“We are commanded to recognize the strangers amongst us. It is our responsibility to teach them that our Torah does something unprecedented in the annals of human history. It commands that we empathize through national memory. Over and over the Torah states that the reason that we should care for the stranger is: כִּֽי־גֵרִ֥ים הֱיִיתֶ֖ם בְּאֶ֥רֶץ מִצְרָֽיִם׃ : Because you were strangers in Egypt.”
– Rabbi Michael S. Siegel
At Anshe Emet, we see tikkun olam as integral to Jewish life. Na’aseh – meaning “we will do” – is the social justice committee that helps our Anshe Emet community engage in social action and volunteer activities. Are you looking for ways to get involved, address hunger and poverty, and support refugees? Join us to volunteer your time as we partner with other organizations in Chicago. Our efforts are non-partisan. Sign up by clicking on one of the links below, or let us know about other ideas you have to engage our community in this important work of social justice.
Together – Naaseh. We will do.
Samantha DeKoven, President
Rabbi D’ror Chankin-Gould, Clergy Liaison
Jodi Gruber, Maot Chitim Coordinator
Sarah Hirsen, NCJW Repro Justice Liasion
Ariel Katz, ONE Northside Liaison
Mimi Landau, Nourishing Hope Liaison
Janine Landow-Esser, Migrant Community Liaison
Gabby Plotkin, ONE Northside Liaison
Ruth Rau, TOV Liaison
Elaine Seeskin, Newsletter and Web Page Editor
Zach Seeskin, Giving Center Liaison
Melissa Sterne, JCUA Liaison
Jennifer Tescher, Anshe Emet/Bright Star Book Group Coordinator
Sara Ventura, Anshe Emet Staff Liaison
Email Sara Ventura with questions or suggestions and to subscribe to our newsletter.
Advocate for Refugees and Migrants:
HIAS (originally the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society) was founded over 100 years ago in New York City, to help Jews fleeing persecution and poverty in Eastern Europe. The founders were guided by Jewish values and history to help generations of Jews facing violence. The organization remains committed to helping Jewish refugees anywhere in the world.
Today, HIAS clients and staff come from diverse faiths, ethnicities, and backgrounds. They work across 5 continents, ensuring that refugees today receive the vital services and opportunities they need to thrive. Working with host communities, HIAS provides vital services to refugees, asylum seekers, and other forcibly displaced and stateless persons around the world and advocates for their fundamental rights so they can rebuild their lives. Want to get involved? Go here!
Tell Congress: Protect Humanitarian Aid!
Advocate to Solve Systemic Issues:
Anshe Emet Synagogue is an organizational member of ONE Northside and a synagogue partner of the Jewish Council on Urban Affairs.
The Jewish Council on Urban Affairs (JCUA) organizes the Jewish communities of Chicagoland to pursue justice. For more than 60 years, JCUA has trained, organized, and connected Jewish individuals and institutions to combat injustice in partnership with neighbors across Chicago and Illinois. Click here to get involved. Contact Melissa Sterne for more information about Anshe Emet’s involvement.
JCUA focuses on
ONE Northside builds power to fight injustice by focusing on
Ready to fight for justice with us? Get involved! Contact Ariel Katz or Gabby Plotkin about AES involvement.
The Ark: The Ark provides free, life-changing human services to Chicagoland Jews facing financial, medical, employment and emotional challenges. A professional team of human services and healthcare professionals along with volunteer practitioners provide a comprehensive, holistic approach to support each client on their path to self-reliance. Donate to pack the pantry.
Fight2Feed: The mission of Fight2Feed is to reduce food waste while providing fresh, hot meals to those facing hunger. They use borrowed and sponsored kitchens staffed by local volunteers (including restaurant chefs) to prep, cook, clean, and deliver meals. They especially seek those with vehicles who can help rescue food and keep their #MobileF2F team moving forward. To volunteer, please email volunteer@fight2feed.org.
JUF Uptown Cafe: Join Anshe Emet volunteers occasional evenings as we serve dinner to food-insecure Chicagoans at the JUF Uptown Cafe (at the EZRA Multiservice Center). Volunteers must be 16 or above (or 12 or above with a chaperone). This is a great bar and bat mitzvah project! Click here to sign up directly with JUF Uptown Cafe.
Lincoln Park Community Services: LPCS serves adult individuals ages 18 and up from all across Chicago who are at-risk of or currently experiencing homelessness. Volunteers help by signing up to cook a meal, teach a class, work a front desk shift and more. Information can be found here.
Maot Chitim of Greater Chicago provides food and programs to help individuals and families in the Jewish community celebrate holidays and traditions. They seek volunteers each week to help to pack and deliver Shabbat meals. Join Maot Chitim every Wednesday at Bubby Fira’s Food Bank at Chabad F.R.E.E., 2935 W Devon Ave, from 6 PM to 7 PM to pack meals. Each Thursday, volunteers deliver Shabbat dinners to Holocaust survivors and those in need in the North and Northwest suburbs. Learn more and sign up online.
