Congregation Emanu-El B'ne Jeshurun

Salinsky Program

Meaningful Action. Community Impact.

At Emanu-El, we believe that faith is found in our actions. Rooted in the Jewish value of Tikkun Olam (repairing the world), the Salinsky Program is our dedicated effort to combat food insecurity in Milwaukee.

Established through the visionary generosity of longtime member Louise Decasseres Mayer Salinsky, this program transforms tradition into tangible support, providing thousands of meals and resources to our neighbors in need.

Our Mission

We feed the hungry within a Jewish context by partnering with the Milwaukee community to advocate, educate, and mobilize volunteers for lasting change.

Get Involved: Ways to Make a Difference

There is a place for everyone to help, regardless of your schedule or experience. Join us in turning compassion into connection.

The Salinsky Garden

Located right here at the synagogue, our garden produces fresh vegetables every growing season for the Jewish Community Food Pantry and the Tikkun Ha-Ir Chop Shop.

  • What we grow: Lettuce, peppers, green beans, cucumbers, carrots, tomatoes, and more.
  • Who can help: This is a perfect activity for families! We are always looking for volunteers to help plant, water, weed, and harvest from spring through fall.

Hands-On Volunteering

  • Monthly Sandwich Making: Join us at the synagogue to prepare lunches for the Guest House, Meta House, and Street Angels.
  • Group Meals: Help prepare full dinners for local shelters like Repairers of the Breach, Guest House, Meta House, and the Sojourner Family Peace Center.
  • Community Partnerships: We partner with Feeding America, Hunger Task Force, and the Jewish Community Food Pantry through our High Holiday Food Collection, Mitzvah Day projects, and garden activities. Whether it’s sorting food in a warehouse or serving guests, your time makes a direct impact.

Support Our Partners

If you prefer to donate items directly, many of our partner organizations – including Meta House, and the Jewish Community Pantry – rely on donations of fresh produce, bagged lunches, and household supplies.

The Bimah Basket celebrates a lifecycle event or honors a loved one by donating $50 to our Bimah Basket Fund. Your gift provides immediate support to the Jewish Community Food Pantry and is acknowledged during our Shabbat services. [Click Here to Donate]

Ready to Help?

Since 2011, the Salinsky Program has reinvested over $272,000 back into Milwaukee’s social safety net. We invite you to be part of the next chapter.

Start your mitzvah today. For the latest volunteer dates or to ask questions, please contact Reenie Kavalar at 414-659-9662 or by email. You can also find updates in the Emanu-Email and our weekly Shabbat Bulletin.

