T H E C A S E F O R A S Y L UM S OURC I N G S E R V I C E B L I N d TA S T E T E S Tissue thirteenPRESENTENSE
jewish life: here and now
Jewish social action now
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FOOD, FAITH, AND JUSTICEwhat's your grocery story?
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SPRING 2011 $6.95THE JEWISH SERVICE MECCA
new orleans and the jewish community
THEORY OF RELEVANCY a new reality
issue thirteen 20112
ptRead it Online
A ChAnCe to PlAyencounter with sudanese refugee>> lee frankel-goldwater
A sign of hope: Arava Institute for Envi-ronmental Studies students work with Sudanese refugee children.
lAté’s PlAysargentinian tzedek theater>> eve goldfinger
Judeo-VegAnismwhat’s on your plate?>> david bookbinder and benjamin barer
the ACtion of inACtionshabbat as social transformation>> jonathan shefa
orgAnizing in ChAosisraeli activism>> yoav sivan
A smAll World?the ghana-uk connection>> ruth newman and sam greene
tikkun nePAla jewish opportunity>> caylee talpert
Tevel B’Tzedek volunteers pack their bags, put their lives on hold, and set off to live in a mud house in an impoverished Nepali town.
doing Well by doing goodsocially responsible investing>>joe gelpe
10 dAys in reVersebringing israelis to the us>> jason langsner
WhAt’s the reCiPe?challah for hunger hits campus>> daniel cohen
Cost of An eduCAtionfootsteps lead beyond the hareidi world>> lani santo
PitCh An ideA
how does your garden grow?>> jonathan mann
old And neW World
community in crisis>> arieh s. rosenblum
the ChAsidiC Poet
profile of yehoshua november>> diane reich
Community of bezAlel
kids get creative with the arts>> adam jacobs
dePortAtion And identitya jewish-cambodian exchange>> julia baskin
Transplanted from rural rice farms to inner city projects, often illiterate, and traumatized by genocide, the Cambo-dian-American community meets the American Jewish community in Chicago.
presentense.org/magazine
issue thirteen 2011 1
18 PreserVing memory, heAling trAumAstorying as social action>> leah varsano and tamar toledano
35 lessons from indiAa new context for community organizing>> abby bellows
38 direCt serViCe or Community orgAnizing?choosing a model for change>> rachel van thyn
40 JeWs And soCiAl JustiCecomplicating the narrative, learning from our past>> judith rosenbaum
42 sPirituAlity And ACtiVismmeditating on change>> alison laichter
Features
editor and publisher Ariel Beery
managing editor Deborah Fishman
social action steering committee Simone Abel, Mollie Gerver, Hamutal Gillo, Farrah Green, Anya Manning, Rachel Olstein, Maya Politis, David Russell
arts editor Emily K. Alhadeff
associate editors Marc Bailes, Rachel Berger, Josh Fialkoff, David Krantz, Devorah Matkowsky, Dalia Wolfson
assistant editors Eric Ackland, Kara Bookbinder, Ilya Fischhoff, Cara Frazin, Jeremy Gillick, Roben Kantor, Samantha Pohl, Raeefa Shams, Margaret Stoner, Lianna Wolfson
peer editors Julia Baskin, Lee Frankel-Goldwater, Michael Getty, Katie Goldstein, Arieh S. Rosenblum, Leah Varsano, Benjamin Weisberger
copy editors Miriam Bader, Nathan Fein, Paula Garshowitz, Rachel Krauser, Maya Norton, Aimee Weiss
art director Elke Reva Sudinassistant art director Jerrin Kay
photography director Naomi Zeidman
photographers Abby Bellows, Laura Berger, Caitrin Gladow, Rudi Halbright, Leah Mendyk, Blair Elizabeth Nosan, Wallace Roberts, Amy West
advertising and circulation director Simi Hindenbusiness team Melissa Meyers
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.5 License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.5/ or send a letter to Creative Commons, 543 Howard Street, 5th Floor, San Francisco, California, 94105, USA.Creative Commons: We think the Creative Commons approach to content is smart because it gives creators flexibility in their licensing choices and it allows for seamless sharing of content. At PresenTense, our exclusive rights to content expire after no more than 120 days. At that time, we encourage our authors and photographers to adopt a CC license for their work.
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Letters to the editorholy CheVre: An eCo-friendly goAt CheeseWe loved the article about our delicious cheese in the Fall 2010 issue of Pre-sentense. One correction- We’re located in the town of Falls Village, Con-necticut. If you’re ever in the area, be sure to come by and meet the goats!
megan Jensen, isabella freedman Jewish retreat Center.
errata
Community PittsburghBecky Voorwinde is 30, not 26, years old and her title at the time was direc-tor of alumni engagement, not alumni coordinator. She is now co-director of the Bronfman Youth Fellowships.
sPotlight on JeWCologyROI is a sponsor of Jewcology, in addition to COEJL, Hazon, the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, Canfei Nesharim, the Shalom Center, and the Green Zionist Alliance.
Cover: Caylee Talpert volunteering on Tevel B’Tzedek in Nepal. Photo provided by Caylee Talpert.
Geared up to march! Photo by Amy West.
Contents presentense.org/magazine
issue thirteen 20112
Emily K. Alhadeff
Melissa Meyers
Tara Lyn Gordon
Eve Goldfinger
Adam Jacobs
Chamutal Gillo
Yoav Sivan
Suzanne Lipkin
Melissa Scholten
Bradley Cohen
Bailie Aaron
David Dobin
David Lasday
David Kramer
Marla Gamoran
Tova Speter
Paula GarshowitzMiriam Leibowitz
Rachel Van Thyn
Elke Reva Sudin
Cheryl Berkowitz
Jerrin Kay
Deborah Fishman
Simone Abel
Julia Baskin
David Brown
David Russell
BenjaminWeisberger
Rachel Berger Judith Rosenbaum Abby Bellows
Samantha Pohl Joshua Lichtman Moshe Kornfeld
Adam SimonLee Frankel-Goldwater
Roben Kantor
Nathan Fein Asher Weiss
Margaret Stoner
Caylee TalpertRachel Krauser
Yaron Edell
Ilya Fischhoff
Joe Gelpe
Simi Hinden
Naomi Zeidman
Ariel Beery
Leah VarsanoAnya Manning
Cara Frazin Mollie Gerver
Maya Norton Jonathan Shefa
Marc Bailes Adina SipermanMiriam Bader
TamarToledano
Raeefa Shams
Jason Langsner
Aimee Weiss
Alison Laichter
Farrah Green
Maya Politis
Lianna Wolfson Jonathan Mann
Kara Bookbinder David Bookbinder Benjamin Barer
Devorah Matkowsky
Dalia Wolfson
Simcha Schwartz
Rachel Olstein
Elissa Beth Shevinsky
Daniel Cohen Dori Frumin Kirschner Meredith Polsky
Ezra Shanken
Josh Fialkoff Laura Berger Arieh S. Rosenblum
Lani Santo
Jakir Manela Dan Kieval
Jeremy Gillick Michael Getty Liz Kohn Dyonna Ginsburg
Ruth Newman
Sam Greene
Nathan Fein ed
ited a sto
ry abo
u t hunger by Asher Weiss, who was advised by Chamutal Gillo. Chamutal G
illo ad
vised Yo
av Sivan on a sto
ry abo
ut Israeli vs. Am
erican activism. A
dina Sip
erman w
rote a st ory about Mexico, edited by Marc Bailes and Miriam Bader. Miriam Bader edited a profile by Raeefa S
ham
s. Raeefa Shams e
d ited a story about reverse Mifgash in DC by Jas
on
Lang
sner
. Mir
iam
Bad
er a
nd R
ob
en K
anto
r ed
ited
a s
tory
ab
out
New
Orl
eans
by
Tam
ar T
ole
dan
o a
nd L
eah
Va
rs
ano, who edited a profile b
y Benjam
in Weisb
erger, ad
vised b
y Anya M
anning.
Sam
anth
a Po
hl e
dite
d a story about New Orleans by Joshua Lichtman and Moshe Kornfeld. Suzanne Lipkin edited a book review by Emily K. Alh
ade
ff. E
mily
K. A
lha
deff edited a book review by Suzanne Lipkin. Emily K. Alh
adef
f edi
ted the food column by Melissa Meyers, a story about A
rtists4Israel by Tara Lyn G
ord
on, a sto
ry abo
ut Arg
entina by Eve G
old
finger, and
a story ab
out creative kid
s by A
dam
Jacob
s. Rachel Van Thyn wro
te a story ab
out vo
lunteering. Paula G
arshow
it z edited a story about food justice
in N
ashv
ille
by
Mir
iam
Lei
bo
witz
. Mel
issa
Sch
olte
n in
terv
iew
ed P
rese
nTen
se F
ello
w A
ctiv
ists
Bra
dle
y C
ohe
n, B
ailie
Aar
on,
Dav
id D
ob
in, D
avid
Lasday, David Krame
r, Marla G
amo
ran and To
va Speter. Sim
one A
bel ed
ited a sto
ry abo
ut Cam
bo
dian refug
ees in Chicag
o b
y Julia Baskin, and
a story ab
out the Lo
ndo
n social actio
n scene by D
avid B
r own, who was advised by David Russell.
Josh Fialkoff edited
a st
ory
ab
out
refu
gee
s in
Isra
el by Laura Berger, and ed
ited a sto
ry abo
ut social ju
s t ice in the Hareidi community by Arieh S. Ros enb
lum
, who
ed
it ed
a st
ory about education in the Hareidi community by Lani Santo, w
ho w
as advised
by Farra
h Green. Maya Norton edited a story about Shabbat by Jonathan Shefa.M
arg
aret
Sto
ner
edite
d a
sto
ry
about Nepal by Caylee Talpert, and a profile by Rachel Krauser, w
ho
edited
a pro
file by Elissa B
eth Shevinsky, a story b
y Daniel C
ohen, and
one ab
out interview
ing Jew
ish activists by Ezra Shanken w
ho w
as advised
by A
nya Manning
.
translated a sto
ry by Yaro
n Edell.
Dev
ora
h M
atko
wsk
y and Elissa Beth Shevinsky edited a story by Dyonna Ginsburg.
Ilya Fischhoff and
Nathan Fein ed
ited a sto
ry abo
ut socially resp
onsib
le investing b
y Joe G
elpe.
Devo
rah Matko
wsky and
Dalia W
olfso
n e
d ited a story about farming by Simcha Schwartz, who
was ad
vised b
y Rachel Olstein. A
imee W
eiss edited
a story about Meditation by Alison Laichter, who was advised by Farrah Gre
en a
nd M
aya
Polit
is. B
enjamin W
eisberg
er and Rachel B
erge
r e
d ited a story about civil rights by Judith Rosenbaum, and a story about India by Abby Bellows who was advised by David Russell.
Marc Bailes edited a story about refugees by Lee Frankel-Goldw
ate
r. A
dam
Sim
on
wro
te a story edited by Lee Frankel-Goldwater and Roben Kantor.
Kar
a B
oo
kbin
der edited a story about veganism by David Bookbinder and Benjamin Barer.
Lianna Wo
lfson ed
ited a s tory about farming by Jonathan Mann. Cara Frazin edited a story about asylum seekers in Israel by Mollie Gerver.
Ruth
New
man
and
Sam
Gre
ene
wro
te a
bo
ut
tw
inni
ng U
K–A
fric
an
schools that was edited by Jeremy Gillick. Jeremy Gillick and Michael Getty edited a story by Liz Kohn.
Jakir Manela and Dan Kieval wrote a story about learning from Jewish farming laws edited by Dalia Wolfson, who edited a story by Dori Fr
umin
Kir
schn
er a
nd Meredith Polsky.
PresenTense in Action!Through the power of the network, individual connections and volunteer acts grow in impact to produce a magazine. This issue’s contributors are from:
Western United States
Southern United States
Midwest United States
Northeast United States
Canada Europe South America
Israel South Asia
Emily K. Alhadeff
Melissa Meyers
Tara Lyn Gordon
Eve Goldfinger
Adam Jacobs
Chamutal Gillo
Yoav Sivan
Suzanne Lipkin
Melissa Scholten
Bradley Cohen
Bailie Aaron
David Dobin
David Lasday
David Kramer
Marla Gamoran
Tova Speter
Paula GarshowitzMiriam Leibowitz
Rachel Van Thyn
Elke Reva Sudin
Cheryl Berkowitz
Jerrin Kay
Deborah Fishman
Simone Abel
Julia Baskin
David Brown
David Russell
BenjaminWeisberger
Rachel Berger Judith Rosenbaum Abby Bellows
Samantha Pohl Joshua Lichtman Moshe Kornfeld
Adam SimonLee Frankel-Goldwater
Roben Kantor
Nathan Fein Asher Weiss
Margaret Stoner
Caylee TalpertRachel Krauser
Yaron Edell
Ilya Fischhoff
Joe Gelpe
Simi Hinden
Naomi Zeidman
Ariel Beery
Leah VarsanoAnya Manning
Cara Frazin Mollie Gerver
Maya Norton Jonathan Shefa
Marc Bailes Adina SipermanMiriam Bader
TamarToledano
Raeefa Shams
Jason Langsner
Aimee Weiss
Alison Laichter
Farrah Green
Maya Politis
Lianna Wolfson Jonathan Mann
Kara Bookbinder David Bookbinder Benjamin Barer
Devorah Matkowsky
Dalia Wolfson
Simcha Schwartz
Rachel Olstein
Elissa Beth Shevinsky
Daniel Cohen Dori Frumin Kirschner Meredith Polsky
Ezra Shanken
Josh Fialkoff Laura Berger Arieh S. Rosenblum
Lani Santo
Jakir Manela Dan Kieval
Jeremy Gillick Michael Getty Liz Kohn Dyonna Ginsburg
Ruth Newman
Sam Greene
Nathan Fein ed
ited a sto
ry abo
u t hunger by Asher Weiss, who was advised by Chamutal Gillo. Chamutal G
illo ad
vised Yo
av Sivan on a sto
ry abo
ut Israeli vs. Am
erican activism. A
dina Sip
erman w
rote a st ory about Mexico, edited by Marc Bailes and Miriam Bader. Miriam Bader edited a profile by Raeefa S
ham
s. Raeefa Shams e
d ited a story about reverse Mifgash in DC by Jas
on
Lang
sner
. Mir
iam
Bad
er a
nd R
ob
en K
anto
r ed
ited
a s
tory
ab
out
New
Orl
eans
by
Tam
ar T
ole
dan
o a
nd L
eah
Va
rs
ano, who edited a profile b
y Benjam
in Weisb
erger, ad
vised b
y Anya M
anning.
Sam
anth
a Po
hl e
dite
d a story about New Orleans by Joshua Lichtman and Moshe Kornfeld. Suzanne Lipkin edited a book review by Emily K. Alh
ade
ff. E
mily
K. A
lha
deff edited a book review by Suzanne Lipkin. Emily K. Alh
adef
f edi
ted the food column by Melissa Meyers, a story about A
rtists4Israel by Tara Lyn G
ord
on, a sto
ry abo
ut Arg
entina by Eve G
old
finger, and
a story ab
out creative kid
s by A
dam
Jacob
s. Rachel Van Thyn wro
te a story ab
out vo
lunteering. Paula G
arshow
it z edited a story about food justice
in N
ashv
ille
by
Mir
iam
Lei
bo
witz
. Mel
issa
Sch
olte
n in
terv
iew
ed P
rese
nTen
se F
ello
w A
ctiv
ists
Bra
dle
y C
ohe
n, B
ailie
Aar
on,
Dav
id D
ob
in, D
avid
Lasday, David Krame
r, Marla G
amo
ran and To
va Speter. Sim
one A
bel ed
ited a sto
ry abo
ut Cam
bo
dian refug
ees in Chicag
o b
y Julia Baskin, and
a story ab
out the Lo
ndo
n social actio
n scene by D
avid B
r own, who was advised by David Russell.
Josh Fialkoff edited
a st
ory
ab
out
refu
gee
s in
Isra
el by Laura Berger, and ed
ited a sto
ry abo
ut social ju
s t ice in the Hareidi community by Arieh S. Ros enb
lum
, who
ed
it ed
a st
ory about education in the Hareidi community by Lani Santo, w
ho w
as advised
by Farra
h Green. Maya Norton edited a story about Shabbat by Jonathan Shefa.
Mar
gar
et S
tone
r ed
ited
a s
tory
about Nepal by Caylee Talpert, and a profile by Rachel Krauser, w
ho
edited
a pro
file by Elissa B
eth Shevinsky, a story b
y Daniel C
ohen, and
one ab
out interview
ing Jew
ish activists by Ezra Shanken w
ho w
as advised
by A
nya Manning
.
translated a sto
ry by Yaro
n Edell.
Dev
ora
h M
atko
wsk
y and Elissa Beth Shevinsky edited a story by Dyonna Ginsburg.
Ilya Fischhoff and
Nathan Fein ed
ited a sto
ry abo
ut socially resp
onsib
le investing b
y Joe G
elpe.
Devo
rah Matko
wsky and
Dalia W
olfso
n e
d ited a story about farming by Simcha Schwartz, who
was ad
vised b
y Rachel Olstein. A
imee W
eiss edited
a story about Meditation by Alison Laichter, who was advised by Farrah Gre
en a
nd M
aya
Polit
is. B
enjamin W
eisberg
er and Rachel B
erge
r e
d ited a story about civil rights by Judith Rosenbaum, and a story about India by Abby Bellows who was advised by David Russell.
Marc Bailes edited a story about refugees by Lee Frankel-Goldw
ate
r. A
dam
Sim
on
wro
te a story edited by Lee Frankel-Goldwater and Roben Kantor.
Kar
a B
oo
kbin
der edited a story about veganism by David Bookbinder and Benjamin Barer.
Lianna Wo
lfson ed
ited a s tory about farming by Jonathan Mann. Cara Frazin edited a story about asylum seekers in Israel by Mollie Gerver.
Ruth
New
man
and
Sam
Gre
ene
wro
te a
bo
ut
tw
inni
ng U
K–A
fric
an
schools that was edited by Jeremy Gillick. Jeremy Gillick and Michael Getty edited a story by Liz Kohn.
Jakir Manela and Dan Kieval wrote a story about learning from Jewish farming laws edited by Dalia Wolfson, who edited a story by Dori Fr
umin
Kir
schn
er a
nd Meredith Polsky.
