(tikkunolam@bethhatephila.org)

UPCOMING SCHEDULED LOTTE MEYERSON TIKKUN OLAM PROJECTS:

• 1st Friday each month from 1-3 PM @ MANNA– CBHT volunteer team.
        Contact Wendy Capelouto at tkmanna@bethhatephila.org to help.
• 4th Thursday each month 9:30 AM – 12:30 PM – CBHT Veterans Restoration Quarters shelter meal         serving.  Contact Mena Lisa Kates at tkmonthlymeals@bethhatephila.org to help.
• Monday February 7th @ 4:30 PM—next LMTO meeting
• Sunday, February 13th @ 2 PM—Rosenwald Schools Discussion

JOIN US FOR MLK SHABBAT JANUARY 14th AT 7:00 PM

The LMTO Committee is excited to announce the Martin Luther King Jr. Shabbat for the Friday night before MLK Day.  On January 14th at 7:00 PM (yes, the new time of 7 PM!), we will participate with the Rabbi in a variety of readings, songs, and prayers that help us deepen our appreciation for Dr. King’s message of hope for our future. 

Our guest speaker for the d’var will be Marsha Davis.  Marsha is the Executive Director of the Tzdek Social Justice Fund and former Chief Program Officer at the YWCA of Asheville.  A first-generation Haitian-American who was born and raised in New York City, her introduction to social justice came from the many stories her parents shared of the Haitian Revolution.  Marsha believes deeply in the power of community to create positive change and equitable environments.

We hope you can join us in person or virtually for this thoughtful spiritual journey of appreciation.

         
SEARS, BOOKER T. WASHINGTON, AND ASHEVILLE: HOW ARE THEY CONNECTED?

Please join us on Sunday, February 13th at 2 PM in Dave Hall (or virtually) for a discussion of Julius Rosenwald, an unrecognized mensch.  While head of Sears, he founded nearly 5,000 rural schools for Black children in the early 1900’s. 

Julius Rosenwald took pride in his Jewishness, explaining that his focus on Black children in the rural South came from his Jewish outlook on Tikkun Olam, repairing the world.  We encourage congregants to find out more, through reading Julius Rosenwald: Repairing the World by Hasia Diner (especially Chapter 4) or other resources about Rosenwald.  We will discuss his background, his rise in Sears, his work with Booker T. Washington, and his concept for establishing and funding schools for Black children throughout the South.  We’ll focus on our two local Rosenwald Schools: Mars Hill and Shiloh.  And we’ll discuss how his work affects Black/Jewish cooperation today.

Please join us on February 13th, whether you can do any reading beforehand or not, for an informative and participatory discussion of this amazing man.  More information to follow!