Tikvat Israel Congregation

SEA Change

Tikvat Israel is a member congregation of the SEA Change DMV Network. Click here to learn more. 

SEA Change = Study, Engage, Act, Change

• Studying to learn more about the history, context & complexities of the inequities and social justice challenges we face,

• Engaging to build relationships with congregants, other synagogues and community partners that include those most impacted by social inequities, and

• Acting with partners to achieve systemic change.

Social Justice focuses on addressing the root causes of inequities, whereas Social Action focuses on the symptoms. For example, taking action to address homelessness through legislation that increases low income housing in our communities provides access to legal counsel for tenants facing eviction, increases the minimum wage, and access to mental health services are examples of how we work together with partners to address root causes of inequality.

We (SEA Change) are a network of synagogues fostering relationships and organizing internally and externally to create more equitable and inclusive communities.

• We ground our work in Jewish values and community organizing principles.

• We look internally within our congregations at ways we can act to make our own synagogues more equitable and welcoming to all.

• We engage our congregations to work with each other and with experienced advocacy organizations to take actions that promote social, racial, environmental, and economic justice.

Several TI members participated in the second local SEA Change cohort in 2022, along with members of other local Jewish congregations and organized in partnership with JOIN for Justice.

Tikvat Israel joined SEAChange in May, 2022 and has a core team led by Anna Levy, Debbie Amster and Roni Silverstein. For more information contact Anna Levy at or Roni Silverstein at

You can find opportunities to participate through our partners’ web sites:

Jews United for Justice (JUFJ) – https://jufj.org/

Interfaith Power & Light (IPL) – https://ipldmv.org/

Action in Montgomery (AIM) – https://www.actioninmontgomery.org/

What social justice interests might you about share with TI-SEAChange? Fill out our survey.interest form by clicking here.

Join our listserv to keep posted on upcoming events:

 

UPCOMING OPPORTUNITIES TO PARTICIPATE

TI SEA Change:

 

TI Immigration Action Team Meeting:

Thursday, November 20 at 7pm in the TI Library.  

Please contact Judi Fleitman  if you plan to attend or have questions.

We will discuss:

  • Opportunities to Support Directly Impacted Individuals and Families
  • Training & Action – including CareBears, Montgomery County Immigrant Rights Collective (MoCo IRC), CASA, DAN (District Accompaniment Network)
  • Ongoing & Anticipated Campaigns

Living Faith Lutheran Church Food Pantry

Help support our neighbors by donating to our friends at the Food Pantry at Living Faith Lutheran Church. Each $25 individual donation purchases about 28 pounds of critically needed food per family. You can donate online by clicking here and choosing the LFLC Food Pantry option, or by clicking below. For volunteer opportunities, contact Anna Levy or Judi Fleitman.

Click here to donate

Looking for Other Ways to

Support Our Immigrant Neighbors?

Click on these links to learn more:

Action In Montgomery

Action in Montgomery and the MD Just Power Alliance, our partners through SEA Change, have launched a Listening Campaign to provide input for 2026 priorities. TI SEA Change will be participating in upcoming Listening Sessions along with other Montgomery County SEA Change congregations. We will discuss the question: What is getting in the way of you, your family or your community from thriving? This is an opportunity to share what you think is important, as well as to meet other members of our community! Please join us at one of the following sessions. For registration links and questions, contact Lynne Benzion, .

  • Tuesday, December 9, 7 pm at Congregation Har Shalom. Click here to sign up.

 

AIM’s 25th Anniversary Celebration

Saturday, December 6 at 7:00 pm at Sligo Seventh-Day Adventist Church (7700 Carroll Ave, Takoma Park).

We’re thrilled to be celebrating AIM’s 25 years of impact, and we hope you will join us!

We invite you to our 25th Anniversary Celebration on Saturday, December 6 at 7:00 pm at Sligo Seventh-Day Adventist Church (7700 Carroll Ave, Takoma Park). See the invitation here.

JEWS UNITED FOR JUSTICE (JUFJ)

Maryland Convening: District Organizing

Wednesday, November 19, 2025, 7:00 pm

 

Join JUFJers across Maryland as we learn how to educate, mobilize, and activate members of our communities to advance critical legislation and win big during the 2026 legislative session.

For more information and to register, click here.

JUFJ Montgomery County Housing Team Meeting

Monday, November 24, 2025 7:00 PM –  8:30 PM ET

Join JUFJ’s Montgomery County housing team to discuss our ongoing eviction prevention and renters’ rights campaign work. A staffer from the Montgomery County Dept. of Housing and Community Affairs will present. This will be an opportunity  to learn more about the department and ask questions about the work they do and the challenges they face, so we can better understand how to push DHCA and the county towards accountability and increased protections for renters. If you haven’t yet, please RSVP here.

The 2025 Heschel Vision Awards

December 7 5:00 pm at the University of Maryland, College Park and on Zoom

Every year the Heschel Vision Awards brings together JUFJ’s community from across our region to connect, celebrate our collective accomplishments, and honor inspiring leaders in our movement. Joyful connection and inspiration help sustain us through times of struggle like these.

Join JUFJ as we honor local leaders who follow in the footsteps of Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel z”l (1907-1972) and beloved JUFJ leader Elissa Froman z”l (1983-2013) by fusing deep moral commitments with their activism.

Click here for more information and to RSVP.

Sign up to receive SEA Change emails: Click here to send an email with your name, phone number and e-mail address and we will add you to our list to receive regular information about our upcoming activities.

In This Section