• Since 1874, Temple Beth-El has had a long-standing history of fighting for social justice and equality throughout the state of Texas and across the nation. As a founding member of the Union for American Hebrew Congregations, Temple has always taken great pride in social justice work and ethical practice. Whether through direct service or advocacy work, Temple Beth-El continues to create progressive social change and positive impacts for congregants, neighbors, and the community. 
• 1897 to 1920: Rabbi Samuel Marks became active in civic activities across the state.
• 1923 to 1942: Rabbi Ephraim Frisch was a prominent activist who supported teaching evolution in schools, opposed the state poll tax, and advocated for workers’ rights. Rabbi Frisch would also criticize police raids and the arresting of labor protestors.
• 1942 to 1976: Rabbi David Jacobson chaired a San Antonio commission examining the city’s economic and social issues. Rabbi Jacobson became a persistent advocate of racial desegregation throughout the city.
• 1976 to 2002: Rabbi Samuel M. Stahl was deeply committed to enhancing interfaith relations. He is the first Jewish leader to receive religious leadership awards from the Texas Conference of Churches and the San Antonio Community of Churches.
• 2002 to 2013: Rabbi Barry Block was known for his interfaith advocacy and promotion of immigration and LGBT+ rights.
• 2009: Temple Beth-El received the Irving J. Fain Award for Social Action from the Religious Action Center for our “Darfur Calls” program.
• 2013: Temple Beth-El received the Irving J. Fain Award for Social Action from the Religious Action Center for our “Food & Fun Summer Day Camp” (now called CreativKids SA).
• Since 2014, Rabbi Mara Nathan has maintained Temple Beth-El as a contemporary and welcoming place of worship. Together with Rabbi Marina Yergin, Temple Beth-El remains one of the few Reform temples with all female clergy.
• Since 2017, Rabbi Marina Yergin has integrated a community organizing and small group structure into our social action and social justice activities. We encourage lay leaders to learn about and engage with community issues about which they are passionate. 
• In 2018, Temple Beth-El created the position of Social Justice Fellow to amplify and further develop unique direct service activities, ongoing volunteer opportunities, and advocacy efforts. Our first Social Justice Fellow, Ross Halfant, has created many programs, including NEFESH, and developed family mitzvah days for our religious school families.
• In 2019, Temple Beth-El received the Union for Reform Judaism’s Belin Award for Audacious Hospitality for our NEFESH program. Additonally, Temple Beth-El joined the Religious Action Center Brit Olam – Covenant of the World.
• Created in 2021, the ACT, Advocacy Combined with Tikkun Olam, Committee merges previous work through the Social Action Committee, H3 (Head, Heart, & Hands), the Nonpartisan Civic Engagement Campaign, and other legislative endeavors. 
• Later that same year, Temple Beth-El joined a pilot program called Act Against Antisemitism with the Union for Reform Judaism and the Anti-Defamation League. Temple created a committee and programs through the cohort to engage our community in this issue. Temple joined the program’s official launch the following year, renamed Kulanu. 
• In 2022, Temple Beth-Elwill continues “green” initiatives by updating its recycling program, which includes paper, broken-down cardboard, and clean glass and cans. Temple also prioritized diversity, equity, and inclusion by publishing and adding to the many ways we fulfill b’tzelem Elohim.
• As of 2023, Temple Beth-El has transitioned the ACT Committee into Beyond the Dome, a year-long educational series for the congregation.

Beyond the Dome is compromised of educational programs in addition to Temple’s biannual social action forums. Each year, there will be an overarching theme that will connect each learning session. From 2023-2024 the theme is education.

For more information, contact Miguel Salazar, Co-Chair, at moc.loa@8lkrbs or Bobbie Malone, Co-Chair, at moc.liamg@enolam.eibbob.

Advocacy has always been central to both Reform Judaism and Temple Beth-El. The Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism states that “our democracy is strongest when everyone has the opportunity to participate,” and it’s important for Temple Beth-El members to partake in local, state, and federal elections. Regardless of political belief, voting is a central and non-partisan issue that our congregation can get behind. To help Temple Beth-El become a 100% voting congregation, click here.

