This Time, It Truly Was For The Birds!

It was a beautiful day and beautiful labor on behalf of the avian world.  Over thirty birdhouses went up on an island habitat in the middle of Lake Norman this past weekend.  We hope to follow up on this environmental tikkun olam with an island clean-up day this summer, so stay tuned for more information!

Thanks to Will King for organizing, Steve and Robbin Smith, Sherry and Lyle Champion, Yeshecah Jackson, Jack Stein, John King, and Rabbi Barbara for building and mounting the birdhouses (and a squirrel house, too….).

Earth Day and Passover

We have the whole world in our hands.
We have  the frogs and the forests in our hands,
We have  the wind and the honeybees in our hands,
We have  the whole world in our hands!

We have  the wheat and the mountains in our hands,
We have  the winds and the oceans in our hands,
We have the rain and the rivers in our hands,
We have  the whole world in our hands!

We have the trees and tigers in our hands,
We have  our sisters and our brothers in our hands
We have our children and their children in our hands,
WE HAVE  THE WHOLE WORLD IN OUR HANDS!

This year, Passover will begin just as Earth Day ends.  We would like, at Temple Or Olam, to suggest that we take note during our seders of the many ways we have enslaved ourselves to practices that are destroying the earth’s resources.  Let us commit to liberation – for all the inhabitants of this world, and let us work towards that goal. A sweet and inspiring Pesach to all!

Freedom School — Speaker James Ford in Charlotte

Children’s Defense Fund Freedom Schools® programs are six-week summer literacy programs. Freedom School Partners serves children who most need and yet can least afford summer learning opportunities. http://freedomschoolpartners.org/

This year, the Freedom School held at Shalom Park is focusing on Economic and Social Mobility in the New South: Changing the Landscape Through Education, a topic that aligns closely with the Freedom School’s goals.  The featured speaker for this year’s program is James Ford, formerly a teacher at Garinger High School.  Mr. Ford was the 2014-2015 NC Teacher of the Year and is currently program director at the NC Public School Forum.  Mr. Ford will speak about the life-changing potential of a quality education for at-risk children.  His talk will be followed by a question and answer session and a coffee and dessert reception.

Date: Tuesday May 3
Time: 7 PM
Location: The Sam Lerner Center at the LJCC
Freedom School — Speaker James Ford in Charlotte

Children’s Defense Fund Freedom Schools® programs are six-week summer literacy programs. Freedom School Partners serves children who most need and yet can least afford summer learning opportunities. http://freedomschoolpartners.org/

This year, the Freedom School held at Shalom Park is focusing on Economic and Social Mobility in the New South: Changing the Landscape Through Education, a topic that aligns closely with the Freedom School’s goals.  The featured speaker for this year’s program is James Ford, formerly a teacher at Garinger High School.  Mr. Ford was the 2014-2015 NC Teacher of the Year and is currently program director at the NC Public School Forum.  Mr. Ford will speak about the life-changing potential of a quality education for at-risk children.  His talk will be followed by a question and answer session and a coffee and dessert reception.

Date: Tuesday May 3
Time: 7 PM
Location: The Sam Lerner Center at the LJCC