Announcing Jewish Social Action Month

Congressional Record (House of Representatives): November 3, 2005, from Representative Steve Israel (D-NY).

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the goals and ideals of Jewish Social Action Month.

This first annual Jewish Social Action Month, which is being held in conjunction with the Jewish month of Heshvan, November 3-December 1, 2005, was conceived by Kol Dor, an international group of next-generation young leaders. It is as a result of their vision of encouraging community service and social action that this important initiative is being undertaken around the world.

This month and these days have been selected since they follow Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, the holiest days in the Jewish year. Heshvan follows a time when all Members of the Jewish faith face ourselves, look inward, and cleanse ourselves of all our misdeeds. Then, it is during Heshvan that we look forward to the promise of the New Year.

There is no better way to begin our New Year than by launching into a month-long serious effort to commit to social action. This commitment being made today is not a one-year-only event. Every year during the Jewish month of Heshvan, Jews around the world will renew our commitment to making this world a better place.

Minister Michael Melchior and Member of Knesset Colette Avital deserve special recognition for their early and strong support for this concept. My Jewish colleagues and Jewish people in many other countries are also launching similar plans in their respective countries from Brazil to Britain.

Additionally, I would also like to make special mention of Kol Dor and the co-chairs of Jewish Social Action Month: Adina Danzig, Executive Director of the Stanford Hillel; Rabbi Gidon Sylvester, assistant to Deputy Minister Michael Melchior; and Yosef I. Abramowitz, CEO of Jewish Family & Life.

I commend the people working to make this goal a reality and urge my colleagues and people of all faiths to participate in community service and commit themselves to the principle of Tikkun Olam, to repairing the world.