Social Action Committee

Upcoming Social Action Events

Take the Food Stamp Challenge. Sign up here. More info here.

Food Awareness Shabbat

  • May 19: Food Awareness Shabbat - join us for an informative drash on food awareness in St Louis and an exhibit-oriented kiddush.

Food Stamp Challenge Week

  • May 21 - May 28: Take the food stamp challenge!?!? Challenge you and your family to live on $31.50 per person for one entire week. Sign up here.
  • May 20 @ 4p: Documentary Food Stamped screening, a nationally acclaimed documentary on food stamps from a Jewish perspective.
  • May 20 @ 5p: Group planning session + discussion
  • May 20 @ 6p: Shopping for food stamp challenge food with Hazzan Dulkin and Chef Eli Margulies
  • June 3 @ 12:30p: Volunteer at Harvey Kornblum Food Pantry

Past Programs

Our social action committee is full of ideas and making environmental and socially conscious change happen at Shaare Zedek and its surrounding community.

Cycling Savvy

An urban cycling empowerment series led by our own Karen Karabell.

CyclingSavvy for all in St. Louis, to be held March 14 & 18 at Shaare Zedek Synagogue, thanks to Great Rivers Greenway and local sponsors

Sustainable Kosher Meat Club for Passover

Put Kashrut and ethics on the same plate...several families did during our last order...if we can get to 350lbs as a community, shipping is only $1/lb!

  • Who: St. Louis Jewish Community 
  • What: Sustainable Pasture Raised OU Glatt Kosher for Passover
  • Where: Online ordering here; community pickup at Shaare Zedek Synagogue
  • When: Orders due online: March 20, 2012; Pickup: March 28, 4:30-6:00pm
  • Why: Put Kashrut and ethics on the same plate - you might already buy organic foods, support local farms, and care about sustainability. Why not make the same choices with your meat?
  • More Info: St Louis Specifics and download the flyer

Questions: please direct all questions to Grow & Behold: info@growandbehold or 888-790-5781

Even More Info:

Grow and Behold Kosher Pastured Meats is a NY-based small family business, which provides OU Glatt Kosher pasture meats raised on small family farms.
 
Why buy through this club?

1. Pasture raised meat is better for your family - Grow and Behold's poultry and beef are not fed growth hormones, antibiotics or animal by-products. These animals live on lush pasture, not in confined feed lots. They are fed minimal grain, and mostly hay and grass. Now you can buy the same high quality meat that is available at local farmer's markets - only kosher!

2. Pasture raised meat is better for the environment - pasture raised animals fertilize their grazing land, and live in harmony with the seasons. Factory farm animal waste pollutes water sources and sickens animals.

3. These animals are slaughtered with dignity - you might have read the recent stories of inhumane slaughter at kosher meat plants in Argentina - Grow and Behold's beef are slaughtered under the techniques pioneered by Dr. Temple Grandin and animals are never shackled and hoisted by their hind legs, as they are at standard kosher plants.

4. Workers are treated fairly - workers are unionized, receive health benefits and are paid a living wage. They work under safe conditions.

Community Collections

The social action committee has arranged phenomenally successful collections thanks to the generous spirit of Shaare Zedek congregants:

Jewish-Muslim Day of Service

We were glad to participate in the Jewish-Muslim Day of Service this past Christmas. It was a great interfaith experience in helping our community.

Bar/t Mitzvah Project Database

We are working to update and refresh a project database for our bar/t mitzvah students to do meaningful community outreach.

Paperless Office

We're working with our amazing office staff to streamline our office and mailing systems so that we reduce its carbon offset: less paper, less mailing, less work for everyone. We of course will not alienate those, however, who do not have access or do not desire to use digital systems.

Zero-Waste Eco Kiddush

Zero-waste kiddush has finally come to Shaare Zedek!  Our first zero-waste kiddush occurred Saturday, January 21 2012. We use all compostable materials and send our waste to a local composter.  For more information, see our brief one-pager.

Solar Panels

We are currently under negotiations to make solar panels on our roof a reality. We will be able to offset about 15% of our energy production with our own green energy, making the shul money and reducing our carbon footprint over the next 30 years. Stay tuned for more exciting news on this front.

Social Action Committee Structure

Na'aseh (We Will Do) Team

Our Na'aseh Team works to improve our community outreach efforts through several unique programs.

Green Team

Our Green Team works to facilitate environmental sustainability and responsibility at Shaare Zedek and our community.

Contact

David Levine

socialaction@shaarezedek.org