PresenTense in Action!Through the power of the network, individual connections and volunteer acts grow in impact to produce a magazine. This issue’s contributors are from:
Western United States
Southern United States
Midwest United States
Northeast United States
Canada Europe South America
Israel South Asia
presentense.org/magazine Contributors
issue thirteen 2011 3
Emily K. Alhadeff
Melissa Meyers
Tara Lyn Gordon
Eve Goldfinger
Adam Jacobs
Chamutal Gillo
Yoav Sivan
Suzanne Lipkin
Melissa Scholten
Bradley Cohen
Bailie Aaron
David Dobin
David Lasday
David Kramer
Marla Gamoran
Tova Speter
Paula GarshowitzMiriam Leibowitz
Rachel Van Thyn
Elke Reva Sudin
Cheryl Berkowitz
Jerrin Kay
Deborah Fishman
Simone Abel
Julia Baskin
David Brown
David Russell
BenjaminWeisberger
Rachel Berger Judith Rosenbaum Abby Bellows
Samantha Pohl Joshua Lichtman Moshe Kornfeld
Adam SimonLee Frankel-Goldwater
Roben Kantor
Nathan Fein Asher Weiss
Margaret Stoner
Caylee TalpertRachel Krauser
Yaron Edell
Ilya Fischhoff
Joe Gelpe
Simi Hinden
Naomi Zeidman
Ariel Beery
Leah VarsanoAnya Manning
Cara Frazin Mollie Gerver
Maya Norton Jonathan Shefa
Marc Bailes Adina SipermanMiriam Bader
TamarToledano
Raeefa Shams
Jason Langsner
Aimee Weiss
Alison Laichter
Farrah Green
Maya Politis
Lianna Wolfson Jonathan Mann
Kara Bookbinder David Bookbinder Benjamin Barer
Devorah Matkowsky
Dalia Wolfson
Simcha Schwartz
Rachel Olstein
Elissa Beth Shevinsky
Daniel Cohen Dori Frumin Kirschner Meredith Polsky
Ezra Shanken
Josh Fialkoff Laura Berger Arieh S. Rosenblum
Lani Santo
Jakir Manela Dan Kieval
Jeremy Gillick Michael Getty Liz Kohn Dyonna Ginsburg
Ruth Newman
Sam Greene
Nathan Fein ed
ited a sto
ry abo
u t hunger by Asher Weiss, who was advised by Chamutal Gillo. Chamutal G
illo ad
vised Yo
av Sivan on a sto
ry abo
ut Israeli vs. Am
erican activism. A
dina Sip
erman w
rote a st ory about Mexico, edited by Marc Bailes and Miriam Bader. Miriam Bader edited a profile by Raeefa S
ham
s. Raeefa Shams e
d ited a story about reverse Mifgash in DC by Jas
on
Lang
sner
. Mir
iam
Bad
er a
nd R
ob
en K
anto
r ed
ited
a s
tory
ab
out
New
Orl
eans
by
Tam
ar T
ole
dan
o a
nd L
eah
Va
rs
ano, who edited a profile b
y Benjam
in Weisb
erger, ad
vised b
y Anya M
anning.
Sam
anth
a Po
hl e
dite
d a story about New Orleans by Joshua Lichtman and Moshe Kornfeld. Suzanne Lipkin edited a book review by Emily K. Alh
ade
ff. E
mily
K. A
lha
deff edited a book review by Suzanne Lipkin. Emily K. Alh
adef
f edi
ted the food column by Melissa Meyers, a story about A
rtists4Israel by Tara Lyn G
ord
on, a sto
ry abo
ut Arg
entina by Eve G
old
finger, and
a story ab
out creative kid
s by A
dam
Jacob
s. Rachel Van Thyn wro
te a story ab
out vo
lunteering. Paula G
arshow
it z edited a story about food justice
in N
ashv
ille
by
Mir
iam
Lei
bo
witz
. Mel
issa
Sch
olte
n in
terv
iew
ed P
rese
nTen
se F
ello
w A
ctiv
ists
Bra
dle
y C
ohe
n, B
ailie
Aar
on,
Dav
id D
ob
in, D
avid
Lasday, David Krame
r, Marla G
amo
ran and To
va Speter. Sim
one A
bel ed
ited a sto
ry abo
ut Cam
bo
dian refug
ees in Chicag
o b
y Julia Baskin, and
a story ab
out the Lo
ndo
n social actio
n scene by D
avid B
r own, who was advised by David Russell.
Josh Fialkoff edited
a st
ory
ab
out
refu
gee
s in
Isra
el by Laura Berger, and ed
ited a sto
ry abo
ut social ju
s t ice in the Hareidi community by Arieh S. Ros enb
lum
, who
ed
it ed
a st
ory about education in the Hareidi community by Lani Santo, w
ho w
as advised
by Farra
h Green. Maya Norton edited a story about Shabbat by Jonathan Shefa.
Mar
gar
et S
tone
r ed
ited
a s
tory
about Nepal by Caylee Talpert, and a profile by Rachel Krauser, w
ho
edited
a pro
file by Elissa B
eth Shevinsky, a story b
y Daniel C
ohen, and
one ab
out interview
ing Jew
ish activists by Ezra Shanken w
ho w
as advised
by A
nya Manning
.
translated a sto
ry by Yaro
n Edell.
Dev
ora
h M
atko
wsk
y and Elissa Beth Shevinsky edited a story by Dyonna Ginsburg.
Ilya Fischhoff and
Nathan Fein ed
ited a sto
ry abo
ut socially resp
onsib
le investing b
y Joe G
elpe.
Devo
rah Matko
wsky and
Dalia W
olfso
n e
d ited a story about farming by Simcha Schwartz, who
was ad
vised b
y Rachel Olstein. A
imee W
eiss edited
a story about Meditation by Alison Laichter, who was advised by Farrah Gre
en a
nd M
aya
Polit
is. B
enjamin W
eisberg
er and Rachel B
erge
r e
d ited a story about civil rights by Judith Rosenbaum, and a story about India by Abby Bellows who was advised by David Russell.
Marc Bailes edited a story about refugees by Lee Frankel-Goldw
ate
r. A
dam
Sim
on
wro
te a story edited by Lee Frankel-Goldwater and Roben Kantor.
Kar
a B
oo
kbin
der edited a story about veganism by David Bookbinder and Benjamin Barer.
Lianna Wo
lfson ed
ited a s tory about farming by Jonathan Mann. Cara Frazin edited a story about asylum seekers in Israel by Mollie Gerver.
Ruth
New
man
and
Sam
Gre
ene
wro
te a
bo
ut
tw
inni
ng U
K–A
fric
an
schools that was edited by Jeremy Gillick. Jeremy Gillick and Michael Getty edited a story by Liz Kohn.
Jakir Manela and Dan Kieval wrote a story about learning from Jewish farming laws edited by Dalia Wolfson, who edited a story by Dori Fr
umin
Kir
schn
er a
nd Meredith Polsky.
PresenTense in Action!Through the power of the network, individual connections and volunteer acts grow in impact to produce a magazine. This issue’s contributors are from:
Western United States
Southern United States
Midwest United States
Northeast United States
Canada Europe South America
Israel South Asia
Emily K. Alhadeff
Melissa Meyers
Tara Lyn Gordon
Eve Goldfinger
Adam Jacobs
Chamutal Gillo
Yoav Sivan
Suzanne Lipkin
Melissa Scholten
Bradley Cohen
Bailie Aaron
David Dobin
David Lasday
David Kramer
Marla Gamoran
Tova Speter
Paula GarshowitzMiriam Leibowitz
Rachel Van Thyn
Elke Reva Sudin
Cheryl Berkowitz
Jerrin Kay
Deborah Fishman
Simone Abel
Julia Baskin
David Brown
David Russell
BenjaminWeisberger
Rachel Berger Judith Rosenbaum Abby Bellows
Samantha Pohl Joshua Lichtman Moshe Kornfeld
Adam SimonLee Frankel-Goldwater
Roben Kantor
Nathan Fein Asher Weiss
Margaret Stoner
Caylee TalpertRachel Krauser
Yaron Edell
Ilya Fischhoff
Joe Gelpe
Simi Hinden
Naomi Zeidman
Ariel Beery
Leah VarsanoAnya Manning
Cara Frazin Mollie Gerver
Maya Norton Jonathan Shefa
Marc Bailes Adina SipermanMiriam Bader
TamarToledano
Raeefa Shams
Jason Langsner
Aimee Weiss
Alison Laichter
Farrah Green
Maya Politis
Lianna Wolfson Jonathan Mann
Kara Bookbinder David Bookbinder Benjamin Barer
Devorah Matkowsky
Dalia Wolfson
Simcha Schwartz
Rachel Olstein
Elissa Beth Shevinsky
Daniel Cohen Dori Frumin Kirschner Meredith Polsky
Ezra Shanken
Josh Fialkoff Laura Berger Arieh S. Rosenblum
Lani Santo
Jakir Manela Dan Kieval
Jeremy Gillick Michael Getty Liz Kohn Dyonna Ginsburg
Ruth Newman
Sam Greene
Nathan Fein ed
ited a sto
ry abo
u t hunger by Asher Weiss, who was advised by Chamutal Gillo. Chamutal G
illo ad
vised Yo
av Sivan on a sto
ry abo
ut Israeli vs. Am
erican activism. A
dina Sip
erman w
rote a st ory about Mexico, edited by Marc Bailes and Miriam Bader. Miriam Bader edited a profile by Raeefa S
ham
s. Raeefa Shams e
d ited a story about reverse Mifgash in DC by Jas
on
Lang
sner
. Mir
iam
Bad
er a
nd R
ob
en K
anto
r ed
ited
a s
tory
ab
out
New
Orl
eans
by
Tam
ar T
ole
dan
o a
nd L
eah
Va
rs
ano, who edited a profile b
y Benjam
in Weisb
erger, ad
vised b
y Anya M
anning.
Sam
anth
a Po
hl e
dite
d a story about New Orleans by Joshua Lichtman and Moshe Kornfeld. Suzanne Lipkin edited a book review by Emily K. Alh
ade
ff. E
mily
K. A
lha
deff edited a book review by Suzanne Lipkin. Emily K. Alh
adef
f edi
ted the food column by Melissa Meyers, a story about A
rtists4Israel by Tara Lyn G
ord
on, a sto
ry abo
ut Arg
entina by Eve G
old
finger, and
a story ab
out creative kid
s by A
dam
Jacob
s. Rachel Van Thyn wro
te a story ab
out vo
lunteering. Paula G
arshow
it z edited a story about food justice
in N
ashv
ille
by
Mir
iam
Lei
bo
witz
. Mel
issa
Sch
olte
n in
terv
iew
ed P
rese
nTen
se F
ello
w A
ctiv
ists
Bra
dle
y C
ohe
n, B
ailie
Aar
on,
Dav
id D
ob
in, D
avid
Lasday, David Krame
r, Marla G
amo
ran and To
va Speter. Sim
one A
bel ed
ited a sto
ry abo
ut Cam
bo
dian refug
ees in Chicag
o b
y Julia Baskin, and
a story ab
out the Lo
ndo
n social actio
n scene by D
avid B
r own, who was advised by David Russell.
Josh Fialkoff edited
a st
ory
ab
out
refu
gee
s in
Isra
el by Laura Berger, and ed
ited a sto
ry abo
ut social ju
s t ice in the Hareidi community by Arieh S. Ros enb
lum
, who
ed
it ed
a st
ory about education in the Hareidi community by Lani Santo, w
ho w
as advised
by Farra
h Green. Maya Norton edited a story about Shabbat by Jonathan Shefa.
Mar
gar
et S
tone
r ed
ited
a s
tory
about Nepal by Caylee Talpert, and a profile by Rachel Krauser, w
ho
edited
a pro
file by Elissa B
eth Shevinsky, a story b
y Daniel C
ohen, and
one ab
out interview
ing Jew
ish activists by Ezra Shanken w
ho w
as advised
by A
nya Manning
.
translated a sto
ry by Yaro
n Edell.
Dev
ora
h M
atko
wsk
y and Elissa Beth Shevinsky edited a story by Dyonna Ginsburg.
Ilya Fischhoff and
Nathan Fein ed
ited a sto
ry abo
ut socially resp
onsib
le investing b
y Joe G
elpe.
Devo
rah Matko
wsky and
Dalia W
olfso
n e
d ited a story about farming by Simcha Schwartz, who
was ad
vised b
y Rachel Olstein. A
imee W
eiss edited
a story about Meditation by Alison Laichter, who was advised by Farrah Gre
en a
nd M
aya
Polit
is. B
enjamin W
eisberg
er and Rachel B
erge
r e
d ited a story about civil rights by Judith Rosenbaum, and a story about India by Abby Bellows who was advised by David Russell.
Marc Bailes edited a story about refugees by Lee Frankel-Goldw
ate
r. A
dam
Sim
on
wro
te a story edited by Lee Frankel-Goldwater and Roben Kantor.
Kar
a B
oo
kbin
der edited a story about veganism by David Bookbinder and Benjamin Barer.
Lianna Wo
lfson ed
ited a s tory about farming by Jonathan Mann. Cara Frazin edited a story about asylum seekers in Israel by Mollie Gerver.
Ruth
New
man
and
Sam
Gre
ene
wro
te a
bo
ut
tw
inni
ng U
K–A
fric
an
schools that was edited by Jeremy Gillick. Jeremy Gillick and Michael Getty edited a story by Liz Kohn.
Jakir Manela and Dan Kieval wrote a story about learning from Jewish farming laws edited by Dalia Wolfson, who edited a story by Dori Fr
umin
Kir
schn
er a
nd Meredith Polsky.
PresenTense in Action!Through the power of the network, individual connections and volunteer acts grow in impact to produce a magazine. This issue’s contributors are from:
Western United States
Southern United States
Midwest United States
Northeast United States
Canada Europe South America
Israel South Asia
Cheryl Berkowitz is a graphic de-signer based in Brooklyn, NY. She enjoys crafting interfaces that invite
logical interaction and support a brand, for clients in publishing, television, education, performing arts, and nonprofit.
Contributors presentense.org/magazine
issue thirteen 20114
Contents
2 Contributors
5 editorial
6 read it online
7 Presentense felloW ACtiVistschanging the world, one venture at a time>> melissa scholten-gutierrez
here & noW
10 WomAn to WAtChjoelle novey >> rachel krauser
11 mAn With A PlAnelie lowenfeld>> benjamin weisberger
rules of engAgement
12 sourCing serViCejewish perspectives and approaches>> ezra shanken
Around the World14 the 12-legged rACe
realism and hope>> michael getty
16 the JeWish serViCe meCCAnew orleans and the jewish community>> joshua lichtman & moshe kornfeld
18 PreserVing memory, heAling trAumA
storying as social action>> leah varsano & tamar toledano
20 detroiton the move>> liz kohn
21 setting the AgendA for ChAngelessons from the jewish social action forum>> david brown
ideAs
22 CollAborAtion At your serViCesiach connects the conversation>> dyonna ginsburg
24 theory of releVAnCya new reality>> adam simon
soCiety
26 sPeCiAl needssurpassing expectations>> dori frumin kirschner & meredith englander polsky
28 in A refugee nAtion
israel faces a new refugee wave>> laura berger
29 the CAse for Asylumnot just a refuge for jews>> mollie gerver
30 food, fAith, And JustiCewhat's your grocery story?>> miriam leibowitz
32 let All Who Are hungryfighting hunger through food rescue>> asher weiss
34 tzedek bA'sAdehjewish food justice>> jakir manela & daniel kieval
feAtures
35 lessons from indiAa new context for community organiz-
ing
>> abby bellows
38 direCt serViCe or Community
orgAnizing?choosing a model for change>> rachel van thyn
40 JeWs And soCiAl JustiCecomplicating the narrative, learning from our past>> judith rosenbaum
42 sPirituAlity And ACtiVism
meditating on change>> alison laichter
reVieWs
44 shAdes of grAybook review: hush>> emily k. alhadeff
45 Just CheAPbook review: in cheap we trust>> suzanne lipkin
food Column46 blind tAste test
blackout: dining in style in the dark>> melissa meyers
endPAge48 strength in Community
>> elke reva sudin
Leket performs food rescue to feed the hungry. Photo by Leket.
presentense.org/magazine Contents
issue thirteen 2011 5
@Mollie_Gervermoved to Raanana, Israel with her parents in high school, lived through-out Israel during her military service, and later moved to Jerusalem for uni-versity, where she founded Advocates for Asylum to raise awareness among
policymakers and the public about why refugees fled to Israel from Eritrea, South Sudan, Darfur, the DRC and other areas of conflict and oppression. Mollie was a 2010 PresenTense Global Fellow, and is now a JDC Service Corp fellow in Rwanda at the Agahozo-Shalom Youth Village.
@Anya_Manning is program and education associate at Repair the World. She joined as an Insight Fellow, through which she previ-ously worked at Dor Chadash and at The American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee. Prior, Anya worked as resi-
dent advisor and educator for Kivunim, a one-year pre-college program for Diaspora Jews. In 2010, Anya was named a Nahum Goldmann Fellow and traveled to Croa-tia to meet with other fellows from around the world. A graduate of Barnard College and The Jewish Theological Seminary and a native of Natick, MA, Anya currently lives in Manhattan with her husband, Elie.
Anya_Manning: Realizing that change may take years, even decades. But if we stop to address direct need faced today, the problems will continue. #DIFFERENT MODELS @p. 38
Anya_Manning: Embracing innovation and entrepreneurship in the nonprofit field without spawning unnecessary/duplicative organizations
Tweet this
Mollie_Gerver: Building alliances with those with different goals but similar values and different values but similar goals. #JEWISH SOCIAL ACTION FORUM @p. 21
hat does it take to produce a magazine issue on social action? Let’s start with community: where the creativity and ideas are brewing. Connecting around these ideas, community members identify
common challenges, in the hopes that they can then seek informed solutions. The PresenTense Issue 13: Social Action community encompasses writers and editors, artists and in-novators, who formed a network reaching from Jerusalem to St. Louis to Nepal. As with any community, the social actions within this one benefitted the whole. The connections— vis-ible on our contributor’s map (see “PresenTense in Action!” p. 2)— enabled reciprocity and sharing, in particular through peer-editing, where writers edited fellow writers’ work.
The backbone of the community, PresenTense’s Social Action Steering Committee, guided the process of production of this magazine by brainstorming challenges facing social activists
today and tensions within the field of social action work. We would like to share these burning issues with you in a form which can be shared over Twitter (each is less than 140 char-acters) to encourage you to spread the word, and to show you how these challenges frame and are in conversation with the content that ultimately we produced in the issue.
Want to get involved with our community? We are always looking for creative writers, editors, and steering committee members. Email [email protected] for details. Want to support our community’s continued production of the in-print product you hold in your hands? Subscribe at www.presentense.org/maga-zine/subscribe— and please spread the word.
When we unite from individuals into a community, small ac-tions accumulate and together can change the world!