Texas’ law, Senate Bill 8, which was passed during the 87th Legislative Session, restricts a woman’s right to choose and fundamentally makes abortion illegal. As Reform Jews, reproductive freedom is rooted in our tradition, and as a community, Temple Beth-El remains committed to advocating for these beliefs. Click here to view Temple Beth-El’s response to this issue, as well as resources and how to take action. 

• Read Rabbi Mara Nathan’s High Holy Day Sermon, “The Right to Choose is a Jewish Value“

For any questions, please contact Ross Halfant at gro.asle-hteb@ssor.

Temple Beth-El Helps Make the World a Better Place.

Temple has many different community service programs and events throughout the year. From Tzedek Thursdays to Family TzEDek Days to Mitzvah Month, read weekly announcements and Temple social media to stay up-to-date on the most recent ways to help.

Additionally, Temple offers many volunteer opportunities.

Feeding the Hungry

For nearly 40 years, our community has come together to benefit the San Antonio Food Bank, which feeds over 120,000 Texans a week across 16 counties. At Temple, each participant at our Rosh Hashanah evening service will receive a paper grocery bag and is asked to return the bag during Yom Kippur morning services filled with food for those in need. That day, representatives from the San Antonio Food Bank, assisted by our volunteers, will collect the donations in the San Pedro parking lot, near the Temple, for distribution. If you want to learn more about our High Holy Day Hunger Drive, contact Ross Halfant. 

Did you know Temple Beth-El has a year-round food pantry? Our pantry is open during the week and available to all needing food. Donations are welcome and always needed. Food items needed are soup-to-go cups, tuna pouches, microwavable bowls, peanut butter, and other portable meals. For any questions, please get in touch with Ross Halfant at gro.asle-hteb@ssor.

CreativeKids SA Summer Camp

CreativKids SA is the only summer camp in the downtown San Antonio area that provides free activities, in addition to meals, for most of the summer. There are many fun learning activities facilitated by volunteer counselors between meals in the educational fields of art, music, STEM, physical fitness, cooking, tennis, drama, and more. To learn how to get involved with CreativeKids SA, click here.

The ACT Committee is responsible for two Shabbat educational forums, Spring and Fall, that will showcase a variety of social action issues. 

Each month, Temple Beth-El’s program NEFESH (Neighbors Elevating Faith, Education, Service and Hope) raises awareness and educates members about various marginalized groups and social justice issues, which impact these groups in our national and local communities. Our NEFESH (Hebrew for soul) entries provide a wide variety of educational resources, cultural materials, and how you, individually and communally, can make an impact within and for those communities. Click here to see past month’s toolkits.

Temple Beth-El’s Legislative Handbook was a tool that helped you learn more about the 87th Texas legislative session, how to safely lobby, and the issues and bills that were addressed. Co-sponsored by RAC-TX, this was a working document, that is now retired.

In 2020 and beyond, Temple Beth-El remains committed to racial and social change:

• Statement by Mara S. Nathan, Senior Rabbi and Amy C. Benedikt, M.D., President
• Antiracism and Allyship Educational Resources for Temple Beth-El

Banned Books Week

• The American Library Association states that Banned Books Week is “an annual event celebrating the freedom to read. Typically held during the last week of September, it spotlights current and historical attempts to censor books in libraries and schools.”
• Temple Beth-El firmly believes that education and freedom of speech are imperative to a healthy democracy. You can learn more about Banned Books Week by clicking here.

A project of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, RAC-TX is locally-led and collectively organizing the Reform Jewish Movement state-wide to build a more just and compassionate society for all Texans. Founded in 2018, RAC-TX has seen successful campaigns regarding school finance reform, democracy protection, reproductive freedom, and immigrant rights. Click here to learn more and get involved.

 Click here to report any antisemitic incidents you experience to the Anti-Defamation League and the Union for Reform Judaism.