearby residents who do not have a local supermarket or access to fresh food. The garden helped make the 8,000 meals that the Center served to hungry men, women and children over the past summer, a 46 percent increase in meals from 2014. Congregants volunteered throughout the spring, summer and fall months to weed, harvest and keep the garden flourishing. If you would like to volunteer and help our garden grow, please contact Kim Coffina at UrbanGarden@mkorshalom.org.

High Holy Day Food Drive
Food insecurity is not just a problem in the poorest cities, but plagues our nearby communities and people we see on a daily basis. To that end, M’kor Shalom mobilizes its congregants every fall to donate food during its High Holy Day Food Drive. Social Action Committee members distribute shopping bags on Rosh Hashanah and collect them full of food on Yom Kippur. The main beneficiary is the Jewish Family & Children’s Service (JFCS) Food Pantry that provides food throughout the South Jersey area. For more information, contact Kim Coffina at HHDFoodDrive@mkorshalom.org.

Supporting Our Troops:
M’kor Shalom recognizes the extreme sacrifices made by our troops serving overseas, and that is why we are a proud supporter of Operation Yellow Ribbon of South Jersey (OYR). Throughout our two-year partnership with OYR, M’kor Shalom has sent nearly 600 pounds of food and specifically requested items to our military serving in the Middle East. Our congregants donate snacks and supplies, bake cookies, braid parachute cord bracelets and make thank you cards that bring joy to our troops and let them know that they are not forgotten. To learn more about our OYR program, please contact Kim Coffina at OYR@mkorshalom.org.

IHOC (Interfaith Homeless Outreach Council) Hospitality Program
The Interfaith Homeless Outreach Council is a group of volunteer congregations working together to address the problems of those who are homeless. IHOC has been serving Camden County since 1991. For 23 years, M’kor Shalom has been offering shelter, hospitality and large doses of education and kindness for up to 12 carefully screened men. The men are all clean and sober and are on their way to living better lives. They spend two weeks in late December with us. The highlight of their stay is a Christmas dinner prepared by IHOC graduates. The men are encouraged to invite their loved ones to help celebrate the holiday. Not only do the men benefit from their stay at M’kor Shalom, but so do our volunteers. Many times we hear the volunteers say they received much more than they gave.

Even though the men are with us for only two weeks, it takes a significant planning effort on the part of our committee in advance of their arrival to assure everything will run smoothly, and then over 100 people to participate during the two weeks. We need volunteers to prepare meals, stay overnight with our guests, and provide some transportation. We also accept donations of gift cards, food staples, laundry supplies, games, and magazines.

To be part of our team, and join us when our guests will be here in December, contact Sheila Lever and Heidi Swartz at IHOC@mkorshalom.org.

Cooking for the Hungry
Once a month volunteers aged 12 and up gather in the M’kor Shalom kitchen to cook a nutritious meal for the hungry. We slice, dice, mix and cook together in a relaxed, fun environment, knowing our casseroles, soups and other goodies will be much appreciated by people in Camden. No experience needed; children must be accompanied by an adult. We usually cook from 7:00-9:00 pm on the first Thursday of each month, but check the synagogue calendar to make sure. Sign up is required; e-mail Steve German at Cooking@mkorshalom.org.

Monthly Mitzvot
Each year our congregants participate in a number of programs that have a tangible effect on the lives of people who are struggling to survive. Among them are our JFCS Food Pantry drives and Adopt-A-Box. Contact Kim Coffina at MonthlyMitzvot@mkorshalom.org if you would like to participate in collection and delivery of a mitzvah project.

Social Justice Initiative
The Social Action Committee has launched a new effort focusing on social justice. Our goals are to educate ourselves and the community on issues such as health care, immigration, and civil rights, to advocate for change, and to address problems in our community cause by injustice and intolerance. The group is base on Jewish values, and we are following the policy positions set forth by the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, an arm of the Union for Reform Judaism.

To carry out our mission, we are attending marches and contacting lawmakers to make our voices heard. We are partnering with other community groups to reach out to immigrants and refugees in New Jersey and make a difference in their lives. We will be bringing in guest speakers to teach ourselves and our children how to deal with hate crimes and become advocates for a fair and just society. We have instituted a weekly "Action Alert" email with the latest information on pending legislation, hearings and rallies to keep congregants fully informed on relevant policies and events. If you wish to receive these emails, please contact Kim Coffina or Eileen Fox.

Interfaith Projects
From time to time, the Social Action Committee hosts events that promote interfaith and interracial understanding and collaboration. Interfaith seders, choir concerts and dinners in the sukkah are some of the projects that our committee has undertaken in past years.