W
PresenTense: What are the tensions and challenges in the field of social action? #CharityChallenges
Maya_Politis: Reinventing the wheel. So many do great work, but instead of combining their passion and minds, all are competing for the same funds.
Anya_Manning: Better coordinating the social action organizations that DO exist to increase efficiency and further all our missions #SIACH @p. 22
Simone_Abel: Taking on only issues where I know I can actually achieve change, or those that are important but where creating change is more difficult.
issue thirteen 20116
@Maya_Politiscompleted her MA in International Development at The Institute of Development Studies in the UK in 2009. Currently she works as a con-sultant at Tel Aviv University and the Academic College of Jaffa, building
academic programs in topics such as social entrepre-neurship, community development, and migration. She has been teaching yoga for four years and is involved in different social/cultural projects in Tel Aviv. Maya made aliyah to Israel a year and a half ago.
@Rachel_Olstein’s interest in social justice began in 1999 when she volun-teered for a year with AmeriCorps. She went on to receive her bachelor’s from Vassar College in urban education and French and spent two years teaching second grade at an inner-city school.
She then spent several years teaching and leading out-door education programs at the Teva Learning Center and as a wilderness guide for service trips in Ladakh, In-dia and the Azore Islands. Rachel received her master’s in community leadership and nonprofit management at Hebrew University, focused on international development and volunteer organization. As part of her studies, she spent two months working on a rural banking project in rural Ghana. Rachel is the director of volunteer services at Agahozo-Shalom Youth Village.
@Simone_Abel is director of RenéCassin. Previously, she worked in the New York office of Human Rights Watch (HRW), and prior was an attorney at leading law firms Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP, New York, and Mallesons Stephen
Jaques, Sydney. She also worked as a journalist for the Australian Jewish News. Simone holds a BA/LLB and is currently completing a Masters of International Law at the University of New South Wales. She is a graduate of the Centro de Estudio del Espanol, Buenos Aires, and has lent her skills to the Migrant and Refugee Rights Project, the JewishCare Prison Outreach Program, Room to Read, the Downing Center Duty Solicitor Scheme, and the National Indigenous Project.
@David_Russell is Director of Survivors Fund (SURF), a UK-based international nonprofit organization which rep-resents and supports survivors of the Rwandan genocide. As Founder of The Social Enterprise (in 2007),
David also continues to advise social ventures in-cluding A Slim Peace, which brings together Israeli and Palestinian women from across the Middle East divide with a shared goal of losing weight, and the Specially Produced Innovatively Directed (SPID) The-atre Company, which develops artistic programs with urban youth in London.
Maya_Politis: The public’s apathy.
Simone_Abel: Where issues of human rights and Israel overlap, how to weigh in without alienating your support base, or conversely, losing credibility? #JEWISH SOCIAL ACTION FORUM @p. 21
Rachel_Olstein: Engaging in projects that make us, the volunteer or service provider, feel good, without assessing the impact on the service recipient. #FOOD DESERTS @p.30
Maya_Politis: Problem of good intentions. A lot of social action is done in the name of “doing good,” but it is much more complicated to actually impact.
Maya_Politis: When people wanting to do good come from the “outside,” problems can occur from cultural differences/insensitivity.
Maya_Politis: The real work can get overshadowed by political and bureaucratic challenges. #ISRAELI ACTIVISM @READ IT ONLINE
David_Russell: Where to find/draw the boundary between dedication to a cause, making change, and the personal, to avoid burnout. #MEDITATION @p. 42
Mollie_Gerver: Investing time in fundraising without it being at the expense of reaching the types of goals that would justify fundraising.
Mollie_Gerver: The What-About-Your-Own-People Fallacy: Facing critics asking, “Why are you helping them, not your own?” #NEPAL @READ IT ONLINE
Anya_Manning: Making effective use of a volunteer takes time, effort, and thought; nonprofits need to be trained how to manage volunteers.
Anya_Manning: A lack of coordination in connecting skilled (or unskilled) volunteers to people and organizations in need. #MARLA’S VENTURE @p. 9
Mollie_Gerver: Being hopeful enough to keep fighting, cynical enough to keep questioning, and practical enough to keep working, all at the same time.
Maya_Politis: Many activists have great passion but aren’t business-oriented. Projects lose steam as they lose $/much smaller impact than if sustainable.
issue thirteen 2011 7
ova Speter is an artist, art therapist, art educator, and arts admin-istrator with a BA in psychology, an MA in art therapy and mental health counseling, and a certificate in arts management. As the
founder of The MEM Project, Tova leads community murals, engages students in artistic expressions of their Jewish identity, and reaches out to underserved communities through art.
avid Lasday works as a sports-based youth development con-sultant for Global Game Changers. The PresenTense Global Fellowship provided David with the tools to create Bring It In
- Israel, a program that trains Israel Sports Educators. David, a grad-uate of the University of Maryland, previously worked as program director for PeacePlayers International - Middle East (PPI-ME) and as assistant general manager for the minor league basketball team the Maryland Nighthawks.
Bring It In – Israel looks to develop dynamic young leaders to serve as
role models and coaches. The program gives participants the skills to use sports to connect Jewish children worldwide to Israel. In addition, participants hone their skills run-ning educational sports days and mifgashim (cultural exchanges) for Israeli children from different demographics. Sports and play have tremendous power to teach and bring people together.
changing the world, one venture at a time >> melissa scholten-gutierrez
PResentense FellOw activists
Social action, tikkun olam, saving the world— PresenTense fellows are doing it around the world. They heard the call from Rabbi Hillel, “If not now,
when?” and seized their moment to make a difference in local and global Jewish communities. PresenTense caught up with a few past fellows, asking three questions:
What do you aim to contribute
to the social action community?
Why is it important for
our generation to engage in social justice activities?
What is one step people in your
community can take to get involved in social justice?
2010JerusAlem
David LasdayHead Coach, Bring It In - Israelwww.bringitinisrael.com
It’s never been easier to get involved in social justice. Hundreds of great organi-
zations offer meaningful volunteering oppor-tunities in every community around the world. The Bring It In - Israel Twitter account (@Br-ingItInIsrael) is constantly retweeting social action initiatives and opportunities. Moreover, if you are age 18-24, planning on being in Is-rael, and want to use sports to build commu-nity and teach life skills, apply for the Bring It In - Israel Fellowship.
Engaging in social justice is a win-win. It has been my experience that the more
one gives to their community, the more they get back. In today’s technological age, with the tremendous reach and power we have as individuals, everyone has the ability to make a significant impact on the world. Take the time to learn something online from your friends and community and share it with someone else.
D
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T Tova SpeterDirector, The MEM Projectwww.thememproject.org
2010boston
The MEM Project harnesses interac-tions with the arts, fostering collective
exploration and offering a new understanding of community partnerships. This innovative, mural-based community engagement experi-ence builds self-esteem and generates new connections, making a difference in under-served neighborhoods.
Our generation is becoming more and more distracted by new media and tech-
nology that allows digital rather than personal interactions. Active engagement in social justice programs can happen online, but the community spirit and energy derived from di-rect experience is crucial to the development of our values and our role as future leaders who prioritize acts of community philanthropy.
The first action people can take is to identify participating in social justice
programs as a priority in their lives. They can then reach out to engage in activities of in-terest. If there is interest in exploring social justice through the creative arts, they can be in touch with The MEM Project to get involved in an upcoming workshop or mural project.
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issue thirteen 20118
I am a strong believer in the power of small actions. For every NU shirt pur-
chased, we donate up to 40% of profits to the charitable organization behind the cause, and we are working to increase that number to 100% through strategic partners. By wear-ing the shirt, you are empowered to carry the message wherever you go and spread the story. By lighting small sparks, one wearer at a time, we aim to create a global community of change.
www.bsdav.comFor free consultation contact Itzhak Beery 212-533-0909 or email [email protected]
website development / banners / e-newsletter s
pr int / radio / tv / outdoor
corp. id / annual repor t / brochures
fresh
1/3 page ad - either 8.5 x 3.25 inches Bleed
we do not recycle
Bleecker & Sullivan Interactive Advertising
Today one in three Israeli children live in poverty. One billion Africans live without
access to electricity and running water. One in 100 children worldwide are born with a heart defect and most have limited access to medi-cal help. Last year’s massive earthquake in Haiti left one million people without homes, who remain homeless one year later. The list goes on. Our work is clearly cut out for us.
efore making aliyah and serving in the IDF, David Kramer was the head advisor for the Department of Informal Jewish Education for the South African Jewish Board of Education and founder of the
Israel Information Department for the South African Zionist Federa-tion. In Israel, David worked for the Jewish Agency and the World Union of Jewish Students until he decided to establish the NU Campaign— an Israeli social awareness clothing brand and organization dedicated to raising awareness and funding for important Israeli causes and chari-table organizations. David is married to Tova and they live in Jerusalem with their three children.
NU Campaign aims to connect people worldwide to take action for important
Israeli charitable causes. In Israel today, there are 26,000 nonprofit organizations and a tremendous movement for the betterment of our world. Not many people are aware of this side of Israel: a country whose citizens deeply care for global humanity and are will-ing to make sacrifices for its improvement. Far more than selling fancy designs on cot-ton, NU is about education and awareness. By printing the stories on the inside of every NU t-shirt, opposite the heart, we want to con-nect people to the human story behind our featured causes. We hope that wearers will internalize the message and be inspired to make a difference.
B
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aillie Aaron is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Harvard University, where she discovered her passion for identifying and reducing inequalities in the criminal justice system. In 2007, while working at Harvard’s Program in Criminal Justice, Baillie started volunteering at a county prison. Through this experience, she
realized that many inmates exhibited an untapped, above-average talent for business and could benefit from formal business classes. In response, Baillie developed Venturing Out (formerly Entrepreneurship 101), a nonprofit organization teaching entrepreneurship courses to incarcerated and court-involved individuals to enable students to reach their entrepreneurial potentials.
An individual trying to impact his or her community can only do so much alone.
My goal as a social entrepreneur is to create opportunities for people interested in social action to collectively make a difference. Or-ganizations like Venturing Out connect people who have a passion for a particular cause with relevant positions, allowing them to give back in a meaningful, high-impact way.
It is important for every generation to give back to the community. Nobody
achieves success by himself or herself; in-stead, we rely on support from other people to help us reach our goals. According to the Jewish principle of tikkun olam, it is our re-sponsibility to engage in social action to improve societal welfare; it is our obligation to use the resources, knowledge, and skills gained through our experiences to help oth-er people in our communities achieve their dreams as well. Direct involvement with com-munity-based social justice programs is one way for members of our generation to do that.
Nonprofit organizations, including Ven-turing Out, regularly advertise through
websites like Idealist.com or Craigslist.com as well as through university career centers. If you are interested in a cause, contact an organization with a related mission to ask about opportunities, or check out websites of foundations and funders with similar interests to see which projects they are in-volved with. It’s a great way to network with likeminded people! Keep in mind that social justice organizations are often underfunded and overwhelmed, so don’t be discouraged if you don’t hear back from them right away. Be persistent, and help them find you the perfect opportunity to get involved.
B
Bailie Aaron Founder and Board Chair, Venturing Outwww.venturingout.org
2010boston
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David KramerCEO and Founder, NU Campaignwww.nucampaign.org
2010JerusAlem
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issue thirteen 2011 9
www.bsdav.comFor free consultation contact Itzhak Beery 212-533-0909 or email [email protected]
website development / banners / e-newsletter s
pr int / radio / tv / outdoor
corp. id / annual repor t / brochures
fresh
1/3 page ad - either 8.5 x 3.25 inches Bleed
we do not recycle
Bleecker & Sullivan Interactive Advertising
Find out what you see as the problem in society, have a strong feeling about it,
build passion, and then do something about it. Either find organizations already dealing with that issue or find like-minded people and start something of your own. PT
fter a BA Honors degree from Manchester University in England and six years in Asia, Bradley returned to Israel, having rediscovered his Jewish roots and the profound spiritual insight of Judaism. As a PT
fellow, he engaged Israeli backpackers in India in volunteer and Jewish identity work, running a highly successful pilot program in 2009 funded by the JDC. In 2010, he joined forces with Lev Olam, an Israeli humanitarian organization, and has just returned from four months in India, where he ran four programs for backpackers looking for meaning on their travels.
Some Jewish organizations help only Jews. Some help only non-Jews because
it is seen as even more noble to help others. I want to show that we can and should help all people irrespective of race and religion. I also seek to strengthen the awareness that the people who actually gain the most are the volunteers themselves. Finally, I aim to teach that you can do social action through love, joy, and wonder at the world, not just through a harsh ‘battle for justice’ mentality.
Social action is not just something nice to do. It is our role in the world: to fix
ourselves (tikkun hamiddot) and fix the world (tikkun olam). Social action is a life-changing, empowering, meaningful experience, helping us to manifest our potential in the world - to serve something greater then ourselves, to go beyond ego, to use our time on this planet effectively, efficiently, and in a meaningful way.
Bradley CohenProjects Director, Lev Olam
www.levolam.org
2008indiA
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Melissa Scholten-Gutierrez is a Jewish communal professional, social worker, educator, writer, mikvah advocate, and
the proud co-author of Redefining Rebbetzin. (RedefiningRebbetzin.com)
A
2010JerusAlem
Marla GamoranFounder, Skilled Volunteers for Israelskillvolunteerisrael.org
Through Skilled Volunteers for Israel, I aim to provide opportunities for North
American Jewish adults— particularly those from the Baby Boomer generation— to vol-unteer their talents and expertise in support of the real needs in Israeli society. Through skilled volunteering, those who care deeply about Israel can make meaningful contribu-tions, experience Israel firsthand, benefit from working side-by-side with their Israeli counterparts, and return to their home com-munities as ambassadors for the nonprofit organizations they worked with as well as for Israel.
I believe it is critical for every genera-tion to engage in social justice activities.
Skilled Volunteers for Israel targets older adults and will provide amazing opportuni-ties for volunteer engagement, such as those available for younger Jews. I hope that our volunteers motivate children, grandchildren, friends, and community members to similarly volunteer and contribute to social justice. Furthermore, I hope that engaging Jews of all generations will result in multi-generational opportunities to work together to make a dif-ference.
My advice: Get involved now; don’t wait for the perfect time. We make time for
what’s important to us, and getting involved through acts of social justice enriches us and our communities.
arla spent most of her professional life in nonprofit and higher education management, and is now launching her
encore career through her new venture Skilled Volunteers for Israel. Marla’s passion for Is-rael has led her to discover the need to build the framework for baby boomers like herself to volunteer their skills and expertise in Israel.
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r m e d w i t h a s e r i o u s m o r a l c o m p a s s , p l u s a d e g r e e i n s o c i a l s t u d i e s f r o m H a r v a r d U n i v e r s i t y, J o e l l e N o v e y i s t h e d i r e c t o r o f G r e a t e r
Wa s h i n g t o n I n t e r f a i t h Po w e r a n d L i g h t (G W- I P L , h t t p : // w w w. g w i p l .o r g / ) . P r o p e l l i n g h e r i s a s e n s e o f s o c i a l r e s p o n s i b i l i t y c o m i n g f r o m a d e e p u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f t i k k u n o l a m ( r e p a i r i n g t h e w o r l d ) a n d a b e l i e f i n i t s p l a c e a t t h e c o r e o f J u d a i s m .
“ ‘ T h o u s h a l t n o t o p p r e s s a s t r a n g e r : f o r y o u k n o w t h e h e a r t o f a s t r a n g e r , s e e i n g y o u w e r e o n c e s t r a n g e r s i n t h e l a n d o f E g y p t ’ ( E x o d u s 2 3 : 9 ) . T h i s i s a r e m i n d e r t h a t w e s h o u l d n o t o p p r e s s a n y o n e , e v e n w h e n t h i n g s a r e b e t t e r f o r u s ,” N o v e y e x p l a i n s .
B a s e d i n t h e Wa s h i n g t o n , D C a r e a , G W- I P L , o n e o f o v e r 3 0 I n -t e r f a i t h Po w e r a n d L i g h t p r o g r a m s a c r o s s t h e c o u n t r y, p a r t n e r s w i t h c o n g r e g a t i o n s f r o m v a r i o u s d e n o m i -n a t i o n s a n d e d u c a t e s t h e m a b o u t h o w t o b e e n v i r o n m e n t a l l y c o n -s c i o u s i n p u r s u i n g t h e i r m i s s i o n . G W- I P L a l s o h e l p s c o n g r e g a t i o n s l e a r n m o r e a b o u t e n e r g y a n d c l i m a t e i s s u e s a n d s p e a k o u t o n e n v i r o n -m e n t a l a d v o c a c y c a m p a i g n s .
N o v e y m a k e s a c l e a r c o n n e c t i o n b e t w e e n f a i t h a n d s o c i a l a c t i o n . “ I a l w a y s f e l t t h a t J u d a i s m — t a k e n s e r i o u s l y — w o u l d c h a n g e t h e w o r l d . T h e t h e m e I k e e p r e t u r n i n g t o i n m y w o r k i s b u i l d i n g a n d s u p p o r t -i n g r e l i g i o u s c o m m u n i t i e s t h a t l e a d p e o p l e ( b o t h J e w s a n d n o n - J e w s ) t o s o c i a l a c t i o n a n d t o t r u l y l i v e o u t t h e i r v a l u e s .”
E v e r y t h r e e w e e k s , N o v e y h e l p s t o o r g a n i z e T i k k u n L e i l S h a b b a t ( h t t p : // t i k k u n l e i l s h a b b a t . o r g ) , a “ s o n g f u l , s o u l f u l s e r v i c e ” f o c u s -i n g o n s o c i a l a c t i o n f o l l o w e d b y a p o t l u c k v e g e t a r i a n d i n n e r . N o t h i n g i s d i s p o s a b l e , a n d t h e e v e n i n g e n d s w i t h a c o m m u n a l d i s h - w a s h i n g a n d c l e a n u p . A l l a r e w e l c o m e , J e w s a n d n o n - J e w s a l i k e . “ T i k k u n L e i l S h a b -b a t p r o v i d e s a s p a c e f o r o u r g e n e r a -t i o n t h a t p l a c e s s o c i a l j u s t i c e a t
t h e h e a r t o f o u r c o n g r e g a t i o n . I t ’ s s o e x c i t i n g i n D C t o h a v e a w h o l e c o m m u n i t y o f f o l k s w h o e m b r a c e J u d a i s m a s a s p i r i t u a l p r a c t i c e a n d u n d e r t a k e s o c i a l a c t i v i s m a s c o r e t o t h e i r i d e n t i t y.”
