Each day we do what we can, until, looking back over the course of a lifetime, we have a multitude of good small deeds that are the story of our life. This is something that we have to work at every single day. It begins with honesty and a commitment that every small deed matters.
— Rabbi Daniel G. Zemel
At Temple Micah, social justice and action are central to everything we believe and do, not just through programs, but as a primary expression of our values, our faith, and our whole lives.
As an urban congregation intentionally situated in the heart of DC, we are active citizens of the city in an effort to connect, support, learn, and exchange with people and projects in our local community, as well as progressive, liberal organizations in Israel.
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Micah House is a transitional residence for women in recovery from substance abuse, founded by Temple Micah members in 1989.
We maintain a close relationship with Micah House; every Spring we lace up our sneakers and hit the pavement for a “mini-walk” to raise money to support Micah House and we host a Shabbat service in the Fall.
Watch testimonials from former Micah House residents Syndi and Marsha.
Sukkat Shalom (Shelter of Peace) is Temple Micah’s initiative to help welcome refugees to the United States and to our community. Our work connects us to national organizations like HIAS and during 2021 we provided financial support for refugee legal assistance to leverage their staff at the Southern border and across the country. Sukkat Shalom continues to respond to the rapidly changing situation facing people who are desperately seeking to make a safe and secure life for themselves and their families. For more information contact sukkatshalom@templemicah.org.
Since 2017, we have worked closely with our local resettlement agency Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area, LSS, to support families new to our area. To respond to the recent emergency exodus from Afghanistan, Sukkat Shalom has committed to reprise its role as a Good Neighbor Partner. We are collaborating with LSS to resettle a new family in the DMV early in 2022. This effort requires a team of dedicated volunteers. If you want to join us, please read the volunteer overview and complete the form to volunteer at this link.
Hineni, which means “Here I Am,” is a volunteer committee that provides loving care to members in need. Consisting of over 100 volunteers, we mobilize meals for those who are ill, rides to the doctor or other appointments, phone calls to those who live alone, and more.
If you would like to volunteer or are just looking for some extra care during a time of need, please contact us at hineni@templemicah.org.
Our teens organize food and clothing drives benefiting Martha’s Table and other local nonprofits. Martha’s Table is a DC-based nonprofit that supports families by providing education, health and wellness resources, and family engagement programs.
2021/5782 (non) Underwear Drive
Every fall for the last two decades, from Rosh Hashanah through Yom Kippur, the sixth grade class organizes our Underwear Drive, which provides a year’s worth of undergarments for our neighbors at Friendship Place. Friendship Place is the premier housing service provider for people experiencing houselessness in the DC region. Their mission is to empower people experiencing or at risk of houselessness to attain stable housing and rebuild their lives.
We celebrate the holiday season with The National Center for Children and Families (NCCF) by donating new, unwrapped gifts that will bring smiles to over 1,100 children and youth in the NCCF community.
Every spring for two decades, we have joined Yachad for Sukkot in Spring, a program through which synagogue volunteers help repair the houses of low-income homeowners who aren’t physically or financially able to make their own repairs. Yachad is a Jewish housing and community development organization whose mission is to bring communities together by preserving affordable homes and stabilizing neighborhoods throughout the DC metropolitan area.
We support and partner with a variety of Israeli organizations that seek to build a strong bond between Reform and Progressive organizations in Israel, the North American Diaspora, and around the world. These organizations include: