Bolton Street Synagogue invites you to join us in engaging in the mitzvah of tikkun olam: repairing the world.
Based on members’ interest and passions, we have increased opportunities for direct action, focusing primarily on local Baltimore and Maryland issues such as educating our youth, homelessness/hunger/poverty, and racial justice.
Please join us in some or all of these endeavors; in addition, please let us know of your own passions and interests. It all starts with one person.
The BSS Casserole Program
Started in 2009 with an initial delivery of 20 frozen homemade casseroles, members at the synagogue and our neighbors in the adjacent Roland Park neighborhood prepare homemade casseroles, which are then delivered to Our Daily Bread in Baltimore the 4th Sunday of every month. Anyone can be part of this once-a-month program that takes minimal effort but provides major impact in feeding the hungry in our city. Recipes can be found here.
Reading Partners
More than a dozen BSS members volunteer weekly throughout Baltimore in this highly successful program to boost children’s rates of literacy learning. It’s also a lot of fun!
Tikkun Olam for our Children and Youth
Throughout the school year, children participating in religious school and other activities have opportunities to do social action, including a holiday project in December and teen volunteer opportunities. Activities include Mitzvah Day, adopting families connected with the Harriet Lane Clinic during the winter holidays, and making sandwiches for the hungry and homeless in Baltimore.
BUILD
In June 2019, Bolton Street Synagogue joined the community power organization BUILD in a partnership for addressing unfair educational, job, and housing practices in Baltimore. BUILD is the acronym for Baltimoreans United in Leadership Development and is governed by leading members of Baltimore’s clergy and by community organizers. In tandem with other similarly-focused community groups and BUILD members, we stand up together for positive change.
Group of 10
Bolton Street Synagogue has been a member of Strong Schools Maryland since August of 2017. Strong Schools Maryland’s initial goal was to ensure that the recommendations of the Kirwan Commission became law to create a world-class education system for every student, especially those who are disproportionately affected by policies because of race, poverty, language, and disability. Working as a Group of Ten within Strong Schools Maryland, Bolton Street members have advocated by letter, email, phone call, and in person, both in Baltimore and Annapolis, to further this cause. Strong Schools Maryland will continue to advocate for the students of Maryland even with the passage of the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future.
