Blood Drive

JRC conducts an annual blood drive in conjunction with Lifesource Blood Services. Volunteers are needed to help publicize the event, assist in set-up, and be available on the day of the drive for a variety of jobs. Contact Sara Cohn

Coat Drive

JRC's annual Coat Drive, held each winter, collects coats for a variety of area social service agencies, such as the ARK and Sarah's Circle. Volunteers are needed to coordinate the event with the office, create flyers and e-mails for the school and congregation, and visit classes to encourage student participation. Volunteers may also be needed to keep the coats organized during collection and to deliver them to receiving agencies. Contact Sara Cohn

Environmental Concerns

JRC's Environmental Concerns Task Force seeks to educate and be a resource for the JRC community to do our part to create a "greener" congregation and more sustainable environment. Programs include JRC's annual Tu b'Shvat seder dinners and environmental programs; “Putting God on the Guest List” (Tips for a Green Simcha), the JRC Sustainability Pledge and work with the Evanston Interreligious Sustainability Circle; newsletter Eco-Tips; and “Lights for Learning” - a CFL light bulb fundraising project. Our focus this year is on developing "green" policies and practices for our new LEED-certified synagogue and creating a docent program to offer education and building tours. Contact Judy Mendel

Fair Trade & Sustainable Development

This task force strives to promote opportunities to put our Jewish values to work through the everyday purchasing decisions we make. Current projects include support for the Mirembe Kawomera interfaith coffee cooperative and our annual alternative Hanukkah Gift Bazaar (held this year on Sunday, November 11, 2007). Contact Elaine Waxman

Global AIDS

JRC's Global AIDS Task Force works on fundraising, public education and advocacy to ease the global AIDS epidemic, particularly in Africa where up to 50 percent of some communities are infected with HIV. The Task Force has organized programs and initiatives to raise funds for the American Jewish World Service, Heifer Project International and the Awassa (Ethiopia) Children's AIDS Education Circus. Eleven JRC members, including Rabbi Brant Rosen, traveled in April, 2005 to rural Uganda to learn first hand about epidemic's impact on communities and individuals. JRC will return to Africa in 2008 to volunteer with WE-ACTx, a women's HIV clinic in Rwanda, and work alongside our friends in the Mirembe Kawomera coffee cooperative in Uganda. Contact Deborah Wolen at

Hands of Peace

JRC provides support to this innovative program that brings Israeli-Jewish, Israeli-Arab, Palestinian, and American teens together each summer for dialogue and friendship. JRC hosts a Shabbat dinner and service for program participants and JRC families host teen participants during their stay in Chicago. Contact Rabbi Rosen or Alan Rubin

Human Rights

The newly-created Human Rights Task Force is designed to disseminate information and facilitate opportunities for learning and advocacy on a variety of issues, including the Darfur Crisis, refugee resettlement, immigration, and other emerging concerns. Contact Janine Biskind

Israel

The Israel Task Force meets on an ad-hoc basis to plan programs about current issues and events related to Israel. In the past, JRC has sponsored a number of speakers and films on a variety of Israel-related topics. Contact Rabbi Rosen or Ruth Wenger at

Maot Chitim

Moat Chitim is an all-volunteer organization that packages and delivers more than 5,000 boxes of food to less fortunate Chicago-area Jews twice a year, just before Rosh Hashanah and Passover. JRC members aged 12 and older assemble packages before delivery; all ages are welcome to deliver packages. Contact Diane Melnick via email at

Peace & Justice Dialogue

JRC's Peace & Justice Dialogue serves as a resource and catalyst to JRC members in addressing matters of peace and justice. We encourage others in the greater Jewish community to add their voices to those who believe strongly that there should be a Jewish voice, grounded in Jewish values, in the peace and justice movement in the Chicago Metropolitan Area. Although we recognize that there is no monolithic set of Jewish values, we believe that traditional sources in Judaism speak to many of the peace, justice and civil liberties issues of our time. Through our meetings and programs, we strive to make a difference in the focus and outcome of the public debate. Contact: Sallie Gratch via email at

Reggi Marder Memorial Task Force

The RMMTF was created in memory of beloved JRC member and tikkun olam activist Reggi Marder. Our mission is to increase awareness of clinical depression and suicide prevention through consciousness-raising and also through a special and creative Jewish activism inspired by Reggi. Together, we will educate ourselves and our community to reduce the ignorance and misunderstandings attached to how we think and respond to the reality of clinical depression. Contact Josh Mark

Refuat Hanefesh (healing of the spirit) is our monthly confidential support group for congregants coping with depression. Contact Kathy Rose or Carol Goldbaum

For additional information and resources regarding clinical depression and suicide prevention, please visit the websites of the following organizations:

• American Foundation for Suicide Prevention - a national organization and excellent resource
• Erika's Lighthouse - a local group focusing on mental health education and prevention/intervention for young people
• National Mental Health Association - a national organization with local chapters working on education, prevention and and a variety of programming for all ages with a broad range of mental health issues

Soup Kitchens

JRC members operate three Soup Kitchens each month at which groups of JRC volunteers cook a community meal for approximately 90 people in need. Participants are often asked to contribute one food item for the meal, and to prepare, serve and clean up. Children are welcome when supervised by their parents.

Sundays (usually the third Sunday of each month), St. Paul's Lutheran Church (1004 Greenwood, Evanston), 2-4:30 pm. Contact: Pam or Josh Mark at .

Mondays Second Baptist Church (1717 Benson, Evanston), 10 am-1 pm.
Contact: Linda Cosby at .

Thursdays First United Methodist Church (1630 Hinman, Evanston), 4-6
pm or 6-7:30 pm. Contact: Terese Ross at . We would like to find a co-coordinator for the Thursday evening soup kitchen.