H.E.L.P.

HUNGER
Works with communities to develop solutions to end hunger.

Year in Review: Emanu-El’s Environment Committee

Over the past several years, Emanu-El’s environmental committee has worked hard to advance our ongoing efforts of tikkun olam or ‘repairing the world’ while saving money during these challenging economic times. Below is a summary of our recent accomplishments.

Greening Our Temple Operations
The Temple implemented our long awaited zero-waste campaign in partnership with the SF Department of Environment. This included adding new bins and signage, eliminating individual water bottles at events, and offering online versions of the Temple Chronicle. We also completed our energy and water audits showing that Emanu-El could save over $6000 per year by upgrading our lighting and water fixtures. Emanu-El added a ‘green’ caterer to the approved list of event caterers and incorporated our “Greening Your Simcha” brochure in every event package to make it easier for all congregants to green their events. Finally, Emanu-El was awarded the “Green Oscar” from California Interfaith Power and Light for our efforts.

Education and Outreach
The Committee has worked closely with our Temple educators to promote zero-waste awareness and ensure the deployment of the zero-waste campaign is as effective as possible. Mitzvah Corps members helped deploy the new bins and signage and also staffed events to help congregants learn where to throw their waste. Teachers incorporate environmental stewardship into their lessons and are participating in an education program with Canfei Nesharim, an education and action organization, which is dedicated to learning and acting on Jewish tradition to protect the environment.

Sustainable Agriculture and Gardening
The Committee continued to support the harvesting work at our sustainable Pe’ah Garden, for donations to the SF Food Bank. Green Emanu-El participated at the Hazon National Food Conference, where representatives designed how to weave commitments to sustainability into the fabric of Jewish life.

Moving Forward Into 2010
Green Emanu-El appreciates the productive leadership of co-chairs, Lara Ettenson and Charlene Schachter, who have completed their terms. The Committee welcomes all interested Temple congregants who would like to join this vibrant group. Plans for this year include enhancing the zero-waste campaign and our educational programming, completing energy and water upgrades to our facility, and becoming the first house of worship acknowledged by the City of San Francisco as Green Business Certified. If interested in participating, please contact Sandy Rechtschaffen at sandyr@emanuelsf.org.

From Erica Eshoo, Congregation Emanu-El
Member and Spark Apprentice Teachers

I have been a member of Temple Emanu-El since I was a child. Today, I work in orthopedics as a nurse practitioner at San Francisco General Hospital. Nurse practitioners are registered nurses with a master's degree and advanced training.

I love my job; I love teaching, and I love being around youth. That’s why I became so excited when I heard about Spark! I thought, "Wow, what a perfect way to inspire, motivate, and educate a middle school student while steering them towards their "dream" job! I inquired, submitted my information, and was selected to be a part of this amazing group of Apprentice Teachers.

I had a very positive experience with my dear student, Gloria. Meetings were weekly for six weeks, on Mondays after school and Gloria came to my hospital. We spent about 2 hours together. I showed her the ropes of nursing, talked shop, grossed her out, and just became her wise, older, yet cool, friend.
Part of the Apprentice Teacher experience with the students is coming up with a project for Discovery Night, which is when students present their final projects -- something they've created along with their Apprentice Teacher -- and teach what they've learned back to the community. The experience was manageable and rewarding. A few hours a week is nothing in influencing our future generation in excelling themselves and setting goals in life. Gloria and I still keep in touch. Sometimes I think I learned more from her.

Please feel free to contact me with any questions you may have! Erica Eshoo erica.eshoo@sfdph.org Sign up now to be an Apprentice Teacher with Spark beginning in March. Email us at volunteer@sparkprogram.org or call (415) 626-5470 x111.

To All of our Wonderful Temple Emanu-El Staff and Volunteers


The Galileo Wellness Program staff and students are SO thankful to each of you for your time, generosity, and commitment to creating a safe and beautiful space for our youth. Your work far exceeded our expectations - with Sandy Rechtschaffen's incredible vision and coordination, Jeffrey Brodkin's exceptional artistic skills and collaboration with our youth, countless generous donations from all of you for materials (a special thank you to Brownie's Hardware!), money, and time - we came together with our youth on Sunday, January 17, and were able to literally transform an old garage into an inviting, comfortable and teen friendly space.

Students from our "United Playas" group began using the new space on Tuesday, January 19, as they discuss issues that are important to them like neighborhood violence, gang prevention and community building. The students truly deserve this space where they can now feel respected, safe and heard. YOU have created this for them. Thank you.

With heartfelt thanks,

Jessica Colvin, Galileo Wellness Coordinator, Dana Wolfenbarger, Community Health Outreach Worker and the Galileo  Students

Click here and visit our Flickr page to see photos of the wellness center.

Inspire a Student by Volunteering as a
Spark Apprentice Teacher!


Spark ’s mission is to inspire middle school youth to pursue their interests, create bonds with their communities, and develop a life-long passion for learning. Spark matches students with one-on-one apprenticeships in professions of their choice at local workplaces, and complements this with a rigorous leadership development curriculum.
Volunteers receive comprehensive training and support, free marketing on Spark’s website, and many opportunities to network with others in the community. Can’t volunteer as an Apprentice Teacher?

Spark has many other opportunities for you to be involved! Volunteer at Spark’s office or at a Spark event. Sponsor a Student Apprenticeship through Spark’s website. Go to www.sparkprogram.org and click on

For more information email us at volunteer@sparkprogram.org or call at
(415) 626-5470 x111.

Interfaith Families Service Trip

download flyer here to learn more!

EMANU-HELPERS: NEW SOCIAL JUSTICE
OPPORTUNITIES FOR FAMILIES

New this year, Emanu-Helpers aims to combine the Jewish values of service with hands-on social action projects to cultivate an early focus on being involved in our community.

Register Here

Literacy ...CANCELLED!...(lunch discussion with Rabbi Ryan Bauer) Sunday, March 7: San Francisco Public Library Richmond branch
Environment (lunch discussion with Rabbi Jonathan Jaffe) Sunday, May 2: In partnership with the San Francisco Department of Public Works.

Questions? Contact Social Justice Coordinator, Sandy Rechtschaffen, (415) 751-2541 x177.

Download the Emanu-Helpers flyer

SOCIAL JUSTICE COMMITTEE MISSION STATEMENT

The Social Justice Committee (SJC) will lead the Congregation in "repairing the world" (Tikkun Olam) through advocacy and empowerment of individuals and their communities. This SJC will develop projects allowing all congregants to participate in social justice.

There are many ways to serve the broader San Francisco community through the social justice projects of Congregation Emanu-El. In this section, you will find information about HELP: Hunger, Environment, Literacy and Poverty. We have projects that occur weekly, such as our food pantries; semi-annually, such as our collection drives for Goodwill and St. Anthony's; and annually, such as our Week of Meals in support of the San Francisco Interfaith Council's Winter Shelter program. Often, even an hour of your time can make a big difference.

We invite you to explore ways you can enrich your life and deepen your connection to Judaism and the Emanu-El community through the mitzvah of helping others.

Sandy Rechtschaffen, Social Justice Coordinator (415) - 751-2541 sandyr@emanuelsf.org

Erika Coplon, Social Justice Committee Co-Chair

Natasha Fain, Social Justice Committee Co-Chair