Nourishing Hope (formerly The Lakeview Pantry) relies on volunteers to provide necessary help in serving families in need. There are several places where you can volunteer your time to this organization. At the two main centers for food distribution (Headquarters at 1716 W. Hubbard St. and the Sheridan Market at 3945 N. Sheridan Rd in Lakeview), you will directly assist clients. Volunteer opportunities are also available at The Hub at 5151 N. Ravenswood Ave. where food is sorted and gleaned before being sent to the distribution centers. The hours vary for each facility but include both daytime and evening shifts. In addition, drivers are needed for home delivery. Contact Mimi Landau if you have any questions.
Temple Sholom Monday Meal Mitzvah Program
Each week, volunteers can help prepare and serve a warm meal to guests in need. Volunteers must be at least 12 years of age. This mitzvah is a great opportunity for anyone looking for a wonderful volunteer experience, a B’nai Mitzvah service project, school service hours, and more. If you have questions about sponsorship opportunities and/or would like information about this program, please contact Rabbi Gellman. If you would like to volunteer, sign-up here.
Contribute to Ongoing Collections to Support Our Community Through the Mercaz Nediv Lev Giving Center: Anshe Emet runs a variety of collections annually to support partner organizations doing important work in our community by collecting some of their most needed items in collection bins located near the security desk in the lobby. Recipient organizations rotate as their needs evolve. If you would like to suggest an organization to benefit from the Mercaz Nediv Lev Giving Center, please contact Zach Seeskin.
Prepare Taxes for Low-Income Families: Ladder Up needs volunteers to work one-on-one with low-income families to help prepare tax returns and receive refunds. This volunteer activity takes place during tax season through April. Members of the Anshe Emet community have helped prepare thousands of tax returns, helping families receive tax refunds and access other financial coaching offered by Ladder Up. Training will be held in mid-December. Sign up here.
Mentor or Tutor a Refugee One Family: Refugee One can use volunteers to assist families who arrive without a co-sponsor. Please complete Refugee One’s volunteer form and indicate that you are from Anshe Emet Synagogue. Contact Samantha DeKoven at with questions.
Donate: Anshe Emet has a special fund dedicated to refugee assistance. Contributions to the Anshe Emet Refugee Resettlement Fund go toward supporting refugees and other vulnerable immigrants whom Anshe Emet has supported in resettling to Chicago. As these families often lack essential needs, your donation will make an impact in welcoming them to Chicago and helping them build their new life. The fund is listed on the Anshe Emet donation page.
Support Our New Neighbors By Volunteering With D19 Mutual Aid
The purpose of the 19th District (D19) Mutual Aid Group to provide material support to and be in solidarity with our neighbors.
D19 organizes neighbors across the North Side to support migrant families and unhoused Chicagoans in need. Their mission is to provide material support, legal support, and emergency rental assistance to new neighbors housed at the 19th District police precinct, currently staying at a variety of local shelters, and those in more permanent housing.
D19 Mutual Aid partners with a vast network of mutual aid groups throughout the city. The organization is 100% volunteer powered. The motivation of this organization is recognizing the dignity of our neighbors in all efforts. Here’s the D19 donation and volunteer guide, including list of most needed items and times items can be dropped off. For more information or to become involved, contact Samantha DeKoven.
Abortion is legal and protected in Illinois. It is currently an abortion oasis, as abortion is either illegal or heavily restricted in all of our neighboring states. Here are funds that help provide financial and logistical support to people regionally and nationwide:
Sarah’s Circle (Edgewater) provides a full continuum of services for women, including housing, life necessities, and supportive services to help them permanently end their homelessness. A simple item such as a hair brush goes a long way to make a woman feel comfortable. Find items to donate on our MyRegistry here.
SHALVA is the oldest independent, Jewish domestic abuse agency in the United States. SHALVA provides counseling, supportive services, and community education to help break the cycle of abuse by giving survivors the support they need and educating the community about intimate partner abuse. Contact Shalva to volunteer.
If you are interested in DIRECTLY influencing state legislation, please consider becoming a Witness Slip Warrior. Witness slips are used to show support for bills early in the session and to engage advocates and others in creating “buzz” around an issue in advance of a hearing. They become very important when the bill is controversial. The process to submit a slip is done online.
To become a Witness Slip Warrior, send an email to Elaine Seeskin. We’ll alert you when an important bill is being considered and provide instructions about how to access the pertinent witness slip.
Join TOV for Mitzvah Mania!
Mitzvah Mania offers one-time volunteer opportunities throughout Chicagoland. These projects are the perfect way for individuals, families, groups, and teens to perform the mitzvah of tikkun olam without a long-term obligation. https://www.juf.org/tov/volunteer.aspx
For more information, please contact TOV or call 312‑357‑4762.