A n a t i v e o f B a l t i m o r e , a c i t y w i t h a s t r o n g t r a d i t i o n o f C a t h o -l i c a c t i v i s m , N o v e y o b s e r v e d t h e C a t h o l i c c o m m u n i t y i m p r o v i n g c o n d i t i o n s f o r t h e l e s s p r i v i l e g e d s e g m e n t s o f t h e c i t y, c r e a t i n g s c h o o l s i n b a d n e i g h b o r h o o d s . “ N o o n e a s k e d w h y C a t h o l i c s w e r e d o -i n g t h a t . I t j u s t w a s p a r t o f w h a t i t m e a n t t o b e C a t h o l i c . F o r a l o n g t i m e , m a n y p e o p l e i n p r o g r e s s i v e r e l i g i o u s t r a d i t i o n s h a v e f o u g h t i n j u s t i c e a s a n a t u r a l p a r t o f h o w t h e y p a r t i c i p a t e i n t h e i r r e l i g i o u s c o m m u n i t y. I d o n ’t t h i n k w e a r e l i k e t h a t i n t h e J e w i s h w o r l d y e t .”
B u t t h e g a p s e e m s t o b e n a r -r o w i n g ; t h e J e w i s h c o m m u n i t y i s b e c o m i n g m o r e c o n s c i o u s a b o u t b r i n g i n g t h i s s p i r i t i n t o a l l d i f -f e r e n t a s p e c t s o f l i f e . A n s w e r i n g t h i s c a l l , N o v e y c o - a u t h o r e d , a l o n g w i t h R e b e c c a S h a l o f f , G r e e n a n d J u s t C e l e b r a t i o n s , a l o c a l g u i d e f o r t h e J e w i s h c o m m u n i t y o n h o w t o c e l e b r a t e J e w i s h m i l e s t o n e s i n a n e n v i r o n m e n t a l l y f r i e n d l y w a y. I n -t e r s p e r s e d w i t h J e w i s h t e a c h i n g s , i t e x p l a i n s w a y s f a m i l i e s c a n m a k e c h o i c e s w h i c h a r e c o n s c i o u s o f l a -b o r e r s ’ r i g h t s , a n i m a l w e l f a r e , a n d t h e p l a n e t a s a w h o l e : f r o m h o w t o c h o o s e l o c a t i o n s a n d c u l i n a r y o p t i o n s t o r i n g s w h i c h c a n b e e x -c h a n g e d w i t h a c l e a n c o n s c i e n c e a t w e d d i n g s . N o v e y ’s t i p s w e r e t r i e d a n d t e s t e d f i r s t h a n d w h e n s h e m a r -r i e d E t h a n M e r l i n o n A u g u s t 17, 2 0 0 8 . “ We e m b r a c e d t h e o p p o r -t u n i t y t o m a k e g r e e n c h o i c e s a s a w a y o f s h a r i n g t h e w a y s w e h o p e t o l i v e l i f e a s a f a m i l y g o i n g f o r w a r d ,” N o v e y s a y s .
W h e n N o v e y i s n o t b u s y b e -i n g a l e a d e r i n t h e f i e l d o f J e w i s h s o c i a l a c t i v i s m , s h e i s a b u s y p a r -t i c i p a n t , w i t h h o b b i e s t h a t i n v o l v e m a k i n g t h e w o r l d a b e t t e r p l a c e .
joelle novey >> rachel krauserwOman tO watch
A
heR
e &
nO
w“ I a l w a y s f e l t t h a t
J u d a i s m — t a k e n s e r i o u s l y — w o u l d
c h a n g e t h e w o r l d .”
name: Joelle Novey
home: Washington, DC
Watch her because: She’s connecting faith and social justice to raise environmental consciousness in our congregations and celebrations.
S h e r e c e n t l y j o i n e d S o n g r i s e , a l o -c a l w o m e n ’s s o c i a l j u s t i c e a c a p -p e l l a g r o u p w h i c h s i n g s a t r a l l i e s , p r o t e s t s , a n d c e l e b r a t i o n s , r a i s i n g m o n e y a n d a w a r e n e s s f o r v a r i o u s c a u s e s .
N o v e y ’s a d v i c e f o r g e t t i n g i n -v o l v e d ? “ Ta k e J e w i s h t r a d i t i o n s o f s a n c t i f y i n g s m a l l a c t i o n s a s a n i n -s p i r a t i o n t o p a y a t t e n t i o n t o t h i n g s y o u d o e v e r y d a y,” s h e s a y s . “ E v e r y c h o i c e i s a n o p p o r t u n i t y t o c o n s i d e r h o w w e i n t e r a c t w i t h t h e w o r l d . W h o g r e w t h i s c o f f e e I ’m d r i n k i n g a n d h o w d i d i t s h a r v e s t i n g i m p a c t o t h e r p e o p l e a n d t h e E a r t h ? ”
S h e i n s i s t s s h e p e r s o n a l l y s t i l l h a s a w a y t o g o . “ S o m e t i m e s I g e t t i r e d a n d I ’ l l t a k e t h e e l e v a t o r . I t r y t o r e m e m b e r m y c u p w h e n I g o t o a c o f f e e s h o p b u t I d o n ’t a l w a y s , a n d t h a t ’s O K . I t ’ s a b o u t s e t t i n g y o u r s e l f o n t h a t t r a c k a n d d o i n g t h e b e s t y o u c a n . W i t h a l l o f t h e s e t h i n g s , I ’m s t i l l o n t h e j o u r n e y.” PT
Rachel Krauser has recently re-turned from living most of her adult life in Israel, and is currently enjoy-
ing rediscovering life in New York City.
Photo provided by Joelle Novey.
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l i e L o w e n f e l d h a s a l w a y s p o s -s e s s e d a k e e n d e s i r e t o h e l p o t h e r s . “ I g r e w u p i n a h o m e [ w h e r e ] v o l u n t e e r i n g a n d s e r -
v i c e t o o t h e r s w a s i m p o r t a n t ,” h e s t a t e s . A s a y o u t h , h e d e l i v e r e d f o o d t o t h e e l d e r l y a n d v o l u n t e e r e d i n a s o u p k i t c h e n . F o l l o w i n g H u r r i c a n e K a t r i n a , L o w e n f e l d t r a v e l e d t o N e w O r l e a n s o n m o r e t h a n o n e o c c a s i o n t o h e l p w i t h t h e r e l i e f e f f o r t .
I n 2 0 0 8 , L o w e n f e l d w o r k e d w i t h A m e r i c o r p s i n C e d a r R a p i d s , I o w a a f t e r r e c o r d f l o o d i n g . H e s a w m a n y C h r i s t i a n v o l u n t e e r s — w h o c a m e f r o m n a t i o n a l o r g a n i z a t i o n s , l o c a l c h u r c h e s , a n d a s i n d i v i d u -a l s — b u t , d i s a p p o i n t i n g l y, v e r y f e w p e o p l e f r o m h i s o w n J e w i s h f a i t h . H e s a y s , “ I n t w o m o n t h s , t h e r e w a s n o t o n e J e w i s h g r o u p t o c o m e t o C e -
elie lowenfeld >> benjamin weisbergerman with a Plan
E
d a r R a p i d s t o h e l p t h e c o m m u n i t y.” A s p a r t o f a r e l i e f e f f o r t i n w h i c h m a n y d i f f e r e n t c o m m u n i t i e s c a m e t o g e t h e r , L o w e n f e l d “ s a w a g l a r i n g e m p t y s p a c e w h e r e m y c o m m u n i t y, t h e J e w i s h c o m m u n i t y, w a s n ’t .”
To e n g a g e m o r e A m e r i c a n J e w s i n a d d r e s s i n g s u c h n a t u r a l d i s a s t e r s , L o w e n f e l d f o u n d e d t h e J e w i s h D i -s a s t e r R e s p o n s e C o r p s ( J D R C ) . T h e J D R C o r g a n i z e s t h e A m e r i c a n J e w -i s h c o m m u n i t y t o p r o v i d e h a n d s - o n a s s i s t a n c e i n t h e w a k e o f d o m e s t i c d i s a s t e r s . T h e J D R C i s c o m p r i s e d o f m e m b e r s w h o m a k e a o n e - y e a r c o m m i t m e n t t o a s s i s t i n r e c o v e r y e f f o r t s , s u c h a s h a n g i n g s h e e t r o c k , p a i n t i n g h o u s e s , r e m o v i n g d e b r i s , a n d c l e a r i n g t r e e s .
S i n c e i t s i n c e p t i o n , t h e J D R C h a s a c h i e v e d s i g n i f i c a n t m o b i l i z a -t i o n o f v o l u n t e e r s . I n 2 0 0 9 , 14 J D R C v o l u n t e e r s w e n t t o C e d a r R a p i d s t o h e l p w i t h f l o o d - r e c o v e r y e f f o r t s , i n c l u d i n g r e m o v i n g d e b r i s f r o m a s t o r e i n t h e d o w n t o w n a r e a a n d p a r t i c i p a t i n g i n r e b u i l d i n g p r o j e c t s . I n 2 010 , t h e J D R C b r o u g h t o v e r 5 0 v o l u n t e e r s t o G a l v e s t o n , Te x a s t o h e l p r e p a i r t h e d a m a g e c a u s e d b y H u r r i c a n e I k e . “ T h e c o l l e g e k i d s t r a d e d t h e i r n o t e b o o k c o m p u t e r s f o r s l e d g e h a m m e r s , p a i n t b r u s h e s , m a p s , a n d o t h e r i m p l e m e n t s o f r e -c o v e r y a s t h e y p r a c t i c e d n e w s k i l l s a s h o m e r e n o v a t o r s ,” t h e G a l v e s t o n C o u n t y D a i l y N e w s r e p o r t e d . T h e J D R C h a s h e l p e d r e c o v e r y e f f o r t s i n P r o v i d e n c e , R I , L o u i s v i l l e , K Y, a n d N a s h v i l l e , T N , a m o n g o t h e r p l a c e s .
T h e J D R C h a s r e c e n t l y t a k e n a n i m p o r t a n t o r g a n i z a t i o n a l s t e p . O n S e p t e m b e r 1 , 2 010 , t h e J D R C b e c a m e a p a r t o f t h e B r o n f m a n C e n -t e r f o r J e w i s h S t u d e n t L i f e a t N e w Yo r k U n i v e r s i t y. “ T h i s h a s h e l p e d u s
b e g i n t o e x p a n d o u r w o r k a n d g r o w i n s t i t u t i o n a l l y,” s a y s L o w e n f e l d .
L o w e n f e l d e x p l a i n s t h a t t h e m i s s i o n o f t h e J D R C d i f f e r s f r o m t h a t o f m o s t J e w i s h s e r v i c e o r g a n i -z a t i o n s . W h i l e t h e s e o r g a n i z a t i o n s m a y s e e k t o e d u c a t e o r p r o v i d e a J e w i s h e x p e r i e n c e , t h e J D R C i s f o -c u s e d o n h e l p i n g d i s a s t e r v i c t i m s . H e s t a t e s , “ T h e J D R C w a s f o u n d e d w i t h o n e g o a l : t o h e l p p e o p l e i n d i s a s t e r s .”
F o r L o w e n f e l d , r u n n i n g t h e J D R C h a s b e e n a f u l f i l l i n g e n d e a v -o r . H e s a y s , “ T h e g r e a t e s t t h i n g a b o u t w o r k i n g o n t h e J D R C i s t h e p e o p l e t h a t I g e t t o m e e t .” T h o s e p e o p l e i n c l u d e v o l u n t e e r s a n d m e m -b e r s o f a f f e c t e d c o m m u n i t i e s , w h o
c o m e t o g e t h e r t o h e l p o n e a n o t h e r i n t i m e s o f c r i s i s .
F o r s o m e o n e l o o k i n g t o s t a r t a v e n t u r e l i k e t h e J D R C , L o w e n f e l d s a y s t h a t i t i s b e s t t o t a k e a p r o a c -t i v e , l e a d i n g r o l e . H e a s s e r t s , “ I f y o u s e e a p r o b l e m t h a t n e e d s t o b e f i x e d … d o n ’t w a s t e y o u r t i m e w a i t -i n g f o r o t h e r s t o j u m p o n b o a r d . . . Yo u c a n s t a r t m a k i n g a d i f f e r e n c e t o d a y.”
L o w e n f e l d e x p l a i n s t h e m o t i -v a t i o n b e h i n d h i s w o r k , “ I t i s t h e m o r a l a n d s o c i a l r e s p o n s i b i l i t y o f t h e J e w i s h c o m m u n i t y, j u s t a s a n y o t h e r A m e r i c a n c o m m u n i t y, t o e x -t e n d a h e l p i n g h a n d t o t h e s e c o m -m u n i t i e s d u r i n g t h e i r t i m e o f n e e d .” T h r o u g h h i s w o r k w i t h t h e J D R C , L o w e n f e l d d o e s j u s t t h a t . PT
B e n j a m i n We i s b e r g e r l i v e s i n J e r u s a l e m . H e i s a s t u d e n t a t H e b r e w U n i v e r s i t y .
name: Elie Lowenfeld
home: New York City
Watch him because: He’s relieving us from domestic natural disasters.
Photo provided by Elie Lowenfeld.“ I f y o u s e e a p r o b l e m t h a t n e e d s t o b e f i x e d . . . d o n’ t w a s t e y o u r t i m e w a i t i n g f o r o t h e r s t o j u m p o n b o a r d .”
here & now presentense.org/magazine
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sOuRcing seRvice
Jon rosenberg
Ru
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jewish perspectives and approaches >> ezra shanken
Jon Rosenberg is the CEO of Repair the World (www.werepair.org). He has a 20-year background in public education reform, civil rights, criminal justice, and related fields. Before joining Repair the World, he was the founding executive director of Roads to Success, a college and career readiness program for low-income youth. He has held senior positions at Edison Schools, the US Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights, and The Children’s Aid Society. Rosenberg has served as an adjunct faculty member at Teachers College and Columbia Law School, where he taught Children and the Law and Education Law. A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and Columbia School of Law, he lives in Montclair, NJ with his wife and two children.
IS SeRvICe JeWISh?
There are few things more essentially Jewish than serving a cause greater than one’s self. Our rabbinic tradition places a great deal of emphasis on being an eved hashem— one who lives in service to the Divine. And it articulates that in order to serve the Divine, one must serve his or her fellow: her family, her community, her nation, and her world. That service is rendered in acts of chesed and tzedakah— loving-kindness and charity. In that sense, service is a Jewish imperative.
What IS MoRe RIGhteouS: to GIve of one’S tIMe oR Money?
Chesed and tzedakah need not be hierarchized nor pitted against each other: Together they are parts of a holistic approach to repairing the world. Both are essential Jewish obligations. But service unquestionably asks of the indi-vidual a deeper level of personal engagement and commitment than acts of charity require. This is not because it is more righteous than giving charity.
Who In the toRah peRSonIfIeS SeRvICe to you?
Yitro, Moshe’s father-in-law, is like the romantic biblical prototype of a Peace Corps fellow. He’s on an alternative break trip to the
Sinai desert. There he finds Moshe struggling alone to serve the needs of am yisrael (people of Israel) as its sole judge, and thus he’s iden-tified a structural issue negatively affecting the community. He takes the initiative to address the problem: “You will surely wear yourself out both you and these people who are with you, for the matter is too heavy for you; you cannot do it alone.” He then helps Moshe establish a system of judges, “God-fearers, men of truth, who hate monetary gain,” to “bear” the burden, “thereby making it easier for you,” so that “this people will come upon their place in peace.”
Yitro’s service on behalf of Israel— which, as a Midianite, is not even his nation— is an excellent example of how one’s efforts on behalf of another community can have an appreciable impact.
IS SeRvICe to the GReateR CoMMunIty JeWISh SeRvICe?
It says in Talmud Gittin 61a: “We sustain the non-Jewish poor with the Jewish poor, visit the non-Jewish sick with the Jewish sick, and bury the non-Jewish dead with the Jewish dead, because these are the ways of peace.” As much as one is obligated to love and serve his fellow Jew, he is obligated to love and serve his fellow man, his fellow living creatures, and the Earth as a whole. The world isn’t going to get repaired by breaking it apart into more pieces.
What aRe thRee thInGS younG JeWISh people Can do to MaKe SeRvICe a pRIoRIty In theIR JeW-ISh lIfe?
1. Identify your passion: Find the issue that most animates you and explore the ways in which you’re inspired to address that issue through acts of service.
2. Take a year off: Consider taking a year off between high school and college, or in be-tween years of college, to do a year of service.
3. Lead a life of service: Service is a lifelong commitment, not a one-off activity. Make it a part of the orientation of your life. Just as we’re asked us to tithe our income, we also must tithe our time to do the necessary work of repairing the world.
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udaism and service have had an intimate relationship for thousands of years: from contributions to the mishkan in the desert to the recent participation of Jewish community members in everything from advocating the cease of genocide in Darfur to supporting workers’ rights in California. In this issue’s Rules of Engagement, PresenTense asked two experts in the field of service to tell us, “What is Jewish about service, anyway?”J
yonAtAn glAserYonatan Glaser founded B’Tzedek, whose flagship program is LIFE (www.LIFEprogram.org). He has extensive experience in young adult informal Jewish education and leadership development and served as North American Central Educational Shaliach (Emissary) to the Reform Movement. He graduated from the Mandel Institute’s School for Educational Leadership and holds degrees in law, economics, and Jewish thought. Glaser improved Israel’s policy on the influx of African asylum seekers and is experimenting with new forms of community-based political organizing.
IS SeRvICe JeWISh?
Service by itself is not Jewish. Creating justice is Jewish. So is learning and creating commu-nity. Creating links between these three is one way to think about, build, and enhance Jewish life. If we understand service as social change and the demand for justice, we are on the right track. This is in contrast to understanding ser-vice in the pshat (simple or straight-forward) sense of help and assistance. Judaism is about bridging the gap between that which is and that which should be: the aspirational, the messianic, the worthy, the just. Helping in the here-and-now while striving to change societal structures is the creative tension and dialecti-cal ‘dance’ of Jewish life.
What IS MoRe RIGhteouS: to GIve of one’S tIMe oR one’S Money?
In an unredeemed, ‘broken’ world, it is impos-sible to be righteous, t o b e morally upright and blameless. We are all implicated in the myriad ills of society, and we internalize them. We should be more interested in taking re-sponsibility and making a difference. I would argue that impact is situational. Chairing the refugee policy committee or collecting clothes for asylum seekers may be what is required one week, donating money to the women’s shelter the next. It is required of us to give both time and money according to the situation, our ca-pacity, and what will make a difference.
Who In the toRah peRSonIfIeS SeRvICe to you?
