Social Action Committee

The Bayit Social Action Committee is an active, engaged group who provide programming and opportunities for Bayit members to get involved in addressing social injustice at a local and national level.

Some recent and ongoing efforts include:

• Bronx Hunger and Homelessness: Our home borough has more than its share of poor residents; too many face the challenges of homelessness, and many more struggle to feed their families. We partner with POTS (Part of the Solution) to provide various services to those in need. Donations to POTS can be make at engage.potsbronx.org/hir.

• Asylum Seekers: We have partnered with The 4Bronx Project and the Riverdale Neighborhood House to continue a collection for asylum seekers. We are collecting Small and Medium winter coats and shoes. Items should be dropped of in the marked bins in the bottom of the Bayit driveway. Clothes should be clean and in reasonable condition. Contact socialaction@thebayit.org for more information.

• Ukrainian Refugees: To support the Ukrainian Refugees family that had recently moved to our area, please see thebayit.org/ukraine. Contact socialaction@thebayit.org for more information.

• Social Justice Divrei Torah:  We constantly strive to emphasize the Jewish, halachic and ethical imperative underlying the Bayit’s commitment to social justice, deeply rooted in the philosophy of Rav Avi Weiss.  Our committee prepares Holiday Companions several times a year (Haggadah Companion, Pre-Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur Reader, Shavuot Reader), compilations of written divrei Torah, poems, essays and images that seek to engage the community in the process of learning about and doing chessed. To contribute or to learn more, talk to Aaron Stayman. Please click here for the most recent Social Action Reader for Chanukah.

If you are interested in learning more about the committee, if you want to join or have ideas for new directions for the Bayit Community, please contact Aaron Stayman.