Emanu El’s congregation-wide, Sisterhood led social action initiative mirrors the Torah’s teaching: “The stranger who resides with you shall be to you as one of your citizens; you shall love him as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I the Lord am your G-d.”
We are welcoming strangers by working with Interfaith Ministries and Jewish Family Service to provide baskets of basic necessities to Afghan refugees, to Houston’s Jewish domestic violence victims, and to people experiencing homelessness.
As a congregation, we’re committed to providing “Welcome Home Baskets,” for Afghan refugees, Houston’s Jewish domestic violence victims, and to people experiencing homelessness. We have successfully completed the first 20 baskets and are grateful for all that has been donated.
Please help to complete this mitzvah! There’s an urgent need for new/nearly new bath towels, blankets, coffee makers, dish towels, sets of dishes for four, flatware for four, and pots and pans. The remaining baskets will be assembled on December 11 and delivered on December 18. These items can be placed in the laundry bins in the rotunda. In addition, please scroll below to order items from our Amazon or Target gift registries, donate funds for purchasing items, and volunteer to assemble baskets.
As the late Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks said, “Acts of kindness never die. They linger in the memory, giving life to other acts in return.” Please take just a few minutes to participate in this important act of kindness.
“These baskets and boxes will powerfully transform the structure that a family is living in, into a real home,” said Rabbi Silk at the sight of the assembled baskets and boxes.
Links have been set up with Amazon and Target to simplify the ordering process, with items delivered directly to Emanu El. Click the link below to help through Amazon.
Click here to contribute through Amazon.
Click here to contribute through Target.
Donations may be given for purchasing items by check, made out to Congregation Emanu El Sisterhood, with a notation for “Welcome Baskets,” and sent to the Sisterhood office.
Donations toward this effort may also be given online.
Donate OnlineVolunteers are needed to help with all aspects of the process. This is a project for every age and stage, and we encourage families, students and all congregants to play a part.
Volunteers are needed to help with all aspects of the process. This is a project for every age and stage, and we encourage families, students and all congregants to play a part. Volunteers are needed for basket assembly on December 11 (for delivery on December 18), from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
To volunteer or for more information, please contact: Sylvia Brody at welcomebasket22@gmail.com.