Nachshon Ben Aminadav. When the Israelites leave Egypt, Pharaoh changes his mind about freeing the Jews and decides to send his army to pursue them. While some Israelites thought they were history and others waited for God to save them, the Midrash describes how Nachshon Ben Aminadav sees a third way—beyond either despair or irrational hope. He plunges into the water and keeps going, push-ing reality to its very limits. When the water touches the tip of his nostrils, when his very life is in danger, then the waters recede, allow-ing the Israelites to cross over onto dry land.
IS SeRvICe to the GReateR CoM-MunIty JeWISh SeRvICe?
B’Tzedek’s LIFE program sends young adults to India for four months to learn about and contribute to some of the most seemingly in-tractable problems there. They come back to Israel afterwards for another five months. Is living and working alongside Indians in In-dia Jewish? Service is Jewish to the extent it is motivated by or engages with Jewish ideas, experience, or community. Many Jews in the contemporary era move in and out of explic-itly Jewish time and space, social and symbolic context, ritual and cultural modalities, narra-tive and meaning. And that is just fine with me. For when we are in a non-Jewish moment, we have not left our Jewish identity behind.
What aRe thRee thInGS younG JeWISh people Can do to MaKe SeRvICe a pRIoRIty In theIR JeW-ISh lIfe?
The following three things are most powerful when carried out in combination:
1. Discuss your service and tikkun olam pas-sion and options with friends, and then act to-gether with or in parallel to them. Their vali-dation, support, and camaraderie will make a difference. It’s all about community.
2. Develop, critique, and refine your own theories of care and of social change. Include Jewish texts and ideas in that process. Study-ing Jewish texts is to have a inter-generational conversation with other Jews. Keep yourself honest about putting your commitments into action. It’s all about locating and connecting with your deepest self.
3. Use a diary. In Hebrew, ‘time’ is zman. From the same linguistic root we get zamin (available) and lzamen (to invite or convene). Realize that time according to Judaism is not just a measure. It is also, more significantly, an invitation. Time is not the issue; your use of it is. It’s all about your priorities. PT
ezra Shanken is the senior manager of the Young Adult Department at the Allied Jewish Federation of Colo-
rado and a third-generation Jewish commu-nal worker.
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t ’ s a s n o w y C h r i s t m a s D a y i n S a i n t L o u i s , a n d a f e w c a r s p u l l u p t o a g r a y b u i l d i n g i n t h e c i t y ’s w i n d s w e p t , d e p o p u l a t e d
n o r t h . T h e w o r d s o n t h e b u i l d i n g a r e s i m p l e e n o u g h : “ J u v e n i l e D e -t e n t i o n C e n t e r .”
T h e J e w s h a v e a r r i v e d , a s m a l l b a n d o f v o l u n t e e r s f r o m C e n t r a l R e -f o r m C o n g r e g a t i o n (C R C ) , t h e l o n e s y n a g o g u e i n s i d e t h e c i t y l i m i t s .
I n s i d e t h e b u i l d i n g i s a j a i l , a s c h o o l , a n d a t e m p o r a r y h o m e f o r a b o u t 5 0 y o u n g p e o p l e , m o s t l y t e e n a g e r s b u t s o m e w h o a r e a s y o u n g a s 1 2 . T h e y a r e a l m o s t a l l b o y s , a l m o s t a l l A f r i c a n - A m e r i c a n , a n d a l m o s t a l l a w a i t i n g t r i a l o n s e r i -o u s c h a r g e s .
“ T h e s e k i d s a r e n o t i n a d e t e n -t i o n c e n t e r b e c a u s e t h e y s t o l e a b o t t l e o f n a i l p o l i s h ,” s a y s C R C ’s a d v o c a c y a n d c o m m u n i c a t i o n s d i -r e c t o r , J e n B e r s d a l e . “ S o m e o f t h e m a r e a c c u s e d o f v e r y s e r i o u s c r i m e s , b u t e v e r y t i m e w e v o l u n t e e r w i t h t h e m , w e a r e r e m i n d e d t h a t i n t h e i r h e a r t s , t h e y a r e s t i l l j u s t k i d s .”
I n t h e f a l l o f 2 0 0 7, B e r s d a l e , n o w 31 , f a c i l i t a t e d a g r o u p a t C R C t o t a l k o u t h o w t o d i r e c t t h e c o n -g r e g a t i o n ’s v o l u n t e e r e n e r g y t o w a r d y o u t h a n d e d u c a t i o n i n a c i t y m a d e r a g g e d b y d e c a d e s o f p o v e r t y a n d p o p u l a t i o n d e c l i n e .
“ L o t s o f o r g a n i z a t i o n s w a n t t o
realism and hope >> michael gettythe 12-legged Race
I w o r k w i t h c u t e t o d d l e r s ,” B e r s d a l e r e m e m b e r s o n e p a r t i c i p a n t s a y i n g . “ F e w e r w a n t t o h e l p t r o u b l e d t e e n s , a n d C R C h a s t h e r e s o u r c e s t o d o j u s t t h a t .”
E v e n t u a l l y, t h e c o n g r e g a -t i o n s t a r t e d w o r k i n g w i t h N a t h a n G r a v e s , n o w 3 4 , w h o s e j o b i s t o c r e a t e p r o g r a m m i n g f o r c h i l d r e n i n t h e c i t y ’s j u v e n i l e j u s t i c e s y s t e m .
G r a v e s c o o r d i n a t e s w i t h t e a c h -e r s a n d o v e r 2 0 0 v o l u n t e e r s t o e n -r i c h t h e s e y o u n g p e o p l e ’s d a y s i n c u s t o d y w i t h s u p e r v i s e d p l a y, t u t o r -i n g , r e s u m e w o r k s h o p s , a n d m o r e .
“ We n e v e r s e n d k i d s a w a y f o r l i f e ,” h e s a y s . “ H o w d o y o u w a n t t h e m b a c k ? A s k i d s w h o d i d n ’t l e a r n
f r o m t h e e x p e r i e n c e o f b e i n g h e r e ? O r m a y b e a s s o m e b o d y w h o s h a r p -e n e d t h e i r s k i l l s , t h o u g h t a b o u t w h o t h e y a r e a n d w h a t t h e y w a n t t o d o w i t h t h e i r l i f e ? ”
T h e C R C C h r i s t m a s v o l u n t e e r s h a v e g a m e s , c a n d y a n d c o o k i e s , a n d m u s i c f o r a h i p - h o p d a n c e w o r k -s h o p . T h e y l i n e u p o n o n e s i d e o f t h e c a f e t e r i a a s a b o u t 5 0 y o u n g o f f e n d e r s f i l e i n , d r e s s e d i n s w e a t -s h i r t s , s w e a t p a n t s , a n d s t r a p - o n s n e a k e r s t h a t a r e c o l o r - c o d e d i n
r e d , g r e e n , b l u e , a n d y e l l o w t o i n -d i c a t e a g e a n d g e n d e r .
T h e v o l u n t e e r s f a n o u t a n d s e t u p t a b l e s w i t h U n o , M o n o p o l y, a n d c h e c k e r s . T h e g a m e s b e g i n . T h e l a u g h t e r s t a r t s . E v e r y o n e r e m a r k s a f t e r w a r d h o w p o l i t e a n d a p p r e c i a -t i v e t h e y o u n g p e o p l e a r e , b u t t h e d a y ’s a c t i v i t i e s a r e s h o r t . B y f i v e o ’c l o c k , t h e r o o m i s e m p t i e d a s t h e s t a f f p r e p a r e s d i n n e r .
A s k a n y r e p e a t v o l u n t e e r s f r o m C R C f o r t h e i r m o s t t r e a s u r e d e x -p e r i e n c e a t t h e J u v e n i l e D e t e n t i o n C e n t e r a n d t h e y w i l l t a k e y o u b a c k t o F i e l d D a y l a s t s u m m e r : a n e n t i r e a f t e r n o o n w i t h o u t d o o r b a s k e t b a l l , f o o t b a l l , a n d o n e g a m e t h a t c h a n g e d
h o w e v e r y o n e s a w t h i n g s .T h e s t a f f c h o s e t w o t e a m s o f s i x
k i d s . T h e y w e r e a s s e m b l e d i n p a r a l -l e l l i n e s , a t o p t w o w o o d e n p l a n k s . T h e i r l e f t f e e t w e r e o n o n e p l a n k a n d t h e i r r i g h t f e e t w e r e o n t h e o t h e r , t u r n i n g e a c h t e a m i n t o t w o b i g f e e t w i t h s i x a d o l e s c e n t b r a i n s a n d a s i m p l e t a s k : w a l k o n e w a y, t u r n a r o u n d , t h e n w a l k b a c k .
A t e a m o f v o l u n t e e r s m o u n t e d b o a r d s a l o n g s i d e t h e k i d s , a n d t h e r a c e w a s o n .
“ We n e v e r s e n d k i d s a w a y f o r l i f e . H o w d o y o u w a n t t h e m [ t o c o m e ] b a c k ? ”
The young offenders on field day. Photo provided by CRC.
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W h a t n o t e v e r y o n e i n t h e r a c e k n e w w a s h o w a p p r e h e n s i v e G r a v e s a n d h i s s t a f f w e r e .
“ T h e s e k i d s h a d a l o t o f f i g h t s ,” h e r e m e m b e r s . “ We w e r e h a v i n g t o p a y a l o t o f a t t e n t i o n t o t h e m l e a d -i n g u p t o F i e l d D a y. T h e r e w e r e p r i z e s , a p i z z a p a r t y, a n d c a n d y t h a t C R C b r o u g h t i n , a n d t h e k i d s w a n t e d t o w i n , s o t h e r e w a s s o m e p r e s s u r e .”
T h e k i d s s u r p r i s e d e v e r y o n e . T h e y o r g a n i z e d . L e a d e r s e m e r g e d a n d e n c o u r a g e d f o l l o w e r s ; t h e 1 2 - l e g g e d o f f e n d e r s l e f t t h e i r h i g h l y e d u c a t e d v i s i t o r s i n t h e d u s t .
“ I t w a s a m a z i n g t o s e e l e a d e r s e m e r g e f r o m a g r o u p m a d e u p o f k i d s w h o w e r e i n f o r r o b b i n g o r s t e a l i n g c a r s ,” G r a v e s s a y s . “ F i r s t
p a s s , t h e y d i d n ’t d o i t , s e c o n d t r y, d i d n ’t d o i t . B y t h e t h i r d t i m e , t h e y w e r e a b l e t o b e i n s t e p w i t h e a c h o t h e r , l e f t l e g , r i g h t l e g , b a c k a n d f o r t h .”
E v e r y o n e r e m e m b e r s t h e b e a m -i n g f a c e s o n t h a t d a y.
“ T h e y f e l t g o o d a b o u t t h e m -s e l v e s ,” G r a v e s r e c a l l s . “ T h e y l e a r n e d t o s e t a s i d e i n d i v i d u a l n e e d s f o r t h e g r o u p . I t ’ s c r a z y t o t h i n k t h a t a 15 - o r 16 - y e a r - o l d k i d m i g h t n e v e r h a v e h a d t h e e x p e r i e n c e o f a t e a m s u c c e s s , b u t a l o t o f t h e s e k i d s h a v e e x p e r i e n c e d m o r e t r a u m a t h a n m o s t a d u l t s e x p e r i e n c e t h e i r w h o l e l i v e s .”
K i m R o s e n f i e l d , w h o h a s f o u r k i d s a l m o s t t h e s a m e a g e a s t h e s e y o u n g o f f e n d e r s , g o e s t o t h e J u v e -
n i l e D e t e n t i o n C e n t e r w i t h w h a t o n e m i g h t c a l l r o m a n t i c r e a l i s m .
“ I t ’ s a l i m i t e d i n t e r v e n t i o n ,” s h e s a y s . “ B u t I t h i n k i f I c a n c r e a t e a b o n d w i t h s o m e o n e a t t h a t m o m e n t a n d h e l p t h e m f e e l t h a t t h e y m a t -t e r , t h a t c a n g i v e t h e m a g l i m m e r o f h o p e .
“ To m e , t h a t c o n n e c t s t o t h e f u n d a m e n t a l J e w i s h v a l u e t h a t e v e r y l i f e m a t t e r s ,” s h e c o n t i n u e s . “ We d o n ’t b a s e o u r l i v e s o n s o m e f u t u r e r e w a r d i n h e a v e n . I t ’ s a b o u t w h a t w e d o t o m a k e t h e w o r l d a b e t t e r p l a c e , e v e n i f i t ’ s j u s t o n e l i t t l e s t e p a t a t i m e .” PT
Michael Getty is a writer and educa-tor and lives with his husband in St. Louis, Missouri, where they are both
members of Central Reform Congregation.
Study where Judaism is lived as well aslearned, surrounded by the excitement andopportunities of New York City. Becomeimmersed in the ancient texts of Judaismand communal issues of contemporarysignificance. The Jewish TheologicalSeminary offers undergraduate, graduate,cantorial, and rabbinical degrees toprepare religious, academic, educational,and lay leaders for the Jewish communityand beyond.
JTSNYC
3080 BROADWAYNEW YORK, NY 10027(212) 678-8832 • www.jtsa.edu
Albert A. List College of Jewish StudiesThe Graduate SchoolH. L. Miller Cantorial School and College of Jewish MusicWilliam Davidson Graduate School of Jewish EducationThe Rabbinical School
Look into it.
Date: 9/22/10Client: JTSContact: Kristin HigginsJob # 2010400Size: 8.5 x 7.25 (2/3 page)Publication: PresenTense Magazine
Around the World presentense.org/magazine
issue thirteen 201116
e r h a p s w e c a n t h i n k o f N e w O r l e a n s a s a m o d e r n - d a y p i l -g r i m a g e s i t e . S i n c e H u r r i c a n e K a t r i n a , t h e c i t y h a s b e c o m e
a p r i m a r y s e r v i c e - l e a r n i n g d e s t i n a -t i o n f o r A m e r i c a n J e w s . M i c h a e l We i l , e x e c u t i v e d i r e c t o r o f t h e J e w -i s h F e d e r a t i o n o f G r e a t e r N e w O r-l e a n s , f r e q u e n t l y r e m i n d s v i s i t o r s t h a t N e w O r l e a n s , a c c o r d i n g t o t h e N e w Yo r k J e w i s h We e k , i s n o w “ T h e N e w M e c c a o f T i k k u n O l a m .”
T h i s h e a d l i n e d e m a n d s i n v e s t i -g a t i o n . M o r e t h a n f i v e y e a r s a f t e r H u r r i c a n e K a t r i n a a n d w e l l a f t e r t h e c o m p l e t i o n o f i m m e d i a t e p o s t -d i s a s t e r e f f o r t s , J e w s c o n t i n u e t o f l o c k t o N e w O r l e a n s t o e n g a g e i n v o l u n t e e r p r o j e c t s . W h i l e H i l -l e l t r i p s t o t h e B i g E a s y h a v e d e -
c r e a s e d s i n c e t h e i r p e a k i n 2 0 0 8 , t h e n u m b e r o f g r o u p s f r o m c o n -g r e g a t i o n s , l o c a l f e d e r a t i o n s , a n d J e w i s h h i g h s c h o o l s h a s i n c r e a s e d . Vo l u n t e e r E x p e d i t i o n s , a n o r g a n i z a -t i o n f o u n d e d b y C h i c a g o r e s i d e n t P a t t i V i l e a n d d e v o t e d p r i m a r i l y t o o r g a n i z i n g s e r v i c e t r i p s t o N e w O r-l e a n s , c u r r e n t l y h a s m o r e r e q u e s t s t h a n i t c a n h a n d l e .
V i l e c o n s i d e r s h e r o r i g i n a l i n -v o l v e m e n t i n p o s t - K a t r i n a w o r k a s
a n e f f o r t t o i n v o l v e J e w s i n t h e n a -t i o n a l o u t p o u r i n g o f s u p p o r t t h a t b r o u g h t m i l l i o n s o f v o l u n t e e r s t o N e w O r l e a n s a n d t h e M i s s i s s i p p i G u l f C o a s t . “ I t o l d m y r a b b i , ‘ T h e r e i s a l o t o f w o r k f o r t h e J e w s t o d o . ’ M y r a b b i t o l d m e t o g o a n d d o t h e w o r k ,” s h e s a i d .
new orleans and the jewish community >> joshua lichtman & moshe kornfeld
the Jewish seRvice mecca
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I n 2 0 0 6 , w h e n V i l e f i r s t s t a r t e d b r i n g i n g g r o u p s , t h e q u e s t i o n w a s w h y t h e J e w i s h c o m m u n i t y w a s n o t t a k i n g a m o r e a c t i v e r o l e i n p o s t -K a t r i n a r e c o v e r y e f f o r t s . I n 2 011 , t h e q u e s t i o n i s , w h y a r e t h e J e w s s t i l l t r a v e l i n g t o N e w O r l e a n s ?
We i l a t t r i b u t e s t h e c o n t i n u a t i o n o f J e w i s h “ v o l u n t o u r i s m ,” i n p a r t , t o t h e c i t y i t s e l f : “ Pe o p l e l i k e N e w O r l e a n s . I t i s a k n o w n p l a c e a n d p e o p l e k n o w t h a t t h e r e i s w o r k t o b e d o n e .” T h e s u s t a i n e d i n t e r e s t i n s e r v i c e a n d s o c i a l j u s t i c e w o r k i n N e w O r l e a n s c a n a l s o b e u n d e r s t o o d a s a r e f l e c t i o n o f a n u m b e r o f o n g o -i n g d e v e l o p m e n t s . F i r s t , a s a r e s u l t o f K a t r i n a r e c o v e r y e f f o r t s , t h e r e i s n o w a n o n p r o f i t i n f r a s t r u c t u r e t h a t c a n e a s i l y a n d e f f e c t i v e l y a c c o m -m o d a t e l a r g e g r o u p s o f v o l u n t e e r s . F o r t r i p l e a d e r s e a g e r t o f a c i l i t a t e m e a n i n g f u l t r i p s , t h i s m a k e s N e w O r l e a n s a n i d e a l l o c a t i o n .
N e w O r l e a n s i s n o t o n l y a c o n -v e n i e n t l o c a t i o n b u t a l s o a s y m -b o l i c l o c a t i o n t h a t r e p r e s e n t s a n d a l l o w s f o r c o m m u n a l r e f l e c t i o n o n J e w i s h e n g a g e m e n t i n s e r v i c e a n d s o c i a l j u s t i c e a c t i v i t i e s . T h e J e w -i s h F e d e r a t i o n s o f N o r t h A m e r i c a ’s d e c i s i o n t o h o l d i t s 2 010 G e n e r a l A s s e m b l y i n N e w O r l e a n s , a n d t h e A s s e m b l y ’s u n p r e c e d e n t e d a t t e n -t i o n t o s o c i a l j u s t i c e a n d s e r v i c e i s s u e s , i s a r e f l e c t i o n o f t h i s s y m -b o l i c c a p i t a l .
