UPCOMING SCHEDULED LOTTE MEYERSON TIKKUN OLAM PROJECTS:

• 1st Friday each month from 1-3 PM @ MANNA– CBHT volunteer team. Contact Wendy Capelouto to help.
• 3rd Friday each month @ noon – CBHT Vets shelter meal serving. Contact Hilary Paradise to help.
• Monday, November 30th – 4:30 PM, Next L.M. Tikkun Olam Meeting

Hineni: Understanding Racism as Jews

The LMTO Workgroup on Racial Justice has developed a series of Zoom conversations around issues of racism and anti-Semitism.  The Rabbi reminded us that, with Rosh Hashana also meaning a day of remembrance, we need to answer ‘Here I Am’ to issues of racism in ourselves and our society.  These first four programs will ask congregants to read and watch thought-provoking pieces before joining others on Zoom on four Mondays, for moderated discussions on these important issues:

• Racism, Anti-Semitism, White Supremacy:  
  How they fit together –Oct 19th, 7-8 PM
• The Whiteness of American Jews:  
  Exploring White Privilege –Nov 2nd, 7-8 PM
• Race & Class:
  Inextricably Linked –Nov 16th, 7-8 PM
• It’s the System:
  How systemic racism works –  Nov 30th, 7-8 PM

During Yom Kippur, we acknowledge that we have all sinned.  This is an opportunity to discuss how we, our ancestors, and our communities have sinned and the healing we can all do.  Look for registration links in the weekly e-blasts as we finalize these programs.  We will limit participation to the first 32 congregants. We hope you can join us!

Helping the homeless during Covid.

For many years, our congregation, through initiatives of our L.M. Tikkun Olam Committee, have supported Homeward Bound WNC.  This non-profit organization seeks to end homelessness by moving individuals and families into permanent housing and providing the support they need to stay there.  The needs of the homeless have only grown with the presence of the Covid-19 epidemic but there are ways that we can help.

Homeward Bound operates a Welcome Home Donation Center where furniture and household goods are collected from the community and distributed to individuals and families who are moving out of homelessness and into housing.  Most people who are homeless have very little or no belongings or furnishings, so when we move individuals and families into their home, they receive a house full of clean, gently used furniture donated by our community.  Creating a home is key to Homeward Bound’s 89% housing retention rate.

If you or someone you know have things to donate, the Donation Center is open Monday--Friday, 9 AM to Noon at 205 Elk Park Dr. in Woodfin just off Elk Mountain Rd.  Drop-off bins are also available 24/7 for your convenience.  Go to homewardboundwnc.org to donate cash, or click on ‘Give Items’ to see their list of needed items, or call the center at 828.412.5322.

Election Day

As I sit here and prepare this article, the Election of 2020 is some 25 days away.  When you read this, Election Day will be about to occur.  If plan to vote on November 3rd, here is a link to official voting sites based on your address:  www.vote411.org.  On Election Day, be sure to vote at your assigned polling site. 

This year, unless there is landslide on November 3rd, the final result may not be known until later in November.  The State of North Carolina will legally certify the election on November 24, 2020.  The last states to officially certify are Maryland, Missouri and New Jersey on December 8, 2020.  During November there may be court challenges to the election results.  You probably remember the court challenges at the conclusion of the Bush – Gore presidential race.  In the meantime, take a deep breath and be thankful we live in a great democracy.

by Ted Zoller