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There are many ways to get involved in tikkun olam with Beth El.
Beth El’s Am Yisrael Chai Committee supports various projects that include: Cards for IDF Soldiers, Israel Mission Trips, and a partnership with Kibbutz Nir Oz.
Cards for Israel Defense Forces Soldiers Join us on Mitzvah Day to make cards to send to Israeli soldiers (in collaboration with FIDF).
Volunteer in Israel with Kesher Nir Oz Join a transformational volunteer experience across Israel, with a meaningful connection to Kibbutz Nir Oz, one of the communities most devastated by October 7. Volunteer from July 5014, 2026 where help is most needed and be part of an extraordinary story of hope and renewal. For more information, visit https://israeloutdoors.com/kesherniroz.
Beth El’s annual Mitzvah Day is on the last Sunday in October and annual Good Deeds Day aligns with the Global Good Deeds Day in April. Projects include: Bicycle Collection, Blood Drive, Support the Girls Bras & Feminine Hygiene Products Collection, Calendar Collection for the Hebrew Home, Clothing Collection, Food Drive, Sandwich Making, Prescription Drug Collection, and more.
Used Bicycle Collection with Bicycles for the World Volunteers collect used bicycles and monetary donations. The bicycles are given a second life in developing countries by Bikes for the World. Project coordinator: Richard Lieberman (rliebermanconsultant@gmail.com)
Blood Drive Save lives by donating blood with INOVA. Project coordinators: Jack Ventura (jack.ventura@verizon.net), Jon Simon (jonathan747@gmail.com)
Support the Girls Bra/Feminine Hygiene Product Collection Collect donations of new and gently used bras and individually wrapped or unopened boxes of tampons and sanitary pads for homeless women. Project coordinator: Erika Dickstein (erika@springinsight.com)
Hebrew Home Calendar Collection Calendar drive for residents of the Hebrew Home. Project coordinator: Doris Povich (dlpandasp@aol.com)
Beth El Crafters Projects Join Women of Beth El crafters on Mitzvah Day, Good Deeds Day, and optional Monday afternoons and Wednesday evenings at Beth El. Work on projects focused on specific needs of our community and Israel as well as individual projects. Project coordinator: Heather Janssen (heathergjanssen@gmail.com)
Clothing Collection for Interfaith Clothing Center Collect gently used clothing for adults, teens, and children for low-income and homeless families. Project Coordinators: Andrea and Richard Jaffe (agold5092@gmail.com and rjaffeindmv@gmail.com)
Food Drive for Manna Food Center Collect donations of non-perishable packaged food to be distributed to the needy in our community through Manna Food Center. For guidelines and most-needed items, visit https://www.mannafood.org.
Food Preparation for Interfaith Works Women’s Shelter and Shepherd’s Table Meals prepared at home to be dropped of at Beth El or in-person cooking at Beth El, including casseroles, baked goods, and fresh fruit for area homeless shelters. Project coordinators: Danielle Miller Wagner (daniellejmw@yahoo.com) and Laura Silberman (laura.silberman@gmail.com)
Sandwich Preparation for Shepherd’s Table and/or Martha’s Kitchen Sandwiches prepared at home or at Beth El for those in need. Project coordinator: Donna Shimshi (DonnaShimshi@gmail.com)
Musical Programs at Hebrew Home and Revitz House Beth El Band and Marak Hayom perform Jewish music for residents at the Hebrew Home and Revitz House. Project coordinator: Sheryl Miller (sherylrosemiller@gmail.com)
Prescription Drug Collection The Men’s Club collects expired or no longer needed prescription medications for safe disposal. Project coordinator: Jonathan Epstein (jonathan.epstein@hklaw.com)
Beth El’s ongoing Community Projects include: Women’s Shelter meals, Partnering with Nourishing Bethesda to pack food, Bethesda Help, Manna Food Center, Women of Beth El Crafters, Blood Drives, and more.
DC Diaper Bank Beth El is now listed as a “DC Diaper Bank Ambassador” drop off location for the DC Diaper Bank. Bin in lobby. Collecting new and unused (open package is fine) diapers and pull ups and new and unopened wipes and diaper cream. Donations Will need to be dropped off at dc diaper bank warehouse. Project coordinator: Melissa Eisenberg (meisenberg111@gmail.com)
Interfaith Women’s Shelter Meal Service Beth El volunteers at the Interfaith Works Women’s Center to purchase breakfast and supply and serve dinner for one week (Monday-Friday) each year. The center currently serves between 35-40 clients. This is a wonderful opportunity to volunteer in our community and for students to earn SSL hours. Project coordinator: Carolyn Berger (CarBerger5@gmail.com)
Food Sorting at Manna Food Center Beth El volunteers age 11+ pack boxes of non-perishable food at the Manna warehouse in Gaithersburg for distribution to the needy in Montgomery County. We are in need of up to 12 volunteers age 11+. In addition to serving the greater community, one of the goals is to give all Beth El parents a way to participate with their children (age 11 and older) in community service. SSL hours are available. Project coordinator: Jonathan Epstein (jonathan.epstein@hklaw.com)
Food Packing at Nourishing Bethesda Nourishing Bethesda’s mission is to fight food insecurity in our area by providing nutritious food to our neighbors in need. Volunteers can sign up for first and third Thursdays to pack food. SSL hours available. Contact Cathy Higgins at cathy@nourishingbethesda.org to learn more about this volunteer opportunity.