F u r t h e r m o r e , t i k k u n o l a m w o r k i s n o t l i m i t e d t o N e w O r l e a n s b u t i s p a r t o f a n a t i o n a l J e w i s h A m e r i -c a n t r e n d t h a t e m p h a s i z e s s e r v i c e a n d s o c i a l j u s t i c e a c t i v i t i e s . T h i s t r e n d c a n b e s e e n i n t h e d r a m a t i c e x p a n s i o n o f o r g a n i z a t i o n s s u c h a s Av o d a h : T h e J e w i s h S e r v i c e C o r p s , A m e r i c a n J e w i s h Wo r l d S e r v i c e , J e w i s h F u n d s f o r J u s t i c e , a n d R e -p a i r t h e Wo r l d . T h e r e c e n t f o c u s o n s e r v i c e a n d s o c i a l j u s t i c e w i t h i n t h e J e w i s h c o m m u n i t y h e l p s t o e x p l a i n w h y J e w i s h l e a d e r s a r e b u s y p l a n -n i n g s e r v i c e - l e a r n i n g t r i p s i n t h e f i r s t p l a c e a n d w h y t h e r e i s f u n d i n g a v a i l a b l e f o r s u c h t r i p s .
T h e n o t i o n o f a M e c c a , h o w e v e r , o f a p i l g r i m a g e s i t e w h e r e p e o p l e c o m e t o b e t r a n s f o r m e d i n a w e e k o r t e n d a y s , d o e s n o t f u l l y c a p t u r e w h a t i s h a p p e n i n g i n N e w O r l e a n s .
W h y a r e t h e J e w s s t i l l t r a v e l i n g t o N e w O r l e a n s ?
AVODAH volunteer painting. Photo provided by AVODAH.
presentense.org/magazine Around the World
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W h a t i s h a p p e n i n g i n N e w O r l e a n s i s n o t o n l y a b o u t p e o p l e c o m i n g f r o m o u t s i d e b u t a l s o a b o u t t h e t r a n s f o r m a t i o n o f t h e N e w O r l e a n s J e w i s h c o m m u n i t y. S i n c e H u r r i c a n e K a t r i n a , 1 , 4 0 0 J e w s , m o s t l y i n t h e i r 2 0 s a n d 3 0 s , h a v e m o v e d t o N e w
O r l e a n s . A s a r e s u l t o f t h i s i n f l u x , t h e c i t y h a s e x p e r i e n c e d t h e e s t a b -l i s h m e n t o f a y o u n g J e w i s h c o m -m u n i t y t h a t v a l u e s s o c i a l j u s t i c e a n d a c t i v i s m . S u c h c o m m u n i t i e s c a n o f t e n b e f o u n d i n t h e c e n t e r s o f A m e r i c a n J e w i s h l i f e b u t a r e r a r e i n s m a l l J e w i s h c o m m u n i t i e s s u c h a s t h e o n e i n N e w O r l e a n s ( p o p . 8 , 0 0 0 ) .
T h e p o s t - K a t r i n a e x p a n s i o n s o f Av o d a h a n d M o i s h e H o u s e t o N e w O r l e a n s h a v e c o n t r i b u t e d t o t h i s g r o w i n g J e w i s h s o c i a l j u s t i c e c o m m u n i t y. T h o u g h n o t e n t i r e l y r e m o v e d f r o m t h e e s t a b l i s h e d J e w -i s h c o m m u n i t y, i n d e p e n d e n t e f f o r t s o n t h e p a r t o f y o u n g s o c i a l j u s t i c e o r i e n t a t e d J e w s h a v e i n c l u d e d t h e
c r e a t i o n o f a J e w i s h s o c i a l j u s t i c e r e a d i n g g r o u p , a n e w J e w i s h L G -B T Q g r o u p , a n d a n i n d e p e n d e n t m i n y a n . Av o d a h ’s f o u n d e r , R a b b i D a v i d R o s e n n , c o m m e n t e d t h a t “Av o d a h ’s a b i l i t y t o h a v e a n i m p a c t o n J e w i s h l i f e i s m u c h g r e a t e r i n
s m a l l e r c o m m u n i t i e s . Av o d a h C o r p s m e m b e r s c a n n o t h a v e n e a r l y t h e s a m e i m p a c t o n t h e J e w i s h c o m -m u n i t i e s o f D C , N e w Yo r k , a n d C h i c a g o w h e r e s o m u c h e l s e i s g o i n g o n .” J o r d a n A i k e n , f o u n d e r o f t h e n e w J e w i s h L G B T Q g r o u p a n d a n Av o d a h a l u m n a , w a s e x p l o r i n g h e r J e w i s h a n d q u e e r i d e n t i t i e s w h e n s h e m o v e d t o N e w O r l e a n s a n d w a s h o p i n g t o f i n d s o m e w a y t o b r i n g t h e t w o t o g e t h e r : “ I a s s u m e d t h a t t h e J C C , t h e l o c a l F e d e r a t i o n , a n d t h e s y n a g o g u e s w o u l d h a v e s o m e -t h i n g f o r t h e Q u e e r c o m m u n i t y. F i n d i n g n o t h i n g , I d e c i d e d t o s t a r t s o m e t h i n g o f m y o w n .”
M o r e t h a n f i v e y e a r s a f t e r H u r -r i c a n e K a t r i n a , t i k k u n o l a m r e p -
r e s e n t s b o t h a b a s i s o f o n e c o m -p o n e n t o f t h e N e w O r l e a n s J e w i s h c o m m u n i t y a n d a d r a w f o r J e w i s h o r g a n i z a t i o n s a r o u n d t h e c o u n t r y. I t r e m a i n s t o b e s e e n w h e t h e r t h e l o n g - r a n g e o r g a n i z a t i o n a l a f t e r m a t h o f H u r r i c a n e K a t r i n a w i l l g i v e r i s e t o a t r u l y s u s t a i n a b l e J e w i s h s o c i a l j u s t i c e c o m m u n i t y i n N e w O r l e a n s a n d , i f s o , w h a t i m p a c t t h i s c o n -s t i t u e n c y m a y h a v e o n t h e g r e a t e r N e w O r l e a n s J e w i s h c o m m u n i t y a n d p e r h a p s e v e n o n A m e r i c a n J u d a -i s m . PT
Joshua lichtman is the New Or-leans program director of AVODAH: The Jewish Service Corps. He has
worked for a number of other Jewish orga-nizations including Hillel and the Isabella Freedman Jewish Retreat Center and is an alum of Pardes, ADAMAH, and New York Uni-versity’s Law School.
Moshe Kornfeld is a doctoral can-didate in cultural anthropology and Judaic studies at the University of
Michigan. Moshe is currently on assignment in New Orleans, where he is studying Jewish social justice activism in the broader context of contemporary American Jewish philan-thropy.
S i n c e H u r r i c a n e K a t r i n a , 1 , 4 0 0 J e w s , m o s t l y i n t h e i r 2 0 s a n d 3 0 s , h a v e m o v e d t o N e w O r l e a n s .
A volunteer at the 2010 GA in New Orleans. Photo provided by AVODAH.
AVODAH volunteer building a fence. Photo provided by AVODAH.
Around the World presentense.org/magazine
issue thirteen 201118
storying as social action >> leah varsano & tamar toledano
PReseRving memORy, healing tRauma
h a t ’s y o u r K a t r i n a s t o r y ? ” We w e r e a s k e d t h i s q u e s t i o n o n t h e s e c o n d d a y o f o u r y e a r - l o n g c o m -
m i t m e n t t o s o c i a l j u s t i c e t h r o u g h AVO DA H : t h e J e w i s h S e r v i c e C o r p s i n N e w O r l e a n s . Te n y o u n g t r a n s -p l a n t s t o t h e c i t y, w e s a t o n r i c k e t y f o l d i n g c h a i r s i n a c i r c l e i n t h e b a c k y a r d o f o u r h o u s e i n U p t o w n . W i t h t h e i n s t r u c t i o n t h a t o n e p e r -s o n t a l k f o r f i v e m i n u t e s s t r a i g h t a n d t h e l i s t e n e r s s i t q u i e t l y a n d f o c u s o n l y o n w h a t t h e s p e a k e r w a s s a y i n g , w e b e g a n s h a r i n g h o w w e w e r e a f f e c t e d w h e n t h e l e v e e s b r o k e .
A l t h o u g h m o s t o f u s h a d n ’t c o n -s i d e r e d e v e n h a v i n g a K a t r i n a s t o -r y — n o n e o f u s w e r e i n N e w O r l e a n s a t t h e t i m e — w h a t e m e r g e d f r o m t h e S t o r y C i r c l e w e r e t e n d i s t i n c t
r e s p o n s e s t o o n e e v e n t . I t b e c a m e c l e a r t o u s t h a t p e o p l e w h o l i v e d i n N e w O r l e a n s b e f o r e t h e s t o r m m u s t a l s o h a v e s t o r i e s t h a t w e n e e d e d t o h e a r . A n d w h i l e w e c o u l d n ’t o f -f e r p e r s o n a l a c c o u n t s t o r e l a t e t o t h o s e e x p e r i e n c e s , w e c o u l d o f f e r
s o m e t h i n g e l s e : o u r a b i l i t y t o l i s -t e n — t o h e a r a n d h o n o r t h e i r s t o r i e s o f s u r v i v a l i n a n e f f o r t t o f a c i l i t a t e h e a l i n g .
I n d e e d , t h e m e n t a l h a r m c a u s e d b y e v e n t s s u c h a s H u r r i c a n e K a t r i n a c a n r o b a n i n d i v i d u a l o f t h e i r v o i c e a n d a m e a n s o f p r o c e s s i n g t h e i r e x -p e r i e n c e . A c c o r d i n g t o D r . R i c h a r d P r i n g l e , p r o f e s s o r o f p s y c h o l o g y a t
G o u c h e r C o l l e g e , “ Tr a u m a i s t h e i n a b i l i t y t o s t o r y.”
B u t w h i l e e x p e r t s l i k e D r . P r i n g l e e m p h a s i z e t h e i m p o r t a n c e o f p s y c h o l o g i c a l h e a l i n g , t h e s o -c i a l a c t i o n m o v e m e n t s e e m s l e s s e q u i p p e d , a n d l e s s w i l l i n g , t o a d -d r e s s a s p e c t s o f r e c o v e r y t h a t g o b e y o n d t h e p h y s i c a l .
J e w s , h o w e v e r , h a v e a u n i q u e o p p o r t u n i t y t o b e a t t h e f o r e f r o n t o f a m o v e m e n t t h a t m a k e s t h e p r o -c e s s o f h e a l i n g t h r o u g h s t o r y i n g a n i n t e g r a l p a r t o f s o c i a l a c t i o n . O u r c o m m u n i t y, a f t e r a l l , h a s a l o n g t r a d i t i o n o f t e l l i n g s t o r i e s .
E v e r y y e a r a t t h e P a s s o v e r s e d e r , J e w i s h f a m i l i e s a n d c o m m u n i t i e s a r e r e m i n d e d t h a t “ i n e v e r y g e n -e r a t i o n a p e r s o n i s o b l i g a t e d t o s e e t h e m s e l v e s a s i f t h e y l e f t E g y p t .” T h i s i n s t r u c t i o n c o m m u n i c a t e s a
“W“ Tr a u m a i s t h e i n a b i l i t y t o s t o r y .”
On June 6, 2010’s Community Mitzvah Day in New Orleans. Photo by Caitrin Gladow.
presentense.org/magazine Around the World
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c o r e v a l u e t h a t J e w i s h t e x t e n c o u r -a g e s : p r e s e r v i n g m e m o r i e s a s m a r k -e r s o f o u r e x i s t e n c e — o r , s i m p l y p u t , s t o r y i n g .
To d a y, t h e s t o r i e s o f H o l o c a u s t s u r v i v o r s h a v e s h a p e d t h e J e w i s h w o r l d . T h r o u g h s t o r y i n g , s u r v i v o r s h a v e b e e n a b l e t o a d d r e s s p r o f o u n d p e r s o n a l t r a u m a a n d s e r v e a s a v i t a l l i n k c o n n e c t i n g t h e c o n t e m p o r a r y J e w i s h w o r l d t o o u r r e c e n t p a s t . F o r a g e n e r a t i o n o f J e w s t h a t g r e w u p o u t s i d e t h e H o l o c a u s t , t h e s e s t o r i e s e n s u r e t h a t t h e t r a g e d i e s o f t h e p a s t a r e n o t f o r g o t t e n a n d t h a t w e r e -m a i n s t e a d f a s t i n o u r c o m m i t m e n t s t o c o m b a t i n t o l e r a n c e a n d p r o m o t e j u s t i c e . T h i s p u t s u s i n t h e u n i q u e p o s i t i o n o f b e i n g a b l e t o r e c o g n i z e a n d r e s p o n d t o o t h e r c o m m u n i t i e s
g r a p p l i n g w i t h a c o l l e c t i v e t r a u m a . A n d y e t , e v e n w i t h s t o r y i n g
d e e p l y r o o t e d i n o u r t r a d i t i o n , J e w i s h s o c i a l a c t i o n t e n d s t o f o -c u s i t s e f f o r t s o n p h y s i c a l l y m a n i -f e s t e d n e e d s w i t h o u t a d d r e s s i n g p s y c h o l o g i c a l l y m a n i f e s t e d n e e d s , l i k e p o s t - t r a u m a t i c s t r e s s d i s o r d e r , m e n t a l h e a l t h , a n d l o s s o f c o l l e c t i v e m e m o r y. A s a m o v e m e n t , w e c a n n o t a f f o r d t o p i c k a n d c h o o s e w h i c h a s p e c t s o f i n j u s t i c e t o a d d r e s s .
T h e n e e d t o f o c u s o n p s y c h o -l o g i c a l t r a u m a h a s b e e n r e c o g n i z e d b y s e v e r a l g r o u p s i n N e w O r l e a n s t h a t e n c o u r a g e p a r t i c i p a n t s t o t e l l s t o r i e s i n o r d e r t o f i g h t i n j u s t i c e a n d h e a l . J u n e b u g P r o d u c t i o n s , f o r e x a m p l e , i s a n a r t s o r g a n i z a t i o n t h a t a d d r e s s e s t h e A f r i c a n - A m e r -i c a n e x p e r i e n c e t h r o u g h t h e a t e r , m u s i c , d a n c e , a n d s t o r y i n g . T h e y f a c i l i t a t e S t o r y C i r c l e s , a m e t h o d d e v e l o p e d t o f o s t e r t h e s h a r i n g a n d s h a p i n g o f p e r s o n a l s t o r i e s a n d t o h e l p p a r t i c i p a n t s s e e l a r g e r t r e n d s t h a t r e l a t e t o t h e i r o w n e x p e r i e n c e s , i n c l u d i n g p a t t e r n s o f r a c i s m , c l a s -s i s m , a n d s e x i s m t h a t c a n b e d i f -f i c u l t t o d i s c e r n .
“ W h e n w e t e l l s t o r i e s ,” s a y s J u n e b u g P r o d u c t i o n s f o u n d e r J o h n O ’ N e a l , “ w e a r e s h a r i n g w i t h e a c h
o t h e r h o w w e p u t t h i n g s t o g e t h e r .” T h e r e i s a l s o t h e N e i g h b o r h o o d
S t o r y P r o j e c t ( N S P ) , a n o n p r o f i t t h a t w o r k s w i t h N e w O r l e a n s r e s i -d e n t s t o w r i t e a n d c o l l e c t s t o r i e s o f t h e i r n e i g h b o r h o o d s ; t h e i r s l o g a n i s “ O u r S t o r i e s To l d B y U s .” T h e N S P i n d e p e n d e n t l y p u b l i s h e s t h e f i n a l w o r k t o b e s o l d a n d d i s t r i b -u t e d t h r o u g h o u t t h e c o m m u n i t y. I n 2 0 0 5 , t h e N S P p u b l i s h e d T h e C o m b i n a t i o n , a b o o k w r i t t e n b y a h i g h s c h o o l s t u d e n t t h a t t e l l s t h e s t o r y o f t h e L a f i t t e H o u s i n g P r o j e c t t h r o u g h i n t e r v i e w s , p h o t o g r a p h s , p o e m s , a n d o b s e r v a t i o n s .
To d a y L a f i t t e h a s b e e n e n t i r e l y d e m o l i s h e d a n d i t s r e s i d e n t s h a v e b e e n s c a t t e r e d a c r o s s t h e c i t y a n d t h e c o u n t r y, b u t T h e C o m b i n a t i o n
s u r v i v e s i n t h e h a n d s o f m a n y w h o c a l l e d L a f i t t e h o m e . T h e N S P m a y n o t b e r e b u i l d i n g L a f i t t e , o r e v e n p e t i t i o n i n g p o l i t i c i a n s t o u p h o l d t h e F a i r H o u s i n g A c t , b u t t h e y a r e u n q u e s t i o n a b l y r e s p o n d i n g t o s o -c i e t a l i n e q u i t i e s a n d f i g h t i n g f o r s o c i a l j u s t i c e i n p o w e r f u l w a y s .
S o h e r e ’s a n i d e a : W h a t i f o n y o u r n e x t v o l u n t e e r t r i p t o N e w O r-l e a n s y o u h i t t h e s t r e e t s w i t h n o t e -
b o o k s a n d d i g i t a l r e c o r d e r s i n s t e a d o f n a i l s a n d h a m m e r s ? W h a t i f y o u r w h o l e m i s s i o n w a s t o c o l l e c t p e o -p l e ’s s t o r i e s a n d t o l i s t e n t o t h e m ? W h a t i f y o u r a i s e d m o n e y t o g e t t h e i r s t o r i e s p r i n t e d a n d d i s t r i b u t e d t h e m t h r o u g h o u t t h a t c o m m u n i t y ? W h a t i f y o u l e a r n e d t o m o d e r a t e S t o r y C i r c l e s a n d h o s t e d t h e m a t c o m m u n i t y c e n t e r s , o n s t r e e t c o r -n e r s , a n d i n c h u r c h e s ?
T h e J e w i s h a c t i v i s t c o m m u n i t y s h o u l d b e l e a d i n g t h i s m o v e m e n t . We s h o u l d t a k e t h e i n i t i a t i v e t o a d d r e s s p s y c h o l o g i c a l t r a u m a d i -r e c t l y b y i n c o r p o r a t i n g s t o r y i n g i n t o o u r v i s i o n o f r e p a i r i n g t h e w o r l d , a n d h o n o r o u r o w n h i s t o r i e s w h i l e f i n d i n g i n n o v a t i v e w a y s t o p u r s u e s o c i a l j u s t i c e .
