Celebrating Congregations Doing Community-Based Social Justice

Every two years, the Commission on Social Action of Reform Judaism (CSA) awards the Irving J. Fain Social Justice Award, recognizing congregations for excellence in social justice programming and initiatives. This year, the CSA selected 17 programs from across North America as Fain Award recipients.

While the tradition of presenting the Fain Award to congregations is decades old, the work of this year’s awardees reflects the diversity in meaningful social justice work taking place in congregations across the Reform Movement, reflecting our commitment to pursuing the world we want – a world filled with wholeness, justice and compassion.

The Fain Awards are intended to honor congregations for their engaging their full community in justice work, implementing replicable programs and initiatives with measurable impact on the designated community or population, establishing meaningful relationships across lines of difference, and protecting vulnerable populations and issues. We celebrate this year’s recipient congregations, as well as the leaders who brought these projects to life by engaging and educating their communities through inspiration justice work. 

Mazel tov to the 2017 Fain Social Justice Award winners. Read more about each program and initiative on the RAC’s website. We look forward to celebrating these congregations at the URJ Biennial in Boston this December.

Anshe Chesed Fairmount Temple Beachwood, OH

Beth El Temple Center Belmont, MA

Congregation Beth Elohim Brooklyn, NY

Congregation B’nai Israel Sacramento, CA

Congregation Shaare Emeth Saint Louis, MO

Judea Reform Congregation Durham, NC

Leo Baeck Temple Los Angeles, CA

Oak Park Temple B’nai Abraham Zion Oak Park, IL

Temple Beth El Augusta, ME

Temple Beth Shalom Austin, TX

Temple Beth Sholom Miami Beach, FL

Temple Emanuel Winston-Salem, NC

Temple Emanu-El-Beth-Sholom Westmount, Quebec

Temple Israel of Hollywood Los Angeles, CA

Temple Sholom of Chicago Chicago, IL

Temple Solel Hollywood, FL

The Temple, Congregation B’nai Jehuda Overland Park, KS