Get Involved, Stay Involved
To stay current on ways our community is coming together to repair the world, please join our Facebook group Temple Responds. We update this group as we receive new information on ways you can help.
To get involved, opt-in to our advocacy alerts or join Temple Responds on Facebook.
For any questions, please contact Erica Matsil, Director of Social Justice and Special Projects, or call 214.706.0000 ext. 4002.
ADVOCACY
Advocacy is central to Reform Judaism and to Temple Emanu-El. The Social Justice Council seeks approval of new advocacy positions and efforts from Temple’s Board of Trustees. Our advocacy is issue-oriented; not partisan, but often political.
AS A CONGREGATION DEDICATED TO ADVOCACY WE…
1) SPEAK OUT POWERFULLY
Speak out powerfully on contemporary moral imperatives that are identified through the Just Congregations listening process and approved by the Board. Advocacy issues are brought to the Board by the Social Justice Council for congregational approval.
2) AVOID CHANNELING THE CONGREGATION
Avoid channeling the congregation into one partisan point of view.
3) ASSESS SPECIFIC LEGISLATIVE ISSUES
Assess specific legislative issues to educate the congregation with solid information on all sides of the issue. This enables congregants to make individual decisions on their stance and promote any appropriate “call to action.”
4) COMMIT SUFFICIENT STAFF RESOURCES
Commit sufficient staff resources to make public affairs and advocacy work effectively.
5) EMPOWER OUR LEADERSHIP
Empower our leadership to decide upon a course of quick action when an issue, based on our moral imperatives to speak out as a congregation, is urgent enough that it demands an immediate response.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Please contact Erica Matsil at estrauss@tedallas.org.