I t h a s b e c o m e a n i n t e g r a l p a r t o f o u r l i v e s i n N e w O r l e a n s t o a l w a y s c o n s i d e r t h e s t o r i e s o f w h o e v e r w e m e e t . W h a t ’s y o u r K a t r i n a s t o r y ? PT
l e a h va r s a n o i s a m e m b e r o f AV O DA H : T h e J e w i s h S e r -v i c e C o r p s i n N e w O r l e a n s ,
w h e r e s h e w o r k s a s a c o m mu n i t y o r g a n i z e r o n i s s u e s o f n e i g h b o r h o o d r e v i t a l i z a t i o n .
ta m a r to l e d a n o i s a m e m b e r o f AV O DA H i n N e w O r l e a n s w h e r e s h e w o r k s w i t h l o c a l
y o u t h t o c r e a t e a r t p r o j e c t s t h a t r a i s e aw a r e n e s s o f s o c i a l j u s t i c e i s s u e s .
W h a t i f y o u h i t t h e s t r e e t s w i t h n o t e b o o k s a n d d i g i t a l r e c o r d e r s i n s t e a d o f n a i l s a n d h a m m e r s ?
An AVODAH corps member storying with kids. Photo provided by AVODAH.
Around the World presentense.org/magazine
issue thirteen 201120
M i r i a m L i e b m a n , a n o t h e r y o u n g D e t r o i t e r , s a y s t h a t w h i l e m a n y v i e w D e t r o i t a s a l o s t c a u s e , “p e o p l e o f o u r g e n e r a t i o n d o n ’t v i e w i t t h a t w a y.” S h e s e e s a n i n s p i r i n g l e v e l o f d e d i c a t i o n t h e r e , a d d i n g t h a t w i t h i t s s m a l l , s t r u g g l i n g J e w i s h c o m m u n i t y, i t i s p o s s i b l e t o f e e l a p a r t o f s o m e t h i n g s p e c i a l a n d r e a l . S h e h o p e s o n e d a y m o r e s e r v i c e o r -g a n i z a t i o n s , l i k e AVO DA H , w i l l c o m e t o D e t r o i t .
N o s a n d e s c r i b e d F r i d a y n i g h t s a t D e t r o i t ’ s I s a a c A g r e e D o w n t o w n S y n a g o g u e , C o n s e r v a t i v e b y a f f i l i -a t i o n : “ S e r v i c e s a r e a t t e n d e d b y a n u n p r e d i c t a b l e m i x o f y o u n g a n d o l d , n e w a n d r e t u r n i n g … W h a t I l o v e a b o u t i t i s t h a t i t ’ s a J e w i s h s p a c e t h a t i s r e a l l y o p e n - e n d e d . F r i d a y n i g h t s a r e c o m m u n i t y - l e d , d r i v e n b y d e m a n d a n d t h e k n o w l e d g e o f t h e p a r t i c i p a n t s . . . I t ’ s w h a t I n e e d r i g h t n o w a s a y o u n g p e r s o n . I w a n t t o b e s u r r o u n d e d b y f r i e n d s a n d c o m m u n i t y a n d s i n g i n g a n d l a u g h -i n g , a n d i t r e a l l y s e r v e s t h a t n e e d .”
W h i l e s o m e y o u n g J e w s c o n t i n u e t o l e a v e D e t r o i t f o r e c o n o m i c a l l y h e a l t h i e r c i t i e s , o t h e r s a r e c r e a t i n g a g r o w i n g , e n e r g i z e d c o m m u n i t y. Wo r k i n g t o r e b u i l d a c i t y t h e y f e e l n o t i n d e b t e d t o , b u t e x c i t e d a b o u t , t h e y h o p e t h e i r e x a m p l e w i l l s o m e -d a y s e r v e a s a m o d e l f o r o t h e r c i t -i e s . PT
l i z Ko h n i s a m a s t e r ’ s c a n -d i d a t e a t t h e U n i v e r s i t y o f M i c h i g a n S c h o o l o f S o c i a l
Wo r k a n d i s e n r o l l e d i n t h e n e w J e w -i s h C o m mu n a l L e a d e r s h i p P r o g r a m .
t d i d n o t t a k e l o n g a f t e r t h e G r e a t R e c e s s i o n h i t i n 2 0 0 7 f o r D e t r o i t t o e m e r g e a s a s y m b o l o f A m e r i c a n c r i s i s . M o s t o f D e -
t r o i t ’ s y o u n g J e w i s h p r o f e s s i o n a l s h a v e c h o s e n t o c h a s e t h e i r d r e a m s i n m o r e p r o s p e r o u s u r b a n a t m o -s p h e r e s . Ye t e v e n i n t h e w a k e o f d i s a s t e r , a s m a l l b u t v i b r a n t w a v e o f J e w i s h r e n e w a l i s g a t h e r i n g m o -m e n t u m a n d p r o v i d i n g h o p e f o r D e t r o i t ’ s f u t u r e .
E u r o p e a n J e w s f i r s t a r r i v e d i n D e t r o i t a r o u n d 18 4 0 a n d w i t h i n t h e f i r s t g e n e r a t i o n s b e g a n b u y i n g r a n c h e s a n d f a r m s i n i t s n e i g h b o r -i n g s u b u r b s . I n 19 67, t h e D e t r o i t R i o t s s p a r k e d t h e “ w h i t e f l i g h t ,” a s u d d e n m a s s d e p a r t u r e f r o m t h e c i t y c e n t e r . T h e u r b a n J e w i s h p o p u l a -t i o n h a s s i n c e d w i n d l e d t o a b o u t 7 2 , 0 0 0 , a c c o r d i n g t o a 2 0 0 5 J e w i s h F e d e r a t i o n o f M e t r o p o l i t a n D e t r o i t s t u d y, i n c l u d i n g O a k l a n d , Wa y n e , a n d M a c o m b c o u n t i e s .
“ D e t r o i t i s a c o m p l i c a t e d , c o m -p l i c a t e d p l a c e ,” s a i d B l a i r N o s a n , a 25 - y e a r - o l d r e s i d e n t a n d J e w i s h f a r m e r / f o o d p r e s e r v a t i o n i s t . A n a d v o c a t e f o r f o o d j u s t i c e a n d t h e a c c e s s i b i l i t y o f h e a l t h y p r o d u c e , N o s a n d o e s f r e e l a n c e f o o d e d u c a -t i o n w o r k i n b o t h s u b u r b a n a n d u r b a n c o m m u n i t i e s a n d s t r i v e s t o f o r g e c o n n e c t i o n s b e t w e e n t h e t w o .
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M A H , a J e w i s h e n v i r o n m e n t a l f e l l o w s h i p i n C o n n e c t i c u t , N o s a n r e t u r n e d t o D e t r o i t o u t o f n e i t h e r g u i l t n o r o b l i g a t i o n b u t a d e s i r e t o c r e a t e a l i f e i n a n u r b a n e n v i r o n -m e n t n e a r h e r f a m i l y. “ [ D e t r o i t ] d e f i n i t e l y w o n ’t g e t b e t t e r i f e v e r y -o n e c o n t i n u e s t o a b a n d o n i t ,” s h e s a i d , a d d i n g t h a t i t i s t h e d e s i r e a n d m o t i v a t i o n t o p a r t i c i p a t e — c o m m u -n i t y i n v o l v e m e n t — t h a t m a t t e r s .
W h a t s h e d e s c r i b e s a s a “ d e a r t h o f c o n v e n t i o n a l o u t l e t s ” h a s p u s h e d i n n o v a t i v e s o l u t i o n s l i k e t h e C o r k -t o w n C o m m u n i t y K i t c h e n , w i t h w h i c h s h e i s i n v o l v e d . S t a r t e d b y t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n D e t r o i t E v o l u t i o n , i t p r o v i d e s a c o m m u n a l s p a c e f o r f o o d e d u c a t i o n , o u t r e a c h , a n d l a r g e c o m m u n i t y m e a l s f e a t u r i n g f r e s h p r o d u c e . N o s a n h o p e s i t c a n “p r o -v i d e a m o d e l f o r c o m m u n i t i e s i n t e r -e s t e d i n h a v i n g s i m i l a r r e s o u r c e s .”
O t h e r c r e a t i v e h a p p e n i n g s i n -c l u d e l a s t s u m m e r ’s c o m m u n i t y c h i c k e n r a c e , f e a t u r i n g l i v e c h i c k -e n s . D e t r o i t ’ s f i r s t r a c e o f t h i s n a t u r e , t h e t a g - l i n e h u m o r o u s l y p r o c l a i m e d , “ c i t y c h i c k e n s o n l y.” T h e w i n n e r ’s p r o c e e d s w e n t t o t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n o f t h e i r c h o i c e ; Te a m A n t h e a w o n , r a i s i n g $ 255 f o r t h e S t i l l Po i n t B u d d h i s t C e n t e r .
L i k e N o s a n , Z a c k S k l a r , 25 - y e a r - o l d c h e f /o w n e r o f C u t t i n g E d g e C u i s i n e , c a m e b a c k t o D e t r o i t f r o m H y d e P a r k , N Y t o b e c l o s e r t o f a m i l y. F o r h i m , b r i n g i n g b a c k J e w s i s s y n o n y m o u s w i t h b r i n g i n g b a c k j o b s . H e s a w i n h i s r e t u r n a n o p p o r t u n i t y t o u s e h i s s k i l l s t o s t a r t a l o c a l c a t e r i n g c o m p a n y.
h r e e y e a r s a g o , t h e J e w i s h S o c i a l A c t i o n F o r u m ( J S A F — i n i t i a l l y t h e J e w i s h M a k e Po v e r t y H i s t o r y
C o a l i t i o n ) o r g a n i z e d a s a f o r u m f o r p r o f e s s i o n a l s i n t h e U K w i t h a g e n e r a l i n t e r e s t o r s p e c i f i c a g e n d a i n s o c i a l j u s t i c e . T h e F o r u m ’s d e v e l o p m e n t s — i n c l u d i n g i n c r e a s e d p r o f e s s i o n a l l e a d e r s h i p , m o v i n g f r o m m a i n l y l i n k i n g J e w s w i t h w i d e r
c a m p a i g n s t o c u l t i v a t i n g a d i s t i n c t J e w i s h s o c i a l a c t i o n c a m p a i g n a g e n d a , a n d e s t a b l i s h i n g i t s e l f w i t h i n t h e m a i n s t r e a m c o m m u n a l l a n d s c a p e — h a v e a l l o w e d f o r i n c r e a s e d i m p a c t a n d a g r e a t e r s e n s e o f d i r e c t i o n , y e t h a v e p o s e d t h e i r o w n c h a l l e n g e s . D o e s m a i n t a i n i n g s u f f i c i e n t c o n s e n s u s l i m i t J S A F ’s r o l e i n m o r e a s s e r t i v e c a m p a i g n i n g ? W i t h i n c r e a s e d p r o f e s s i o n a l i z a t i o n ,
h o w d o e s J S A F m o b i l i z e l a y a n d w i d e r s u p p o r t ? H e r e a r e l e s s o n s l e a r n e d f o r c o m m u n a l o r g a n i z i n g f o r s o c i a l c h a n g e :
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J S A F ’s f i r s t a p p r o a c h w a s t o l i n k u p w i t h w i d e r s o c i a l a c t i o n c a m p a i g n s . J S A F b u i l t a r e l a t i o n -s h i p w i t h t h e F a i r t r a d e F o u n d a t i o n (w w w. f a i r t r a d e . o r g . u k ) , c u l m i n a t -
presentense.org/magazine Around the World
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issue thirteen 2011 21
i n g i n t h e p r o d u c t i o n o f t h e J e w i s h G u i d e t o F a i r t r a d e , 41 s y n a g o g u e s s i g n i n g u p t o b e F a i r t r a d e , a n d a s o c i a l e n t e r p r i s e s e l l i n g F a i r t r a d e k i p p o t , w i t h o v e r £ 6 0 0 0 w o r t h o f s a l e s t o d a t e .
W h i l e a l s o e m p l o y i n g t h i s a p -p r o a c h , t h e m o s t r e c e n t , l a r g e s t c a m p a i g n o f J S A F, t h e B i g G r e e n J e w i s h We b s i t e (w w w. b i g g r e e n j e w -i s h . o r g ) & B i g G r e e n J e w i s h C a m -p a i g n — l a u n c h e d i n t h e b u i l d - u p t o t h e C o p e n h a g e n C l i m a t e C h a n g e C o n f e r e n c e — s h i f t e d f r o m r e l i a n c e o n c l i m a t e c h a n g e a s a ‘ h o t t o p i c ’. I n s t e a d , w e s e t t h e a g e n d a f o r o u r o w n b r o a d e r c a m p a i g n t a c k l i n g t h e s e i s s u e s w i t h i n a J e w i s h c o m m u -n i t y c o n t e x t — o u r c u r r e n t f o c u s o n f o o d e n c o m p a s s e s p a c k a g i n g , f o o d m i l e s , a n d s e n s i b l e f i s h a n d m e a t c o n s u m p t i o n . We f o c u s o n g e t t i n g s y n a g o g u e s a n d c o m m u n i t y b u i l d -i n g s t o e n g a g e w i t h e d i b l e g a r d e n s , r e d u c e r e l i a n c e o n d i s p o s a b l e s f o r k a s h r u t , a n d i n c r e a s e J e w i s h o r g a -n i z a t i o n s ’ u s e o f Ve g w a r e .
W h e r e a s p r e v i o u s l y p r o f e s s i o n -a l s w e r e t h e m a i n p a r t i c i p a n t s , r a b -b i s f r o m a c r o s s t h e d e n o m i n a t i o n s w o r k t o g e t h e r o n t h i s a g e n d a . I n a d d i t i o n , i t h a s b e e n s u p p o r t e d b y s e n i o r m e m b e r s o f g o v e r n m e n t — E d M i l i b a n d , t h e n s e c r e t a r y o f s t a t e f o r e n e r g y a n d c l i m a t e c h a n g e , w a s g u e s t s p e a k e r a t a n A g e o f S t u p i d s c r e e n i n g , a n d h i s s u c c e s s o r C h r i s H u h n e e n d o r s e d o u r e d i b l e g a r d e n p r o j e c t f o r s c h o o l s .
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A f a c t o r d r a w i n g c o m m u n a l l e a d e r s a n d s e r v i c e p r o v i d e r s t o J S A F i s a p e r c e p t i o n t h a t o u r w o r k e n g a g e s a y o u n g e r d e m o g r a p h i c t h e y a r e n o t r e a c h i n g . W h i l e J S A F m e m -b e r o r g a n i z a t i o n s i n v o l v e a r a n g e o f a g e s , t h e d e m o g r a p h i c m o s t c o m -m o n l y i m p a c t e d t h r o u g h o u r w o r k i s i n f a c t y o u n g e r p e o p l e w h o c o n -n e c t w i t h t h e u n i v e r s a l d i m e n s i o n o f J u d a i s m w e s e e k t o f o s t e r .
A r e c e n t I n t e r n a t i o n a l B r o a d -c a s t i n g Tr u s t s t u d y, G l o b a l G e n e r a -t i o n : H o w y o u n g p e o p l e i n t h e U K c o n n e c t w i t h t h e w i d e r w o r l d , f o u n d t h a t w o r l d i s s u e s a r e i n c r e a s i n g l y a c o n c e r n f o r y o u n g p e o p l e . T h e c h a l l e n g e w i l l b e t r a n s l a t i n g t h a t
c o n c e r n i n t o a c t i o n . N e v e r t h e l e s s , t h e J e w i s h s o c i a l
a c t i o n c o m m u n i t y s h o u l d b e c o n -f i d e n t a b o u t m o t i v a t i n g m e m b e r s o f t h i s n e w g l o b a l g e n e r a t i o n . T h e r e p o r t f o u n d s o m e c o m m o n f a c t o r s a m o n g y o u n g p e o p l e a c t i v e , i n c l u d -i n g e n c o u r a g e m e n t f r o m r e l i g i o u s i n s t i t u t i o n s , c o m i n g f r o m i n t e r -n a t i o n a l f a m i l i e s , o r e x p e r i e n c e o f s o c i a l i n j u s t i c e . J e w i s h e d u c a t i o n a l a p p r o a c h e s t e n d t o b e e x p e r i e n -t i a l a n d u n d e r p i n n e d b y a s e n s e o f d u g m a i s h i t ( l e a d i n g b y e x a m p l e ) . M a n y J e w s h a v e d i r e c t o r i n d i r e c t e x p e r i e n c e o f i n j u s t i c e , a n d m a n y o f o u r n a r r a t i v e s a n d c u s t o m s l i n k o u r e x p e r i e n c e w i t h a w i d e r p u s h f o r j u s t i c e , s u c h a s p l a c i n g a c h a n u k i a h i n t h e w i n d o w a s a s i g n o f h o p e f o r o p p r e s s e d p e o p l e e v e r y w h e r e . J e w i s h s o c i a l a c t i o n s h o u l d h a v e a f e r t i l e g r o u n d o f y o u n g p e o p l e f o r w h o m c o n n e c t i n g w i t h i n j u s t i c e i s o b v i o u s .
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J S A F h a s b e e n k e e n t o d e v e l o p r e l a t i o n s h i p s w i t h p a r t n e r s i n E u -r o p e , A m e r i c a , a n d I s r a e l . R u t h M e s s i n g e r , A J W S ’s p r e s i d e n t , w a s t h e k e y n o t e s p e a k e r a t t h e D a r f u r r a l l y. T h e J e w i s h G u i d e t o F a i r t r a d e w a s a d a p t e d t o a H e b r e w r e s o u r c e b y t h e I s r a e l i o r g a n i z a t i o n B e m a ’a g l e i Tz e d e k . M e m b e r o r g a n i z a t i o n Tz e -d e k h a s w o r k e d w i t h A J W S , J e n -e r a t i o n a n d J C C h a v e p a r t i c i p a t e d i n P a i d e i a a n d R O I c o n f e r e n c e s , a n d M i t z v a h D a y — n o w i n i t s f i f t h y e a r — m o b i l i z e d 2 0 , 0 0 0 v o l u n t e e r s w o r l d w i d e . J S A F i s t h e E u r o p e a n p a r t n e r w o r k i n g o n S I AC H ( p . 2 2 -2 3 ) a n d h o p e s t h i s n e t w o r k w i l l e n -a b l e t h i s e m e r g i n g s h a r i n g t o b u i l d i n t o c o n c r e t e p a r t n e r s h i p .
