IKAR TIKKUN: LOCAL ACTION

Hunger: SOVA

The SOVA Food pantry helps people with very limited income to obtain adequate, healthy food for themselves and their family members. We encourage everyone to bring non-perishable items to all IKAR events for SOVA. Get involved with the SOVA food pantry!

 

Homelessness:PATH

PATH seeks to break the cycle of homelessness by empowering homeless people with the tools for self-sufficiency. IKAR volunteers at PATH on the 3rd Thursday and 4th Monday of every month. Learn more»»

 

Literacy:Koreh LA

Koreh LA is a volunteer literacy program that serves more than 75 Los Angeles elementary and pre-schools. Torah and learning are core commitments of our community. Unfortunately, an astounding number of children in our city cannot read and don't have adults reading to them, which dramatically affects their ability to learn meaningfully. Koreh L.A. is a wonderful program devoted to helping children learn to read. Volunteers spend one hour, once a week reading with kindergarten, first, second, or third grade children in a Los Angeles Unified Public School. If you can spare the time, please give the gift of reading to a child.

 

Criminal Justice:Progressive Jewish Alliance

PJA's Jewish Community Justice Project (JCJP) was created to work toward building a restorative, rather than retributive, criminal justice system through mediation and advocacy. Core to our tradition is the notion of teshuvah, the possibility that people can change, turn their lives around, become something they weren't before. PJA built JCJP on the premise that victims, perpetrators, and society as a whole would benefit if non-violent youth offenders are given the chance to turn their lives around, rather than being imprisoned. PJA's program is unique because it trains mediators and advocates both in the latest techniques of mediation and in traditional Jewish approaches to teshuvah and reconciliation (taught by our own Rabbi Brous, Rabbi Elliot Dorff, and Dr. Aryeh Cohen). Mediating and advocating through JCJP is a meaningful way to serve our community and work toward Tikkun Olam!

 

Environmental Justice: Heal the Bay

Heal the Bay is a non-profit environmental organization working to make Santa Monica Bay and Southern California Coastal waters safe and healthy for people and marine life. At IKAR we often say that you cannot build a spiritual community within the confines of four walls; rather our Torah must connect us to the natural world as well. Heal the Bay uses research, education, community action, and policy programs to enhance and restore Southern California beaches and coastal waters for people and marine life. Heal the Bay's volunteer opportunities vary from projects that take place at the beach, in the office, at school, and even up a creek! Get involved!

 

Local Project for Children: BookEnds

BookEnds recycles children's books with the help of student volunteers to develop libraries in underprivileged school and youth organizations. IKAR values teaching our children the importance of creating more just and equitable world, and letting them know that they have the power to make this happen. Our children can make a difference in helping improve the lives of other children through volunteering to help develop libraries in underprivileged schools, youth organizations, homeless shelters, and family literacy centers. Children can be activists too! Check out BookEnds to see how your children can make a difference.

 

Mentoring Jewish Big Brother/ Big Sisters

Jewish Big Brother/ Big Sisters is a program designed to improve the lives of Jewish children, and the quality of the Los Angeles Jewish community, by matching children with Jewish volunteers who become positive role models in their lives. "Having a Big Brother or Big Sister feels great! Being one feels even better!" Children are waiting and can be forever changed by your caring attention and involvement. For more information on becoming a Jewish Big Brother or Big Sister or to learn about some of our other volunteer opportunities please contact Mark Mandell Recruitment Director at 323-761-8675 ext.31 or .

To learn more about IKAR's Local Action Tikkun program email .