We are particularly committed to serving the needs of others, both within and beyond our congregation. Our Social Action Committee offers an array of community service programs in which Beth Or members can participate and meets regularly to consider new ways in which we can fulfill this central goal of our community life. We are reaching out to the people of the wider community and are ready to help people within our Beth Or community when needs arise. Among our current, ongoing social action programs are:


Feeding the Hungry

Beth Or members are committed to serving food to needy and homeless people. Join us on the first Wednesday of each month at a soup kitchen in Waukegan or participate on select dates at the JUF Café located in Chicago.


The Lake County Haven

Our congregation supports the good work done by the Lake County Haven for women struggling to become self sufficient after domestic violence, substance abuse or other difficult life challenges. The Lake County Haven, located in Libertyville welcomes our donations of women's clothing and household supplies. Our youth group volunteered a week of their summer vacation revamping the children's playroom at The Lake County Haven, as well as providing a dinner for the residents.


Habitat for Humanity

Habitat for Humanity builds affordable housing for people in need while empowering families to help themselves. Once each month, members of our congregation join an interfaith social action group in this work.


Yad b’Yad (Hand-in-Hand)

The yad b’yad (Hand in Hand) committee lends support to our members during times of illness, bereavement, or special need. The committee maintains a list of volunteers, trained by Rabbi Oler, who are available to help in any of the following ways:

• Visit members in the hospital

• Make a shiva call or set out the meal after a funeral

• Prepare a meal

• Call and/or visit members confined to home

• Provide a ride to rehabilitation or therapy appointments

• Do general home repairs or errands for someone unable


Blood drives

Community blood drives, open to the public, are held annually to meet urgent local or national needs.


Beth Or Shares

We collect needed items for battered women, their children, and other individuals in the community at large. Our congregation holds holiday food drives and other collection projects for those in need.


Online Distance Tutoring

Through the Jewish United Fund’s TOV Literacy Project, Beth Or members -- from the comfort of their own homes or offices -- can spend 20-30 minutes per week online helping a child in a Chicago school build reading comprehension and phonics skills. Connected through a phone line and with a unique dual interface, tutor and student see the same computer screen in their respective locations and sound out the words together over the phone. The TOV Literacy Project works under the umbrella organization of the National Jewish Coalition for Literacy.