“You are not obligated to complete the work, but neither are you free to desist from it.”
(Pirkei Avot 2:21)

Tikkun Olam (Repairing the World) is central to our mission at Rockdale Temple. We relate to the world knowing that it is our obligation to pursue righteousness and justice. We work to create a world in which each human being, created in God’s image, has a voice and future. We understand our responsibility to “till and to tend” the earth as our gift. In addition to our Social Justice Initiatives, Women of Rockdale, Rockdale Brotherhood, our Youth Groups and Kehal Kodesh Religious School are all involved in making a difference. We respond to events and issues as they arrive and our rabbis are deeply engaged in advocating for Justice as a holy obligation.

Each year, we kick off a new year of mitzvah opportunities with Mitzvah Palooza, a day of learning about advocacy and doing tikkun olam as we gather as a sacred community.

We welcome your gifts as we serve our community. We welcome your ideas. Please contact Rabbi Coran at scoran@rockdaletemple.org to get involved.

Our current Social Justice Initiatives:

Caring Community reaches out to grieving families or individuals struggling with illness or other challenges.

Crisis Cards Committee sends out cards to at-risk individuals with helpful information and phone numbers.

Environmental Committee sponsors a series of educational programs, engages in advocacy and works to “green” the Temple. Recently, they have started a community-wide environmental group called Shomrei Olam with other area temples. Check out their website here to find out more information and how you can get involved!

Soup Kitchen Crew joins with other area synagogues to serve Sunday lunch at the Over the Rhine Soup Kitchen. To help, click here.

The Interfaith Hospitality Network: Rockdale Temple is a support congregation and works with Adath Israel Congregation to provide a “floating” family shelter for some of the 2,500 families who become homeless each year in the greater Cincinnati area. We join with 26 congregations of all faiths to provide this shelter for one-week periods three times a year. Visit their website here for more information.

Justice Collaborative: Rockdale's Justice Collaborative seeks to discover where there are areas in which we can make a difference in our community, and to share our dreams of a better Greater Cincinnati. Addressing topics of injustice and inequality in our community, the Justice Collaborative engages in Tikkun Olam by working on issues that are doable, winnable, and speak to our shared values. Please contact Lauren Koon Herzig, Mark Michaelson, or Rabbi Coran for more information.

Ohio Reform Action Center: Rockdale is proud to be part of RAC, an organizing community bringing Reform Jews from across Ohio together in pursuit of justice in our state. Ohio is among the first states to bring Reform Movement clergy and congregations together to strengthen the voice of tikkun olam statewide. For more information, contact Rabbi Lindsey Danziger at LDanziger@RAC.org