Dear Tikkun Olam Community,

Sometimes it’s so hard to hold more than one emotion in my heart, and this is one of those moments. My excitement, happiness for our community, and for future communities, and pride is mixed with a lot of sadness that this is Jess Friedman’s last Mitzvah Moments in her tenure as Tikkun Olam Coordinator.

For those that haven’t heard, Jess’s last day as TBE staff (in this current position…keeping the door open) is May 31 as she heads to Israel as a rabbinic student and future rabbi. It’s a perfect career choice for someone as intelligent, compassionate, dedicated, brave and energetic as our Jess.

In my tenure as VP of Tikkun Olam, she has been an incredible partner, friend, confidant and changemaker. Her one-of-a-kind positive energy has made substantial improvements in the organization, creation, and heart of our Tikkun Olam initiatives and the Ma’asim Tovim program. This is even more heroic considering she came to this position while our Tikkun Olam work was reeling from the disruption of COVID.

Jess’s imprint at TBE will last for years to come. We will continue to benefit from the changes she has made here and watch with awe at the changes she is destined to make in this world. On behalf of all the Tikkun Olam community, I wish Jess a gigantic kol hakavod, much love and so many thanks. You can read Jess's goodbye to the community here.

Love,

Jessica Lasser

Outgoing VP of Tikkun Olam

As Jessica Lasser, our wonderful outgoing VP of Tikkun Olam transitions to a different board position, we are excited to welcome our new VP of Tikkun Olam, Nicole Roos!

Nicole has been a member of TBE since 2005. Since then, she has been actively engaged in numerous activities, including serving as the TBE liaison to the Greater Boston Interfaith Organization (GBIO); TBE Congregants to Prevent Gun Violence; and, since late 2019, coordinating the TBE Racial Justice Initiative’s Voter Freedom/”Every Voice Every Vote” campaign to combat voter suppression. Nicole is a current Advisory Committee member and former Board Member of the Jewish Alliance for Law and Social Action (JALSA) and a former Board chair of NARAL Prochoice Massachusetts (now Reproductive Equity Now (REN)). She is a longtime member of the NARAL/REN Endorsement Committee.

With a background in health care management, Nicole has worked at the MA Department of Public Health since 1995 in a variety of roles, all related to improving systems of care for children with special health needs and their families. She is currently the Operations and Budget Manager in the DPH Division for Children & Youth with Special Health Needs. Originally from New York, Nicole came to MA for college and loves it here. She now lives in Waltham.

Family Table Collection & Volunteer Opportunities

Ongoing

Thank you for your continued support of Family Table. As a community, each month we are responsible for supplying 50 cans of salmon and 50 boxes of whole grain cereal for families in need. Thank you for bringing contributions when you come to TBE.

Looking for More Ways to Repair Our World?

These are only a small selection of the opportunities we have to repair our world. Check our calendar for all upcoming opportunities with TBE.

If you would like to support any of the tikkun olam initiatives, please make a donation to the Social Action Fund by selecting Social Action Fund from the dropdown menu.

Jessica Lasser

VP of Tikkun Olam

Temple Beth Elohim's programs and events are made possible through the generosity of our members. Thank you for supporting Jewish life by being a part of our community!