How do you take your coffee?

How do you take your coffee? Tikkun Olam x Dorot @ HBT

By Susan Bookbinder and Joni Stossel

Tikkun Olam in Toronto was the topic for our Dorot program on February 18. We were privileged to have Cari Kozierok, Executive Director of Ve’ahavta, speak to the group. She shared her passion for the charitable programs which Ve’ahavta has offered to people in need in Toronto for almost thirty years.

Ve’ahavta is a Jewish humanitarian organization “dedicated to promoting positive change in the lives of people of all faiths who are marginalized by poverty. They offer hands-on opportunities to put the practices of tikkun olam and tzedakah into action to help address poverty and homelessness in our community.” Please see the Ve’ahavta website for more information: veahavta.org.

You may be familiar with their Outreach Vans that travel around the city offering people experiencing poverty a hot meal and other items that they need. Cari said to us: “What is the first question a volunteer is encouraged to ask a person who approaches the van? How do you take your coffee?” We are reminded that even more than the hot drink, people appreciate being acknowledged as individuals – just like you and me.

Before the program, Paula Warren, Fradell Epstein, Susan Bookbinder, Susan Kulczycki and Lynn  Fraiman (the picture-taker) from the Dorot Committee met in the Temple kitchen to prepare 160 sandwiches for distribution on the outreach vans – as a Make-a-Meal volunteer opportunity.