Social Justice and Social Action at Or Emet

At Or Emet, we believe that Judaism’s enduring call to tikkun olam, to repair the world, is not just a metaphor, but a lived commitment. We draw on the rich Jewish tradition of ethical obligation, communal responsibility, and standing with the vulnerable—while grounding ourselves in our humanistic commitment to reason, science, and human agency. Instead of waiting on a supernatural power to create change, we believe in working together to make the world a better place.

Our Humanistic Jewish commitment to world-repair is not occasional; it is woven into our ritual life, into our Jewish Cultural Sunday School and adult education programs, and into almost everything that we do programmatically. Led by our Social Justice/Social Action Committee, our rabbi, and other members of our leadership, here are some examples of how we engage in service, education, advocacy, and partnership:

  • We volunteer on a regular basis with organizations such as Loaves & Fishes, and we have a longstanding history of service at a men’s shelter and soup kitchen.
  • We have long supported, through donations of goods (food and warm clothing) and funds, Twin Cities charities including The Listening House (a daytime shelter for people experiencing poverty, homelessness, and loneliness) and Hallie Q. Brown Community Center (an African American, nonprofit social service agency open to all, primarily serving the Summit University area of Saint Paul).
  • We engage in community and political action along with our sister organization Jews for a Secular Democracy and in support of initiatives like the National Day of Reason.
  • We proudly participate in Twin Cities Pride events, and we have a long history of working for LGBTQ+ rights (including participation in the campaign for marriage equality).
  • In partnership with Jewish Community Action and the Minnesota Interfaith Coalition on Immigration, we have led a vigil for immigration justice at the Whipple Federal Building at Fort Snelling, the regional ICE headquarters for a five-state area and the site of both immigrant detention facilities and an immigration court.
  • We have lent our voices and bodies to numerous political gatherings including the Women’s March, the George Floyd protests for racial justice and police accountability, the No Kings protests, ICE OUT protests, and others.
  • In partnership with HIAS, we host an annual Refugee Shabbat that mobilizes our community to act in solidarity with refugees, asylum seekers, and displaced people.
  • As part of our High Holiday activities, we express our concern for the environment through sponsorship of an annual Reverse Tashlich where we clean up litter along a local lakefront.
  • Students in our B Mitzvah Program choose and participate in community service and social justice projects ranging from volunteering with Second Harvest Heartland and Friends of the Mississippi River to marching for immigrant rights and lobbying their elected officials to address the climate crisis.
  • Rabbi Eva Cohen represents Or Emet’s social justice values in the broader community, signing on to statements, giving testimony, participating in issues-based lobbying, speaking to the press, and standing with fellow clergy and other community leaders at vigils and rallies. Click here to watch testimony that Rabbi Eva offered at the December 2025 Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC) meeting, calling on the MAC to protect their immigrant workforces.

How You Can Get Involved

Everyone has a role to play. Whether you’re a longtime member, a new visitor, or someone curious, here’s how you can join in:

  • Join our Social Justice/Social Action Committee and meet the people who help plan and lead many of our initiatives.
  • Volunteer with our partner agencies (Loaves & Fishes, Jewish Community Action, et cetera).
  • Engage in our social justice-oriented adult education sessions where we explore issues such as immigration justice, climate action, and LGBTQ+ rights.
  • Bring your ideas! We welcome members with passion for justice to propose projects, events, or partnerships.
  • Invite your friends! Make it known that Or Emet is a community where social justice is lived and where every person is welcome.

Please contact our president to learn more about our social justice and social action work, get connected with the Social Justice/Social Action Committee, or propose a project.

Our Promise

At Or Emet we don’t just talk about values — we live them. We promise to:

  • Stand with those who experience discrimination or marginalization.
  • Use our cultural voice as Jews and humanists to advocate for justice, equity, dignity and compassion.
  • Partner with organizations already doing great work in the Twin Cities and beyond.
  • Continuously educate ourselves, evolve, and lovingly hold each other accountable.

We believe that a small but determined community can make meaningful impact. By living our Humanistic Jewish values boldly, inclusively, and actively, we repair the world, one act at a time.