Hillel says, “If I am not for myself, who will be for me? But if I am only for myself, who am I? If not now, when?” Ethics of the Fathers, 1:14
If not you…then who?
The mission of the Social Action Committee is to make Judaism’s commitment to the principles of Tikkun Olam an integral part of everyday life within the congregation. The committee organizes projects and events that educate the congregation and provides meaningful experiences through which we can repair our world on many levels; locally, globally and in our own Jewish community. The SAC welcomes all Kol Ami members to be involved in their own way, whether by giving, volunteering, fundraising, and in-kind service or any other act of Tzedakah.
Many of us are yearning to do still more. Our Social Action Committee (SAC) is looking for new members who want to make a difference.
Send a Net, Save a Life
OUCH! You swat at a mosquito and miss. Lucky for you, you live here in the U.S. If you lived in parts of Africa, you could have contracted one of the deadliest diseases on the continent from that bite: Malaria.
Facts:
- Each year, malaria afflicts approximately a half-billion people (roughly the population of the United States, Canada, and Mexico combined).
- Malaria kills more than a million people per year; 90 percent of those who die are African children.
- Every 30 seconds in Africa a child dies of malaria.
Malaria incapacitates people, keeping countries poor. In addition to the health burden, malaria illness and death cost Africa about $12 billion per year.
Yet Malaria is treatable and preventable. One way to prevent it is to sleep under insecticide-treated bed nets. These nets repel and kill mosquitoes and keep those underneath safe for up to 5 years. The families do have to pay a small fee for the nets (which makes them more valued by them).
Are you up to the Challenge?
We are challenging every family in Kol Ami to help by buying one net (or two!)
Buy a net at NothingButNets.net for just $10 (go to Create/Join a Team and find “Kol Ami Cares”) or by writing a check for a net (or two or three!) to “URJ” memo “Nothing but nets”. Just put your check or cash in the envelope back by the net in the big room and the Social Action Committee will mail it off for you. Either way (high tech or low tech), write your name on a mosquito and attach it to the net. Let’s see if we can cover the net. Your contribution will go to the purchase, distribution and education about the proper use of bed nets and will help save many lives in a country where swatting a mosquito can be a life or death situation.