Take Action with TINYC

Rabbi Rami Shapiro teaches, “When we love and act with kindness, we create angels of love and kindness… It is our task to fill the world with angels of love—messengers of kindness, that link all people together as one family.” Throughout the year, the Temple Israel Social Action Committee endeavors for our members, big and small alike, to become messengers of kindness and engage in the sacred act of tikkun olam (repairing the world).

Kindness comes in many forms and takes place in our synagogue during a wide variety of activities.

Below you will find listings of our upcoming Social Action events. Please be in touch with Rabbi Siegel or Social Action Chair Leon Seidman if you are interested in lending a helping hand!

High Holy Days Canned Food Drive: We will be collecting canned fruits and vegetables, shelf-stable cereals, and other non-perishable items during Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, benefiting the New York Common Pantry.

BYOB to Tashlikh: Buy an extra loaf of Bread (or two!) to donate to the NY Community Fridge after participating in Tashlikh with Temple Israel members on the 2^nd Day of Rosh Hashanah.

ECLC Room To Grow Collection Drive: The ECLC will collect new and gently used toys, clothes, board games, and books for babies and toddlers through age 3. The drive starts on October 1^st and runs through December.

Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk: Join Temple Israel’s Women’s Leadership Circle (WLC) for a fundraising walk around Central Park benefiting the American Cancer Society on Sunday, October 19^th.

Grassroots Grocery: Join the Temple Israel community and other participants for a produce packing party on Saturday, November 1^st. We’ll be collecting, sorting, and distributing healthy fruits, vegetables, and other foods for hungry and food-insecure New Yorkers.

Rise Against Hunger: Rise Against Hunger is Temple Israel’s annual pre-Thanksgiving tradition. Attendees work together to prepare ready-to-eat meal packets in a station-style format. Items in the packets include rice, beans, grains, and soy protein. Join us at Temple Israel on Sunday, November 23^rd, for our annual Rise event.

NY Cares Winter Coat Drive: Donate new or gently used coats to New Yorkers in need of warmth this winter. With January being the coldest month in New York City, the NY Cares Winter Coat Drive will start in December 2025 and run through January.

Midnight Run Toiletry Drive: Bring in sample-size toiletries, travel-size personal care items, hygienic supplies, as well as blankets for unhoused New Yorkers. The Midnight Run drive will commence in February 2026.

Winter Book Drive: Donate new or gently used books for children and young adults on behalf of Project Cicero, which has distributed over one million free books to public school libraries and classrooms across the five boroughs. Project Cicero starts in March 2026.

Project Ezra: Project Ezra creates opportunities for connection between elderly Jewish adults and the TI community. Participants are bused from the Lower East Side to Temple Israel, where they are treated to a delicious lunch, fun games, and Jewish music. Project Ezra will take place on Sunday, March 15^th, 2026, in the ballroom.

Israel Guide Dog Center for the Blind Dog Walk: Join TI members for a spring stroll around Central Park in April 2026 to raise funds for the Israel Guide Dog Center. Whether you’re a dog owner, dog lover, or enjoy walking and talking with friends, all are welcome to join!

Mitzvah Day: Mitzvah Day is Temple Israel’s annual spring tradition of giving back to communities of need in New York and Israel. Different partner organizations have different “booths” or stations at Mitzvah Day, where attendees complete various activities related to the organization’s work. Examples include: decorating onesies for premature babies, assembling birthday-in-a-bag kits and calming kits for critically ill children, swabbing cheeks for the Gift of Life marrow registry, assembling sandwiches for the NY Common Food Pantry, making Shabbat goodie bags for Israeli soldiers, and advocating for Israeli hostages. During the Friday evening before Mitzvah Day, we have a special Kabbalat Shabbat honoring the selected “Mitzvah Hero” for the weekend, with a special keynote address given by the honoree. This year’s Mitzvah Day will be on Sunday, May 3^rd, 2026.

New York Blood Center: Donations to the New York Blood Center take place annually during Mitzvah Day. Eligible TI members, as well as members of the public, can donate their blood to patients in need. In 2024, donations collected from TI were able to help 111 patients. In 2025, donations collected from TI were able to help 69 patients.

Sandwich Making for the New York Common Pantry: Monthly sandwich making for the New York Common Pantry takes place during Religious School, providing our religious school students with an opportunity to feed the hungry and homeless.

Snack Pack Making for the Ronald McDonald House: Snack Pack Making takes place before the Religious School’s grade-specific Kabbalat Shabbat. Children from the religious school assemble packs of healthy, portable snacks for children and families undergoing treatment at area hospitals for life-threatening and critical illnesses. The Ronald McDonald House provides these families with support, guidance, and care during their stays.