  • Sandwich Day – every second Tuesday of the month, congregants make sandwiches which are donated to the Guest House of Milwaukee Shelter, Meta House and Street Angels
  • Full dinner meals are prepared at synagogue throughout the year and delivered to Repairers of the Breach,  Sojourner Family Peace Center or Meta House
  • Annual Mitzvah Day: funds provide supplies to prepare snack packs, birthday bags which are prepared by religious school students and congregants – in 2024: 1564 snack packs were delivered to Hunger Task Force, 50 birthday bags were delivered to Jewish Community Pantry, 135 winter gear kits for Street Angels,  and 100 hygiene kits to Repairers of the Breach.
  • Jewish Family Services Housing meal program – $2,000
  • Hunger Task Force snack packs: $2,731
  • JCC Garden refurbish: $1744
  • Hunger Task Force Snack Packs – $2,166
  • Jewish Community Pantry – $1,600 – Purchase of Christmas hams for shoppers
  • Fencing for the CEEBJ garden – $3,000
  • Rainbow Day Camp – $60,000 – purchase of a year round greenhouse to support the Bonim program
  • Passover Food Drive – donated funds for 450 families with food basics- $5,000
  • Guest House Christmas Dinner – $650 due to Covid
  • Passover Food Drive – $5,000 -purchase of Kosher chickens
  • Repairers of the Breach -$254- food for winter sheltering guests
  • Guest House Christmas Dinner – $460 due to Covid
  • Meta House Mother’s Day Dinner – $326
  • Passover Food Drive – $5,000 -purchase of Kosher Chickens
  • Congregation Beth Jehudah Passover food – $1222
  • Jewish Family Services -$4,000 – Support funding of residential meal program at Deerwood Crossing.
  • Hunger Task Force – $1,000 – in lieu of Snack Pack (Mitzvah Day was not held due to Covid restrictions)
  • Repairers of the Breach -$208 -take out boxes for meals due to Covid
  • Catered meals for Guest House and Meta House – $770 due to Covid
  • Guest House – $330 for turkeys
  • Jewish Community Pantry – $2,000 -Kosher Food purchases
  • Jewish Family Services – $4000- Support funding of residential meal program at Deerwood Crossing.
  • JCC Canstruction – $500 – providing cans of food for Jewish Community Pantry
  • Hunger Task Force – Summer Meals Program – $3450 -Snack Pack supplies assembled at Mitzvah Day
  • Jewish Community Pantry – $2,000 – Kosher meat purchases and a specific JCP fund at Feeding America so that JCP can purchase food at Feeding America at a significant discount
  • Jewish Family Services – $2,000 – To support funding of residential meal program at Deerwood Crossing
  • Jewish Community Center – $400 -To provide sandwich making supplies for the Mitzvah Project at the Community Wide Chanukah Program
  • Jewish Community Pantry – Passover Food Drive – $5000 to purchase Kosher chickens and purchase food at a discount at Feeding America
  • Hunger Task Force – Summer Meals Program – $2609 -Snack Pack supplies assembled at Mitzvah Day
  • Ma’ot Chitim – $4,000 – Passover chickens
  • Jewish Community Pantry – $2,000 – Kosher food purchases
  • Tikkun Ha-Ir – $2,000 – support the Chop Shop
  • Moas Chitim – $4,000 – Passover Chickens
  • Jewish Family Services – $2000 – Feeding America Mobile Food Pantry
  • Jewish Community Pantry – $2000 – Kosher food purchases
  • Tikkun Ha-Ir – $2,000 – support Surplus Harvest Program
  • Hunger Task Force Summer Meals Program – $1,900 – Snack Pack supplies assembled on Mitzvah Day
  • COA Youth and Family Centers – $500 – Kitchen renovation
  • Moas Chitim – $6,000 – Passover chickens
  • Jewish Family Services – $4,000- Feeding America Mobile Food Pantry
  • Jewish Community Pantry – $ 5,000 – Kosher Food purchases
  • Tikkun Ha-Ir – $8,000 – support Surplus Harvest Program
  • Maccabi Games – $2,000 – Support  JCC Cares snack pack
  • Hunger Task Force – $1,766 – Mitzvah Day project –snack packs for summer meal program
  • Moas Chitim – $5,000 – funds for Passover chickens
  • Meta House – $3,250 – received a new refrigerator
  • Bethesda Church – $720 – new shelving for their food pantry and 2 raised garden beds to supplement their meal program and food pantry
  • Jewish Community Pantry – $5,000 received emergency funds for break-in and freezer repairs
  • Jewish Family Services – $4,000 – support the Feeding America Mobile Food Pantry at Deerwood Crossing
  • Tikkun Ha-Ir – $12,000 – support the Surplus Garden Harvest Program
  • Jewish Community Pantry – $4,000 -for equipment and Kosherfood
  • Silver Spring Neighborhood Center – $5,000 – freezer for food pantry, fresh fruit for Early Care and Education Center
  • Guest House – $4,472 – purchase a convection oven for kitchen
  • Tikkun Ha-Ir – $6,000 – support Surplus Garden Harvest
  • Jewish Community Pantry – $8,000 – purchase freezer and Kosher food
  • THI – $300 – support Surplus Garden Harvest presentation at 2012 Hazon Conference
  • Growing Power – $2,000 – sponsorship of Urban and Small Farm Conference
  • Repairers of the Breach – $10,000 Create the Breach Kitchen
  • Tikkun Ha-Ir – $7,000 – support for part time Surplus Garden Harvest staff
  • Hunger Task Force- $10,000 – Summer meal program for children
  • Victory Garden Initiative- $3,000 – support Concordia Garden
  • Feeding America – $10,000 – food fund for those unable to pay