Temple Mount Sinai is a founding member of Border Interfaith, a congregationally-based community organization affiliated with the Industrial Areas Foundation. Through Border Interfaith, we act publicly in El Paso and in Austin, using the power of our people and our relationships on behalf of middle class and working families.

Border Interfaith came into being in 2000 as the Westside Interfaith Alliance, before expanding in scope and power. It was instrumental in crafting a fair and just civic response to the floods of August 2006, and in ensuring that the rights of El Paso County residents were not abused by the Sheriff's Department on the basis of race or economic attainment.

Here's a video about our organization...

The video below is an excellent introduction to congregation-based community organizing (CBCO) as it is taking place in synagogues today. Rooted in the organization established by Saul Alinsky in the 1940s, modern CBCO is multi-ethnic, and is a religiously and economically diverse movement dedicated to building upon our shared values and our shared interests, across "class" lines. More and more synagogues are joining Temple Mount Sinai as members of a local CBCO, and many of them look to our synagogue as an example of how to do this work well.

If you'd like to learn more about community organizing or Border Interfaith, send a note to Rabbi Bach.