Mitzvah of the Month: Feed the Homeless

Each year CBD participates in West Valley Community Services Rotating Shelter program, housing men trying to get back on their feet. The men who can stay up to 90 days in the program, rotate between 11 Churches and Congregation Beth David. June is when they stay at Congregation Beth David. Jews’ Next Dor will be serving the men dinner and schmoozing with them. We’ve had a blast doing this in the past and the Men love sharing their stories, talking sports and other hobbies with us.

Mitzvah with Rotating Shelter
Help the Homeless trying to get back on their feet

Thursday, June 18, 2009
8pm (SHARP)

Church of the Ascension across the CBD parking lot.

12033 Miller Ave Saratoga, CA 95070

Jews’ Next Dor will be greeters to set up the food for their dinner and visit with the men starting at 8pm. Please RSVP to jewsnextdor[at]gmail.com if you’re able to be there. Past young adult volunteers had a great time, read about it on our blog.

Can’t make our event? Want to help more? Congregation Beth David’s Social Action Committee is still looking for more help and support.

Faith in Action Rotating Shelter

The Rotating Shelter program, a collaborative effort of West Valley Community Services and several civic and faith-based organizations in Cupertino, Sunnyvale and Saratoga, has returned to Beth David as of this month. We are hosting 15 men for 5 weeks as they struggle to move out of homelessness into a stable living and working environment. We need volunteers to provide dinner, shop for breakfast and lunch groceries and act as greeters in the evening. We hope to make this program self-sustaining and very much need financial support to underwrite the cost of the groceries. If you want to volunteer or need more information, please call Ronnie Gordon at 408.265.8165. If you can make a monetary donation, send your check to the CBD office with a notation that it is for Social Action / Rotating Shelter.

We are also collecting new or gently used sleeping bags, pillows and pillowcases for the Rotating Shelter. Please put donations in the SAC trunk in the lobby.

Summer issue of CBD Mid Month Mailer available now

Check out the summer issue of Congregation Beth David’s Mid Month Mailer. Note that this is for June & July. Monthly editions return in August.

In this issue you’ll find out more about the Faith in Action Rotating Shelter program that Congregation Beth David participates in annually. Jews’ Next Dor will be serving and schmoozing with the participants on June 18, see our event calendar for details. BBQ & Barchu where Jews’ Next Dor will have a young adults table and CBD’s open House that Jews’ Next Dor participates in.

New Executive Director of the Northern Pacific Region of the USCJ

The United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism just redid the boundary of what was the Northern California Region,  and a couple others to now be the Northern Pacific Region of the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism. Along with the new territory, the region is getting a new Executive Director, Morey Schapira,  as the former region director, Jay Weiner, is moving to Texas.

Here’s part of the announcement from the region:

Morey Schapira named to United Synagogue post Best wishes to long-time Congregation Kol Emeth member Morey Schapira on his appointment as Executive Director of the newly formed Northern Pacific Region of the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism. The Region stretches from Fresno to the North Pole, so Morey will earn plenty of frequent-flier miles.

Yes, this is the same Morey who’s son was featured in the Jpost, who spear-headed the fight for Russian Refuseniks, and who’s a good family friend. Best of luck to Morey in his new post, that we know he’ll do a wonderful job with.

Today there’s a farewell party for out-going Executive Director Jay Weiner in Redwood City. Visit the region’s website for the details.

P.S. The Region’s website has also been added to our blogroll.

UPDATE: Read the full PDF release with more on Morey and the postion.