Temple Sholom values
Social Justice
One of the core tenets of our Community is Social Justice. It is imperative and our obligation as Jews that we engage in the work of Tikkun Olam, or to improve and repair the world we live in. We are obligated to pursue tzedek (justice), to welcome the stranger, to protect and heal our environment, to fight against discrimination, to reduce income and wealth inequality, to alleviate the suffering of those in physical, economic, or spiritual bondage, and to seek equity.
At Temple Sholom we seek to fulfill this by welcoming all - LGBTQIA+, Interfaith Families, Jews by Choice, those with different needs, and any who seek. We actively commit to Social Action, through our many community partnerships, drives, protests, and wherever we can seek Tzedek. We believe in Tzedakah, our obligation to give, both in action and in donation.
If you are ready, come join us as we pursue Tikkun Olam
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Social Action
At Temple Sholom we remember the ancient command: "Tzedek, Tzedek Tirdof!" or "Justice, Justice shall you seek!".
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Our Judaism calls us to be active and engaged in supporting the suffering, combating inequality, and preserving the rights of those around us. Check out our Social Action Page to see how you can get involved
Welcome the Stranger
According to Leviticus, verses 19:33-34, “The stranger who resides with you shall be to you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself; for you were strangers in the land of Egypt”. This verse is a Torah commandment that instructs people to treat strangers with compassion and consideration. In fact, the commandment to welcome and embrace the stranger appears 36 times in the Torah and is a crucial element of our tradition.
Temple Sholom embraces this tradition in many ways. About half of Temple Sholom’s members are Interfaith families. There is a growing LGBTQ+ membership. Temple Sholom has a long tradition of participating in Cincinnati’s Pride Parade. HIAS is one pf our partners. The Bikes N Bookbags project with Kentucky Refugee Ministries provided bicycles and school supplies to refugee families. Nametags are worn at all temple events to encourage everyone to feel welcome and get to know each other.
Feeding the Hungry
There are many biblical references to feeding the hungry, in addition to Leviticus 19:9-10’s saving the corners of the field. In Proverbs 22:9 “The generous will themselves be blessed, for they share their food with the poor “. In Isaiah 58:10 “Spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed”. While these are just a few of these references, Temple Sholom takes these commandments and makes feeding the hungry a primary focus of our Tzedakah efforts. Every month we are taking Social Action to feed others. The list of partnerships and the calendar of activities further show the frequency of these efforts.
