Preparations for Jewish Social Action Month in 2008 are already well under way. The Hebrew month of Cheshvan (October 30 - November 27, 2008) will be a global celebration of Jewish unity and social action. KolDor members and Jewish activists from around the world have formed a team, including co-chairs Tamar Wisemon (Israel), Ben Leon (Europe and RoW) and Larry Dobkin (North America), to promote JSAM 2008 and ensure that it builds on the amazing success and growth of this initiative. To get involved, contact jsam@koldor. org and refer to this website for information and ideas. Declare and publicize your support, have JSAM marked on all your organizational calendars and start planning social action projects to help celebrate JSAM 2008. JSAM is for everyone who want to make our world a better place.  

Jewish Social Action Month [JSAM] in 2007 brought tremendous benefit to local Jewish communities, to the Jewish people and to the world. This year Jews from across the globe and across the spectrum of Jewish life and affiliation are making the Hebrew month of Cheshvan (October 30 - November 27, 2008) a celebration of social action and unity. Hundreds of valuable and inspiring social action projects are being carried out or initiated. The Israeli Parliament (Knesset) began the process to make JSAM an official part of the calendar of the State of Israel. JSAM is embraced by over 200 Jewish and non-Jewish organizations around the world, ranging from major international and national institutions to the grassroots and local groups at the heart of so much local action. 

In just three years JSAM has become an important and growing part of the Jewish calendar and consciousness. JSAM was launched in 2005 by KolDor, a global network of young Jewish activists, by www.socialaction.com and by Member of the Knesset, Rabbi Michael Melchior. The aim was to transform Cheshvan, a month previously without holidays and often associated in the Jewish tradition with bitterness, into a global celebration of positive action and unity. The continued growth of JSAM in 2008 - in projects, in support, in public and media awareness - is making that dream a reality.

JSAM 2007 showed that there are no limits to what can be achieved by Jews working together to repair the world. Many of the social action programs that JSAM highlighted and inspired are continuing throughout the year. The successes of JSAM 2005 through 2007 have paved the way for the growth of Jewish Social Action Month in future years. KolDor thanks and congratulates everyone involved in Jewish Social Action Month. Check this website regularly for in-depth information on JSAM 2008. To discuss YOUR plans for JSAM 2008, contact jsam@koldor.org.

The United Kingdom Jewish community has already set dates for two highlight events in 2007 which will prvide an opportunity for all to come together and unify around the values of tzedek and tikkun olan.  The first event, Activist Training Day will be held in London on Sunday October 14 from 1:30-8:30 pm. Organized by the Make Poverty History Jewish Coalition-Jewish Social Justice Network, it will include a mixture of workshops, talks, discussions, and it will focus on the "doing." Sessions on action will include Campaign Darfur. This opening event will also be linked with the start of the global call to Action Against Poverty. To mark the occasion, a celebratory dinner will be held

At the end of Jewish Social Action month 2007, the UK community will hold a Mitzvah Day on Sunday, November 18, coordinated by the Jewish Community Centre for London which will include a World Jewish Relief Packathon. Eight organisations from across the religious spectrum have already agreed to take part in Mitzvah Day including local synagogues, youth movements, schools and other groups. This day will engage hundreds of volunteers in a variety of activities that will help both Jewish and non-Jewish causes. Local synagogues and Jewish groups are in the process of planning many other events and activities. Stay tuned

For more information contact jsamuk@hotmail.co.uk