Social Justice – The Tzedek Well
Romemu’s mission is to be a welcoming, experiential, irreverently pious center for Jewish community and spiritual practice that engages the heart, mind, and body to foster greater levels of compassion in individuals and communities.
This compassion drives our commitment to and actions toward tikkun olam (healing the world). As Jews, we are called upon to be a light unto the nations. When we see injustice in the world it is our religious and moral obligation to bring tzedek (justice).
Romemu’s approach to tikkun olam is built in concentric circles.
The First Circle – Our Romemu Community
This layer represents our Romemu community. By supporting each other through celebrations, grieving and the everyday joys and challenges of life we support each other so that we each have the koach (strength) to look beyond our own needs and support others. The pastoral care provided by our clergy and the member-to-member support offered through the Chesed Committee are critical components of this first circle.
The Second Circle – Our Local Community
Right out the doors of the Romemu Center on the Upper West Side is a mix of some of the most affluent and some of the most in need communities in the country. In partnership with Mandala Café, Romemu’s Community Pantry provides food to those in our local community who struggle with food insecurity. Through various collection drives throughout the year, Romemu members give generously to provide for other needs in our local community as well.
Taking to heart the mitzvah (commandment) to welcome the stranger, we have also taken responsibility for supporting refugees in our neighborhood, providing food, housing, and assistance in finding jobs to support them as they transition to independence in their new homeland.
The Third Circle – Our National Community
Racism, criminal justice reform, immigration, child welfare, healthcare and mental healthcare, education, voting access…
The challenges facing our country are many and complex. As the people of the book, Jews believe that deep learning is a prerequisite to action. First we must do the work to understand these issues and from that understanding we identify actions.
The Romemu community learns these issues together through inviting experts to join us on special Shabbatot focused on social justice themes such as refugees and children and at panel discussions on a broad spectrum of topics to share their knowledge and perspectives with us.
Learning is the foundation of our approach to social justice, but not the goal. Through partnerships with organizations focused on enacting change such as HIAS, Truah, the Jewish Council for Public Affairs, The Haruv Institute, and the Children’s Defense Fund.
Over the years, Romemu has sponsored a wide variety of programs to learn about these issues together and identify actions we can all take to help.
These have included:
Shabbat of the Child: In 2020, Romemu held the first ever Shabbat of the Child, a transformative, weekend filled with deep learning, sharing, community singing, and exploring how we can advocate for, protect, celebrate and empower children within the Jewish community and beyond. This is now an annual event. View the program Shabbat of the Child 2022.
Uptown Sukkot Gathering for Housing Justice: Romemu joined with Kehillat Harlem, Torah Trumps Hate, Lab/Shul, and the Joseph Stern Center for Social Responsibility at the Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan in 2020 to learn about the ongoing housing in crisis in New You and engage members in the effort to ensure access to safe and stable housing for every New Yorker.
Torah of Activism: A Jewish Call to Respond to the Burning Issues of our Times – This course, which was offered once a month throughout 2017, offered a Jewish framework and language for social justice in our times.
Social Action Film Series with Vodka and Herring: In 2015-2016 the Romemu community explored a variety of social action topics through the Social Action Film Series with Vodka and Herring. Film topics \ included the environment, hunger, women’s rights, and income inequality. While the films are not explicitly Jewish, the conversation inevitably intertwined Torah, spirit, and social justice.
Interested in getting involved with Social Action at Romemu? Visit the Social Action Committee page.