Jews for Social Action (JSA) is the volunteer social justice group of North Shore Temple Emanuel, a Progressive synagogue in Sydney. The group, established in 2001, embodies the Jewish values of ‘Tikkun Olam’ (repairing the world) by taking a hands-on approach to working towards social justice. Among other programs, JSA volunteers work to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and Reconciliation.
Early Support Aboriginal Literacy Project
Since 2005, JSA has run a successful literacy program for infants and primary-aged Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in the Northern Sydney Region – the JSA Early Support Aboriginal Literacy Project. Through it, Jewish volunteers have so far supported over 50 children at 20 primary schools in the Northern Sydney region with two or three one-to-one tutoring sessions of 30-40 minutes each per week during school terms. The Project has the endorsement of the Reconciliation Network, Northern Sydney Region. It is conducted in collaboration with the Aboriginal Education Team at the Regional Office of the NSW Department of Education.
Biala Hostel Homework Program
JSA has also had a long-standing relationship with Biala Hostel in Sydney’s Northern Beaches area. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students from the country board at Biala during school terms so they can attend high school in Sydney. JSA coordinates a group of volunteer tutors, mainly teachers from the local area, who visit the hostel each week to help the students with their homework. Nominated for the 2015 Rabbi Richard G. Hirsch International Social Action Award and recognised in 2017 for 10 years of commitment to Aboriginal education with an Award from the Metropolitan North Aboriginal Education Consultative Group, this project continues to fill a great need.
Remote Outback Reading and Beanies Project
JSA also promotes literacy through regular mailings of magazines, knitted dolls and knitted beanies to 11 remote Aboriginal community schools all around Australia. The magazines assist with literacy and provide information to bolster school resources. We would love to get any copies of Australian Geographic magazines that you could spare, as these are the most useful. Annually over 100 beanies knitted by the Jewish community are sent out to schools to provide warmth for the children in the cold desert winters. This program has been operating for the last 13 years.
Advocacy and Education
JSA engages in advocacy work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, including lobbying members of parliament to Raise The Age in NSW (in relation to the minimum age of criminal responsibility in NSW, which disproportionately affects Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth); running workshops about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander issues and ‘I Speak My Mind Talks’; and on an annual basis, hosting ‘The Aboriginal Experience’ as part of the Guringai Festival. This involves Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people active in the local community sharing their thoughts on topics they feel passionate about.