Get involved with Congregation Beth Israel and our Bellingham/Whatcom County community through the Social Action Committee. We have seasonal and year-long projects. To volunteer with the Social Action Committee contact Linda Blackwell at blackwellbham@gmail.com or (360) 739-1492.
High Holy Days
The High Holidays are a time to reconfirm the Jewish tradition to repair the world Tikkun Olam. We have a very successful food drive for the Bellingham Food Bank; congregants bring dry goods to donate during Kol Nidre and Yom Kippur
We have an annual Blood Drive and Bone Marrow Registry. We would like to interest all ages in participation to create a giving community.
Autumn
We participate in the annual Coat Drive with Interfaith Coalition in late October. Coat donations as well as volunteering to distribute coats is a great way to connect to the Bellingham community.
We organize a Thanksgiving Dinner for the Women’s Shelter with Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Services of Whatcom County each year. Money and food are collected to provide a warm, safe meal for victims of domestic violence.
Spring
Congregants commit to reduce homelessness with the Interfaith Coalition Auction in March. We often sponsor two to three tables as a Jewish community.
During Passover we collect chametz and other non-perishable foods for the Bellingham Food Bank.
Our biggest gathering of the year is Mitzvah Day with our Kesher Center for Jewish Learning, usually in late April or May. Multiple environmental and social justice projects are offered for congregants of all ages and abilities to participate .
Summer
Shavuot is celebrated with donations of Milk Money, baby food and diapers for Bellingham Food Bank .
We encourage all congregants to participate in the Pride Parade in July. Participation is to support the LGBQT community
Year-round activities
CBI as a member of the Interfaith Coalition contributes to ongoing projects.
The biggest Volunteer Opportunity is with the Family Promise Program. As a supporting congregation, Beth Israel supplies meals and volunteers at the Day Center and at a sister congregation. This program offers temporary housing and case management for families who are homeless.
We have knitters from CBI making hats for Project Warm Up every Tuesday.
Members of CBI clean and maintain the “Little House” for a family in transition from homelessness. We hope to organize more as a group to distribute sandwiches through the C.A.S.T program.
We have a Social Action Bookclub that meets quarterly.