At KJCC, we take Tikkun Olam (“Repair of the World”) very seriously. For 45 years, our members have been leaders in the civic life of the Upper Keys community. But our efforts have not been confined to the Upper Keys. They have been national and international as well. We have shown that even a small synagogue, in a relatively remote location, can have an important impact in the world. Here are just a few of our many accomplishments:

Our members support a variety of organizations that materially support Israeli charitable activities, including needed support for Israel in time of war. Members also visit Israel frequently to show solidarity and to learn first hand about the country and its challenges.

Our members have maintained a vegetable garden that produces a variety of food for local people with food insecurity.

We have supported the Talia Agler Girls Shelter in Nairobi, Kenya, named in honor of the late daughter of our Scholar Emeritus Rabbi Richard Agler. The shelter, established in 2012, shelters, educates and supports girls and young women between 10-24 years old who are victims of human trafficking, child labor, forced migration and sexual abuse. Not only does our Sisterhood raise funds for the shelter, our members regularly visit the shelter to bring needed supplies and meet the girls and young women.

We have worked with Tikkun HaYam (Repair of the Sea), an organization founded by our member Rabbi Ed Rosenthal, that reaches out to college students around the country to educate about the spirituality of the sea, and bring them to the Keys, where they scuba dive and kayak to repair the reef and clean beaches and mangroves. 

Our members are leaders in Keys to Peace, a nonprofit organization that serves numerous organizations in the Keys; the Joy Center, that provides a wide variety of programs for seniors;

Florida Keys Concert Association; the Art Guild of the Purple Isles, that attracts talented artists from around the country; and Keys ICE, that supports young local artists and performers with concerts.

Our members helped found an interfaith group that annually holds a memorial ceremony for homeless people who have passed away in Monroe County.

We welcome you to join us in our effort to show that, no matter our age or resources, we can all work together to live in harmony with nature and to make our world a better, kinder and more peaceful place.