The mission of Rodef Sholom’s Social Action Committee is to make Judaism’s commitment to the principles of Tikkun Olam (Repair of the World) an integral part of everyday life within the congregation. We connect through social action. The committee organizes projects and events that educate the congregation and provide meaningful experiences through which we can repair our world on many levels. We welcome your ideas and participation. Email socialaction@
We are a member of Adamah’s Jewish Climate Leadership Coalition. As part of this we create a Climate Action Plan each year. This year we are focusing on expanding composting, creating a backyard garden and fixing the trail behind our building. Check out our full plan for 2026:
Give Your Prescription Pill Bottles a Second Life
Donate Toiletries
Toiletry donations help provide dignity and comfort for people facing homelessness or housing insecurity. Please consider donating feminine hygiene products, shampoo, soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes, combs, deodorant, and other essentials. Full-sized and travel-sized items are welcome.
Throughout 2025, our community leaned into learning, service, and stewardship with a spirit that carried across every project and gathering. From powerful educational moments to hands-on environmental action, generous giving, and sustained support for neighbors in need, this year reflected our shared commitment to justice, care, and repair. The highlights below capture just some of the ways our congregation showed up for one another and for the wider world.
Eden Heilman’s appearance as April’s Shabbat Schmooze presenter, speaking about ACLU efforts on the national immigration front, was impactful and memorable.
The 2025 Operation Isaiah food drive was one of our most successful collections. We donated 863 pounds to the Virginia Peninsula Foodbank.
September brought a Reverse Tashlich beach clean-up, held in partnership with the Men’s Club and Education Committee and inspired by Tikkun HaYam. Before we got to work, Leah Schwarz shared an overview of marine pollution and practical ways we can respond.
In October, our Shabbat Schmooze shifted the spotlight to Environmental Stewardship, with Leah guiding congregants on a nature walk around the synagogue’s back ponds.
2025’s December PORT (People Offering Resources Together) Winter Shelter volunteering, led by Allen Fraley and Ann Chapman, served a record number of people. Thanks to our congregants for volunteering and generous donations to support this annual project. We also donated hygiene kits put together by Ann from the toiletries collected.
Our prescription pill bottle collection has exceeded expectations, with Ann Chapman, EJ Tench, and Leah Schwarz powering the project by cleaning and processing the bottles, which will be reused rather than sent to our landfills.
We continued to donate toiletries to Transitions Family Violence Center and THRIVE Peninsula.
Shoshana Marziano and Steve Meyerson have been working on the energy audit and HVAC thermostat assessment as part of our Climate Action Plan.
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