Our Mission Statement
Tikkun Olam literally means repairing the world. Bet Shira’s Tikkun Olam Committee organizes and performs acts of kindness and good deeds. Our Tikkun Olam Committee encourages and inspires all members of the congregation to make Tikkun Olam part of their lives. Our purpose is to organize projects; collect items needed by others, help where needed, act as a resource, offer suggestions, and provide guidance to individuals and families. The Tikkun Olam Committee supports projects locally, nationally, and internationally with emphasis on Israel.

Our History
Tikkun Olam at Bet Shira began in 1989 when Roberta Shevin, the first chairperson, recognized the need for our synagogue to make a contribution in our community by doing social action. Each year we have found new ways to join together to “repair the world”. Past chair people include Sheila Chabrow, Phyllis Pincus (Z”L)*, Carol Stein, Joseph Serota, Clarice Shtrax, Cookie Wright, Lori Blum and Marleen Applebaum (co-chairs) Barry Gubernick and now, co-chairs Barry Wright and Paul Papier.
*Zichron Livracha (of Blessed Memory)

Our Events, Projects, and Activities
• Work with local synagogues at Habitat for Humanity on Synagogue Sunday
• Collect food for the Community Kosher Food Bank
• Collect food for Feeding South Florida, formerly the Daily Bread Food Bank
• Assemble Chanukah food/gift baskets for Jewish Family Services
• Collect school supplies for children at the Community Partnership for the Homeless in Homestead
• Collect camp supplies for critically ill children at Camp Boggy Creek (part of Project Cradle)
• Serve lunch to the homeless at the Community Partnership for the Homeless Downtown
• Work on projects with Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) City of South Miami, through Rebuilding Together Miami for low income homeowners especially elderly and disabled

Mitzvah Day
• Collect clothes for various organizations
• Religious school makes up to 600 sandwiches for Camillus House
• Blood drive
• Entertain the elderly
• Activities, games and snacks for children at Community Partnership in Homestead
• Pamper girls at a home for abused children
• Handle various activities and lunch at Inn Transition South
• Plant trees at the homes of the elderly and disabled (Treemendous)
• Clean up project at Metrozoo

Our Donations
Donations in honor of and in memory of loved ones allow us to continually make a difference in the lives of others. Each year we allocate funds to many organizations, agencies and individuals who are in need of our help. They range from soup kitchens, libraries, synagogues and camps in Israel to the Kosher Food Bank in Miami. We have helped individuals who have been affected by hurricanes in New Orleans and Mississippi and donated to destroyed synagogues in South America and Central America. On a personal note we have helped members of our congregation who have started nonprofit agencies, such as the Melissa Institute, the Ventilation Assisted Center Camp (VACC), and a young teen who has as his Big Brother a member of our own Tikkun Olam committee.

Our Calendar
Our calendar is always full. Below is a sample of our remaining events and projects for the 2009-2010 year.

February 21 - Gelber Adult Day Center Landscaping
March 14 – Mitzvah Day
April 3 – Tikkun Olam Shabbat
April 18 - Serve lunch at the Community Partnership for the Homeless Downtown
May – Collect camp supplies for critically ill children at Camp Boggy Creek (part of Project Cradle)
June and July – Collect school supplies

Our Meetings
Our Committee meets the 4th Wednesday of each month at 7:30 P.M. at Bet Shira, unless otherwise stated.

February 24, 2010
March 24, 2010
April 28, 2010
May 26, 2010
(prior to Bet Shira’s annual meeting)
June 23, 2010

Our meetings are open to all. We welcome your comments and suggestions. Please join us!

Paul Papier and Barry Wright
Co-Chairs Tikkun Olam
Bet Shira Congregation
7500 SW 120 Street
Pinecrest, FL 33156
(305) 238-2601
Fax (305) 238-5706