::: Nashuva ::: Social Action

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NASHUVA SOCIAL ACTION

February, 2012 Social Action

Nashuva Fruit Tree Planting

Sunday, February 12, 2012 Social Action:

Tu B'Shvat - Festival of the Trees

On Sunday, February 12, 2012, Nashuva will celebrate Tu B'Shvat, the Festival of the Trees. We will teaming up with Fruit Forward, a wonderful organization that organizes volunteers to pick fruit to be delivered to food pantries in areas that have poor access to fresh produce.

WHAT:		Citrus fruit picking with Fruit Forward
WHERE:		Location to be determined and confirmed soon. Likely to be in the Valley, in areas where there are large orchards
WHEN:		Sunday, February 12, 2012
TIME:		10:00am - 12pm
COST:		Cost of participation: $15 per person
RESTRICTIONS:		No children 5 and under; No kids 15 and under on ladders, Kids under 18 need to be accompanied by adult or have a release. Kids not on ladders will be helping with picks, gathering, packing, etc.
RSVP:		Julie and/or Carol at socialaction@nashuva.com We look forward to hearing from you.

JEWISH FEDERATION 2011 TOY DRIVE
THANK YOU TO NASHUVA

HaMercaz:

Dear Julie,

Thank you so much for your recent donation to
the Jewish Federation Toy Drive.

HaMercaz is fortunate to have received some of
these toys and items to pass on to our families
raising children with special needs. Many of our
families are low income and not able to provide
their children with gifts and toys during this
holiday season. Your donation helped bring joy to
our families. We are so appreciative of your
generosity, especially during these difficult
financial times.

For more information on HaMercaz, the one stop
resource for families raising children with special
needs, please don’t hesitate to contact us visit
us online at www.hamercaz.org.

Best wishes for a healthy and happy holiday season,

Sarah Blitzstein, MA, MSW
Director, HaMercaz

Tomchei Shabbos:

On behalf of the Tomchei Shabbos of Los Angeles, we
are great-full for the beautiful toys and books you have
collected for Chanukah. The children of the recipient
families will be absolutely thrilled to receive such wonderful
and unexpected gifts for the holiday.

Tomchei Shabbos is a local charity organization staffed
entirely by volunteers that supplies basic kosher foods on
a weekly basis to over 200 families in need in the Los
Angeles area. Tomchei Shabbos financial resources are
limited and are dependent upon donations from the
community. The form of generosity which you have
exhibited is greatly appreciated.

In the merit of the achdut, unity, you have demonstrated
in the community may we all be privileged to have a
Chanukah season filled with good health, happiness and
more "light" in our lives.

With appreciation,

Rabbi Yonah Landau, Executive Director
Stephen Berger, Warehouse
www.tomcheishabbos.org

Jewish Federation
of Greater Los Angeles

Thank you so much for your participation in the
Federation’s Toy and Book Drive! More than 1,000 toys
and books were collected! That means that over 1,000
children’s holiday season will be brighter because of you.
I thank you from the bottom of my heart for participating
in this community-wide effort. To see pictures of the
collection, let me know and I will email them to you.

Thanks again and I hope that you can participate again
next year!

All the best,

Neuriel Shore
Community and Government Affairs Manager
The Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles
www.JewishLA.org

A Letter from Rabbi Levy - Thanksgiving at Hope Street

November 22, 2011

Dear Nashuva Thanksgiving at Hope Street Volunteers,

I am so sorry I was unable to share this remarkable event with you in person, I was certainly there in spirit and I'm so proud of our community and the work we do to bring light to others.

This Thanksgiving at Hope Street was a great day for both our communities, a day of partnership and gratitude, of hope and healing. We had record numbers of families in attendance, record numbers of Nashuva volunteers, record amounts of food and a record sense of joy!

The families of Hope Street and its staff are so grateful for a spectucular day, for warm conversation, abundant food, and for so much light.

Our Social Action Team Leaders, Carol Taubman and Julie Drucker are truly remarkable--they've shown us a path to true dedication and passion, linking our highest prayers with our best actions. They do so very much behind the scenes and make it all seem so effortless. In fact, countless hours are spent working through every detail and shoring up every bump in the road.

Synagogues five times our size marvel at the level of participation Nashuva has--both in our prayer services and in our social action events. You give of yourselves: your time, your talent, your dollars, your hearts and your souls with such abundant generosity. And that's what makes Nashuva the special soulful community that it is.

In all successful endeavors, there is a rabbinic phrase we say when we feel engergized: "Le-eyla Ule-eyla"--"Let's take it higher and higher." Nashuva there are so many areas of our world and our city that need fixing. May we focus our efforts to take it higher, to do our best to lift others up.

If you'd like to suggest a future social action event, if you'd like to step up and chair a future event, I know Julie and Carol would so welcome your leadership. So please step up, email back and say "count on me!"

On behalf of the entire Nashuva community I want to thank you for giving of yourselves so generously,

with gratitude,

Rabbi Naomi Levy
Nashuva A Soulful Community of Prayer in Action

KIDSAVE.ORG: Update

Last summer the Brown-Beaulieu family of our congregation hosted an orphaned child from Colombia. With the help and prayers of many, Santiago had a wonderful summer and found a family who adopted him. Santiago's visit was enabled by Kidsave, a nonprofit whose focus is finding families for orphaned children. Children come to the United States for five weeks during the summer, stay with families and individuals who give the child a chance to meet other people, attend camp and experience family life. Miracles happen during this time.

If you’d like to be part of making a miracle for a child please contact: socialaction@nashuva.com or visit www.kidsave.org