Food Packing and Delivery for Bethesda Help Bethesda Help provides food to residents in need in Bethesda and surrounding areas. Volunteer opportunities include food delivery (1-2 days/month commitment), officers of the day (respond to client requests for food assistance), pantry baggers (1-2 days/month), and hosting food drives. Women of Beth El prepare kids snack bags for children of families requesting assistance. For more information on these volunteer opportunities, visit https://www.bethesdahelp.org or email info@bethesdahelp.org.
Volunteering at Shepherd’s Table Volunteers serve meals and clean up on the second Sunday of the month. Project coordinator: Katey Koblenz (kateykoblenz@gmail.com)
Blood Drive Save lives by donating blood with INOVA. Project coordinators: Jack Ventura (jack.ventura@verizon.net) and Jon Simon (jonathan747@gmail.com)
Beth El Crafters Projects Join Women of Beth El crafters on select Monday afternoons and Wednesday evenings at Beth El. Work on projects focused on specific needs of our community and Israel as well as individual projects. Project coordinator: Heather Janssen (heathergjanssen@gmail.com)
Meals on Wheels Deliver food as part of JSSA’s Meals on Wheels program. Project coordinator: Fran Rubin (farphd@farbob.com)
Beth El participates in several projects throughout the year that are related to Jewish holidays.
Rosh Hashanah Gift Bag Delivery For the last several years, Beth El has participated in delivering gift bags to residents of the local Russian Jewish community for Rosh Hashanah. This is a great family activity and an extremely rewarding activity requiring less than one hour of time. Each volunteer family will deliver bags to three to four families. Project coordinator: Rebecca Edelson (rgedelson@gmail.com)
Yom Kippur Food Drive Drop off non-perishable food to donate to Manna Food Center on Kol Nidre. Drop off in the blue bin outside of the building.
Sukkot Sukkah Brigade Help construct and take down sukkahs for local Makom group homes. This project needs a coordinator. If you are interested, please contact David Rifkind at dfrifkind@gmail.com.
Passover JSSA “Wheat Money” Fundraiser Women of Beth El collect tzedakah (wheat money) to support JSSA program that provides food and ritual items to individuals and families who would otherwise be unable to celebrate the holiday comfortably. Project coordinator: Women of Beth El (wbe@bethelmc.org)
Passover Gift Basket Delivery Deliver Passover Holiday Baskets to needy Jewish families in Washington, D.C. area in collaboration with JSSA Passover Program and B’nai B’rith Project H.O.P.E. Project coordinators: Jack Ventura (jack.ventura@verizon.net) and Stephanie Ventura (stephanie.ventura@verizon.net)
Used Bicycle Collection with Bicycles for the World (Good Deeds Day) Volunteers collect used bicycles and monetary donations. The bicycles are given a second life in developing countries by Bikes for the World. Project coordinator: Richard Lieberman (rliebermanconsultant@gmail.com)
Support the Girls Bra/Feminine Hygiene Product Collection (Good Deeds Day) Collect donations of new and gently used bras and individually wrapped or unopened boxes of tampons and sanitary pads for homeless women. Project coordinator: Erika Dickstein (erika@springinsight.com).
Beth El Crafters Projects (Ongoing) Join Women of Beth El crafters on select Monday afternoons and Wednesday evenings at Beth El. Work on projects focused on specific needs of our community and Israel as well as individual projects. Project coordinator: Heather Janssen (heathergjanssen@gmail.com)
Food Preparation for Interfaith Works Women’s Shelter and Shepherd’s Table (Good Deeds Day) Meals prepared at home to be dropped of at Beth El or in-person cooking at Beth El, including casseroles, baked goods, and fresh fruit for area homeless shelters. Project coordinators: Danielle Miller Wagner (daniellejmw@yahoo.com) and Laura Silberman (laura.silberman@gmail.com)
Sandwich Preparation for Shepherd’s Table and/or Martha’s Kitchen (Good Deeds Day) Sandwiches prepared at home or at Beth El for those in need. Project coordinator: Donna Shimshi (DonnaShimshi@gmail.com)
Musical Programs at Hebrew Home and Revitz House (Good Deeds Day) Beth El Band and Marak Hayom perform Jewish music for residents at the Hebrew Home and Revitz House. Project coordinator: Sheryl Miller (sherylrosemiller@gmail.com)
Cards for Israel Defense Forces Soldiers (Good Deeds Day) Join us on Mitzvah Day to make cards to send to Israeli soldiers (in collaboration with FIDF).
Interfaith Women’s Shelter Meal Service (Ongoing) Beth El volunteers at the Interfaith Works Women’s Center to purchase breakfast and supply and serve dinner for one week (Monday-Friday) each year. The center currently serves between 35-40 clients. This is a wonderful opportunity to volunteer in our community and for students to earn SSL hours. Project coordinator: Carolyn Berger (CarBerger5@gmail.com)
Food Sorting at Manna Food Center (Ongoing) Beth El volunteers age 11+ pack boxes of non-perishable food at the Manna warehouse in Gaithersburg for distribution to the needy in Montgomery County. We are in need of up to 12 volunteers age 11+. In addition to serving the greater community, one of the goals is to give all Beth El parents a way to participate with their children (age 11 and older) in community service. SSL hours are available. Project coordinator: Jonathan Epstein (jonathan.epstein@hklaw.com)
Food Packing at Nourishing Bethesda (Ongoing) Nourishing Bethesda’s mission is to fight food insecurity in our area by providing nutritious food to our neighbors in need. Volunteers can sign up for first and third Thursdays to pack food. SSL hours available. Contact Cathy Higgins at cathy@nourishingbethesda.org to learn more about this volunteer opportunity.
