Beginning on Oct. 17 and continuing into the month of November, the Jewish Community Relations Council and its Bohm Social Justice Initiative will sponsor several activities to celebrate Cheshvan, also known as Jewish Social Action Month.  Jewish Social Action Month is a global initiative in the Jewish community to promote social action to improve ourselves (tikkun pnimi) and to improve the world (tikkun olam).  Jewish and interfaith organizations from around the globe will combine their efforts to make a global impact during the month of Cheshvan, a month in which there are no Jewish holidays. JSAM was created as a way to turn what might otherwise be seen as a “bitter” month into a time of positive actions to help those in need. 

In conjunction with this worldwide effort, JCRC is sponsoring an outerwear drive to benefit refugees recently relocated to the St. Louis area.  Items collected will be donated to the International Institute. Items can be dropped off at any of the following locations through Nov. 14:

• JCRC, 12 Millstone Campus Drive

• The JCC, both the Marilyn Fox and Staenberg Family Complex locations

• Brith Sholom Kneseth Israel, 1107 Linden Avenue

• Central Reform Congregation, 5020 Waterman Boulevard

• Congregation B’nai Amoona, 324 S. Mason Road

•Congregation Shaare Emeth, 11645 Ladue Road

• Shaare Zedek Synagogue, 829 N. Hanley Road

• Temple Emanuel, 12166 Conway Road

• Temple Israel, 1 Alvan Rubin Drive

The outerwear drive is being held in cooperation with the Jewish Social Action Network, a collaboration of St. Louis Jewish congregations coordinated by the JCRC.  Chairing the outerwear drive this year is Margie Palazollo of Central Reform Congregation.

Other social action activities taking place include a community tree planting on Sunday, Oct. 21 at St. Louis Place Park and a community volunteer festival at Congregation BSKI on Sunday, Oct. 28. The second annual JSAN Volunteer Day to Benefit Kidsmart will organize school supplies and help teachers shop for supplies for students in need on Thursday, Oct. 25.  

For more information, contact Gail Wechsler at 314-442-3894 or [email protected] or go to www.jcrcstl.org/JSAN.php#two.