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O n e c h a l l e n g e f a c i n g J S A F i s I s -r a e l . W h i l e i t m a y b e e x p e c t e d t h a t m a n y c o m m i t t e d t o J e w i s h v a l u e s o f j u s t i c e w o u l d b e s y m p a t h e t i c t o a d d r e s s i n g t h e m a n y i n e q u a l i t i e s i n I s r a e l i s o c i e t y, J S A F t o o k t h e p r a g m a t i c v i e w t h a t , t o e s t a b l i s h o u r s e l v e s w i t h m a i n s t r e a m o r g a n i -z a t i o n s a n d e n a b l e t h e w i d e s t s p e c -t r u m o f r e l i g i o u s d e n o m i n a t i o n s t o f e e l c o m f o r t a b l e o n t h e f o r u m ,
I s r a e l s h o u l d b e l e f t o u t o f t h e e q u a t i o n . N e v e r t h e l e s s , s o m e i n s i s t t h i s a p p r o a c h m a y n o t b e p o s s i b l e l o n g - t e r m . R a b b i J o n a t h a n W i t -t e n b e r g , l e a d e r i n t h e U K M a s o r t i M o v e m e n t , r e s p o n d e d t o l a s t y e a r ’s u p r o a r a m o n g U K J e w r y r e g a r d i n g s o m e c o m m u n i t y l e a d e r s ’ r e m a r k s o n I s r a e l ’ s a p p r o a c h t o t h e p e a c e p r o c e s s . H i s N o v e m b e r 25 , 2 010 c o m m e n t s i n T h e J e w i s h C h r o n i c l e a l s o c h a l l e n g e d J S A F ’s h a n d l i n g o f I s r a e l : “ J u s t i c e a n d c o m p a s s i o n a r e t h e h e a r t o f J e w i s h e t h i c s … We d o n o t h a v e t h e l i b e r t y o f d e b a t i n g o n o n e f r o n t o n l y… We c a n n o t a v o i d t h e i s s u e s .”
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B y e n g a g i n g p e o p l e w i t h J u d a -i s m ’s n e a r s i x - m i l l e n n i a l s t r u g g l e t o g r a p p l e w i t h l i f e ’ s b i g g e s t q u e s -t i o n s , w e n o t o n l y s h a p e a m e s s a g e o n s l a v e r y o r w a s t e f u l d e s t r u c t i o n . We a l s o i m b u e t h o s e w e t o u c h w i t h a p r o f o u n d s p i r i t u a l a n d m a t e r i a l p u r p o s e — n o t w i t h f o r c e d d o g m a — b u t w i t h a f r a m e w o r k t o s u p p o r t t h e i r j o u r n e y o f a c t i v i s m .
M a n y q u e s t i o n s r e m a i n . H o w d o w e e n g a g e a c t i v i s t s w i t h J u d a i s m b e c a u s e i t p r o v i d e s a f r a m e w o r k o f v a l u e s p u s h i n g u s t o p u r s u e j u s t i c e r a t h e r t h a n b e c a u s e w e w a n t u n a f -f i l i a t e d J e w i s h a c t i v i s t s t o b e m o r e l i t e r a t e a n d m a y b e b e c o m e m o r e a f f i l i a t e d ? H o w d o w e a r t i c u l a t e a d i s t i n c t J e w i s h s o c i a l a g e n d a w h i l e p a r t i c i p a t i n g i n a b r o a d e r g l o b a l m o v e m e n t a d d r e s s i n g i n j u s t i c e ?
We c o n t i n u e t o g r a p p l e w i t h s u c h q u e s t i o n s a s w e w o r k t o c e m e n t J e w i s h s o c i a l a c t i o n a s a c u r r e n t c o m m u n i t y e n d e a v o u r a n d e t e r n a l t e n e t o f J e w i s h i d e n t i f i c a t i o n . PT
d a v i d B r o w n i s t h e J e w i s h S o c i a l A c t i o n F o r u m c o o r d i -n a t o r .
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Around the World presentense.org/magazine
issue thirteen 201122
n r e c e n t y e a r s , N o r t h A m e r i -c a n J e w i s h s o c i a l j u s t i c e a n d e n v i r o n m e n t a l o r g a n i z a t i o n s h a v e e x p e r i e n c e d a p e r i o d o f
t r e m e n d o u s g r o w t h a n d i n c r e a s e d v i s i b i l i t y. T h e m e t e o r i c r i s e o f t h e A m e r i c a n J e w i s h Wo r l d S e r v i c e ( A J W S ) , f r o m a n e a r l y d e f u n c t o r -g a n i z a t i o n m e r e l y a d e c a d e a g o t o a $ 4 3 m i l l i o n e n t e r p r i s e i n 2 0 0 9 , i s t h e m o s t o b v i o u s e x a m p l e . A l o n g -s i d e A J W S a r e a t l e a s t 15 0 o t h e r n o n p r o f i t o r g a n i z a t i o n s , w h i c h a r e a t t r a c t i n g i n c r e a s e d n u m b e r s o f y o u n g J e w s a n d e n g a g i n g t h e m b y c o m b i n i n g h a n d s - o n a c t i v i s m w i t h J e w i s h l e a r n i n g a n d e x p e r i e n c e s .
N o t o n l y a r e i n d i v i d u a l o r g a -n i z a t i o n s t h r i v i n g , b u t t h e r e i s a g r o w i n g r e c o g n i t i o n o f t h e e x i s -t e n c e o f a d i s t i n c t f i e l d o f J e w -i s h e n v i r o n m e n t a n d s o c i a l j u s -t i c e w o r k , d e m a n d i n g a t t e n t i o n a n d c u l t i v a t i o n . I n 2 0 0 9 , w e w i t -n e s s e d a w i d e v a r i e t y o f e x c i t i n g , n e w, f i e l d - b u i l d i n g v e n t u r e s : t h e l a u n c h o f O n1 f o o t , a u s e r - f r i e n d l y w e b s i t e o f J e w i s h t e x t s a n d s o u r c e b o o k l e t s o n c o n t e m p o r a r y s o c i a l
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I j u s t i c e i s s u e s ; t h e c r e a t i o n o f t h e J e w i s h S o c i a l J u s t i c e R o u n d t a b l e , a c o a l i t i o n o f l e a d i n g J e w i s h s o -c i a l j u s t i c e o r g a n i z a t i o n s ; a n d t h e f o u n d i n g o f R e p a i r t h e Wo r l d , a n e w o r g a n i z a t i o n a i m e d a t m a k i n g s e r v i c e a d e f i n i n g p a r t o f A m e r i c a n
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a n d t h e e n v i r o n m e n t w i t h i n a u n i q u e l y J e w i s h c o n t e x t h a s s u r g e d o u t s i d e o f N o r t h A m e r i c a a s w e l l . T h e J e w i s h S o c i a l A c t i o n F o r u m ( J S A F ) i n t h e U K , a n u m b r e l l a o r g a n i z a t i o n u n i t i n g a v a r i e t y o f J e w i s h s o c i a l j u s t i c e o r g a n i z a t i o n s a s w e l l a s l a r g e r J e w i s h o r g a n i z a -t i o n s w i t h d e d i c a t e d p e r s o n n e l i n t h e s o c i a l j u s t i c e f i e l d , i s a p r o m i -n e n t e x a m p l e ( p . 2 0 -21) . S i m i l a r l y,
a g r o w i n g n u m b e r o f I s r a e l i o r g a n i -z a t i o n s , s u c h a s B e m a ’a g l e i Tz e d e k (w w w. m t z e d e k . o r g . i l ) , t h e H e s c h e l C e n t e r (w w w. h e s c h e l . o r g . i l ) , Te v e l B ’ Tz e d e k (w w w. t e v e l b t z e d e k . o r g ) , B I N A (w w w. b i n a . o r g . i l ) , Te v a I v r i (w w w. t e v a i v r i . o r g . i l ) , a n d M i z r a c h S h e m e s h (w w w. m i z r a c h . o r g . i l ) , a r e a l s o p r o v i d i n g n e w a v e n u e s f o r I s -r a e l i s t o e x p l o r e t h e i r J e w i s h i d e n -t i t y t h r o u g h p r a c t i c a l s o c i a l a c t i o n .
I f N o r t h A m e r i c a , E u r o p e , a n d I s r a e l h a v e e a c h s p a w n e d r a p i d l y -g r o w i n g , J e w i s h l y - i n s p i r e d s o c i a l c h a n g e o r g a n i z a t i o n s , w h y h a s k n o w l e d g e - s h a r i n g a n d c o l l a b o r a -t i o n b e t w e e n t h e s e o r g a n i z a t i o n s b e e n s p o r a d i c a t b e s t ?
I t w a s i n D e c e m b e r 2 0 0 8 t h a t I f i r s t b e g a n t o u n d e r s t a n d t h e a n s w e r t o t h i s q u e s t i o n . W h i l e s p e a k i n g t o a g r o u p o f J e w i s h s o c i a l j u s t i c e p r o f e s s i o n a l s i n m i d t o w n M a n h a t t a n , I l o o k e d a r o u n d t h e r o o m a n d t h o u g h t : T h e s e p e o p l e b e a r a s t r i k i n g r e s e m b l a n c e t o m y o w n s t a f f h a l f w a y a c r o s s t h e g l o b e a t B e m a ’a g l e i Tz e d e k . T h e y a r e o f s i m i l a r a g e , i n s p i r e d b y t h e s a m e c a n o n o f J e w i s h t e x t s , s h a r e s i m i l a r e x p e r i e n c e s i n a d v o c a t i n g o n b e h a l f o f d i s e n f r a n c h i s e d p o p u l a t i o n s , a n d a r e e q u a l l y p a s s i o n a t e a b o u t l e a d i n g s y s t e m i c s o c i a l c h a n g e .
B u t , m y i n i t i a l f e e l i n g s o f c a -m a r a d e r i e a n d c o n n e c t i o n w e r e q u i c k l y r e p l a c e d b y a s o b e r r e a l i z a -t i o n : B e m a ’a g l e i Tz e d e k ’s n a t i v e -
b o r n I s r a e l i s t a f f w i l l p r o b a b l y n e v e r i n t e r a c t w i t h t h e s e N o r t h A m e r i c a n c o l l e a g u e s , s i n c e f e w o p -p o r t u n i t i e s e x i s t f o r m e a n i n g f u l c o m m u n i c a t i o n a n d c o l l a b o r a t i o n b e t w e e n I s r a e l i s o c i a l j u s t i c e a n d e n v i r o n m e n t a l o r g a n i z a t i o n s a n d t h e i r c o u n t e r p a r t s a b r o a d .
W h i l e i n t h e U S , I l e a r n e d t h a t s o m e o f t h e l e a d i n g J e w i s h s o c i a l j u s t i c e o r g a n i z a t i o n s h a v e a p o l i c y — i n s o m e c a s e s b o a r d - d r i v e n a n d f a i r l y p u b l i c , i n o t h e r c a s e s d e f a c t o
T h e r e i s a g r o w i n g r e c o g n i t i o n o f t h e e x i s t e n c e o f a d i s t i n c t f i e l d o f J e w i s h e n v i r o n m e n t a n d s o c i a l j u s t i c e w o r k , d e m a n d i n g a t t e n t i o n a n d c u l t i v a t i o n .
Talmud meyve l’Maaseh: Learning inspires action at the 2009 Hazon Food Conference. Photo by Rudi Halbright.
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presentense.org/magazine ideas
issue thirteen 2011 23
a n d u n s p o k e n — n o t t o c o l l a b o r a t e w i t h I s r a e l i o r g a n i z a t i o n s . D u e t o t h e I s r a e l i - P a l e s t i n i a n c o n f l i c t , I s r a e l i s c o n s i d e r e d t o b e t o o d i v i -s i v e , c o m p l i c a t e d , a n d p o l i t i c a l l y -s e n s i t i v e t o b e b r o a c h e d , l e t a l o n e p a r t n e r e d w i t h , e v e n o n i s s u e s t h a t o s t e n s i b l y h a v e l i t t l e t o d o w i t h I s -r a e l ’ s t r e a t m e n t o f t h e P a l e s t i n i a n s .
B a c k h o m e i n J e r u s a l e m , t h i n g s w e r e n o t m u c h b e t t e r . A l t h o u g h s o m e I s r a e l i o r g a n i z a t i o n s h a d t r i e d t o p a r t n e r w i t h c o u n t e r p a r t s a b r o a d , o t h e r s h a d l i t t l e i n t e r e s t i n d o i n g s o . F e e l i n g m i n i m a l c o n n e c -t i o n t o J e w s o u t s i d e o f t h e S t a t e o f I s r a e l a n d /o r a l i e n a t e d f r o m J e w -i s h d i s c o u r s e , t h e y c o u l d s e e l i t t l e v a l u e i n c o l l a b o r a t i n g w i t h J e w i s h c o m m u n i t i e s i n N o r t h A m e r i c a a n d E u r o p e .
I t w a s t h e n t h a t I b e g a n i m a g i n -i n g w h a t a n i n t e r n a t i o n a l n e t w o r k o f J e w i s h s o c i a l j u s t i c e a n d e n v i -r o n m e n t p r o f e s s i o n a l s w o u l d l o o k l i k e . T h i s n e t w o r k w o u l d t a c k l e t h e “ b i g p i c t u r e ” q u e s t i o n s p o s s i b l e o n l y i n a n i n t e r n a t i o n a l c o n t e x t : H o w c a n w e g a l v a n i z e t h e J e w i s h Pe o p l e t o p l a y a d i s t i n c t r o l e i n r e s p o n d i n g t o c l i m a t e c h a n g e a n d f o s t e r i n g s u s t a i n a b i l i t y b e f o r e t h e n e x t S h m i t t a y e a r ( e n d o f t h e s e v e n -y e a r s a b b a t i c a l c y c l e ) ? H o w c a n t h e g l o b a l J e w i s h c o m m u n i t y d o u b l e t h e n u m b e r o f J e w i s h y o u n g a d u l t s o n s e r v i c e l e a r n i n g p r o g r a m s ? W h a t w o u l d i t t a k e f o r t h e i n t e r n a t i o n a l J e w i s h c o m m u n i t y t o r a l l y a r o u n d t h e c a u s e o f t r a n s f o r m i n g I s r a e l i n t o t h e f i r s t c a r b o n - f r e e c o u n t r y i n t h e w o r l d ?
E x a c t l y t w o y e a r s l a t e r , B e m a ’a g l e i Tz e d e k , a l o n g w i t h H a z o n i n N o r t h A m e r i c a (w w w.h a z o n . o r g ) a n d J S A F i n t h e U K , i s n o w i n t h e t h r o e s o f l a u n c h i n g
S i a c h : A n E n v i r o n m e n t a n d S o c i a l J u s t i c e C o n v e r s a t i o n , t h a n k s t o t h e g e n e r o u s s u p p o r t o f t h e U J A F e d e r a t i o n o f N e w Yo r k . S i a c h , a g l o b a l n e t w o r k o f e x p e r i e n c e d J e w -i s h s o c i a l j u s t i c e a n d e n v i r o n m e n t p r o f e s s i o n a l s a n d l a y p e o p l e , w i l l b e a n c h o r e d i n a s e r i e s o f c o n f e r -e n c e s r o t a t i n g a r o u n d t h e g l o b e . O n e h u n d r e d t w e n t y p a r t i c i p a n t s —a p p r o x i m a t e l y 4 0 % f r o m I s r a e l , 4 0 % f r o m N o r t h A m e r i c a , a n d 2 0 % f r o m E u r o p e — w i l l a t t e n d t h e f i r s t c o n f e r e n c e i n M a y 2 011 a t t h e I s a b e l l a F r e e d m a n R e t r e a t C e n t e r i n C o n n e c t i c u t . T h e f i r s t a n n u a l S i a c h c o n f e r e n c e , a n d t h e e n s u i n g n e t w o r k , w i l l e n a b l e J e w -i s h s o c i a l j u s t i c e a n d e n v i r o n m e n t a c t i v i s t s t o e s t a b l i s h r e l a t i o n s h i p s a n d p a r t n e r s h i p s c r o s s - b o r d e r , f o s -
t e r a m o r e n u a n c e d u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f e n v i r o n m e n t a n d s o c i a l j u s t i c e w o r k i n I s r a e l a n d t h e J e w i s h c o m -m u n i t y a r o u n d t h e w o r l d , a n d c r e a t e a n i n t e r n a t i o n a l m o v e m e n t o f J e w s w o r k i n g t o g e t h e r o n e n v i r o n m e n t a l a n d s o c i a l j u s t i c e i s s u e s .
B y c o m i n g t o g e t h e r , J e w i s h s o -c i a l j u s t i c e a n d e n v i r o n m e n t p r o f e s -s i o n a l s c a n m o d e l a d i v e r s e , r e s p e c t -f u l , a n d p a s s i o n a t e c o m m u n i t y t h a t e m b o d i e s t i k k u n o l a m i n t h e t r u e s t s e n s e o f t h e t e r m . I n t h e w o r d s o f J u d i t h B e l a s c o , d i r e c t o r o f f o o d p r o g r a m s a t H a z o n , “ O v e r r e c e n t y e a r s , t h e r e h a s b e e n a n i n c r e d -i b l e g r o w t h o f J e w i s h e n v i r o n m e n t a l a n d s o c i a l j u s t i c e o r g a n i z a t i o n s . W h i l e f u n d a m e n t a l g o a l s s u c h a s t z e d a k a h , c h e s e d a n d t i k k u n o l a m a r e t h e s a m e , k n o w l e d g e - s h a r i n g a n d c o l l a b o r a t i o n b e t w e e n t h e s e o r g a n i z a t i o n s h a s b e e n s p o r a d i c . S i a c h p r o v i d e s a p o w e r f u l p l a t f o r m f o r J e w s d e e p l y e n g a g e d i n t h e s e f i e l d s t o f i n d c o m m o n g r o u n d a n d w a y s t o r a i s e t h e w h o l e o f t h e w o r k t h a t i s o c c u r r i n g .” PT
d y o n n a G i n s b u r g i s t h e e x e c -u t i v e d i r e c t o r o f B e m a ’a g l e i Tz e d e k (w w w. m t z e d e k . o r g . i l )
a n d i s i n t h e p r o c e s s o f l a u n c h i n g S i a c h (w w w. s i a c h c o nv e r s a t i o n . o r g )
I b e g a n i m a g i n i n g w h a t a n i n t e r n a t i o n a l n e t w o r k o f J e w i s h s o c i a l j u s t i c e a n d e n v i r o n m e n t p r o f e s s i o n a l s w o u l d l o o k l i k e .
Bema’aglei Tzedek partners with Jerusalem wheelchair basketball team to promote accessibility in Israel. Photo provided by Bema’aglei Tzedek.
ideas presentense.org/magazine
issue thirteen 201124
f e l t t h a t s o m e t h i n g w a s m i s s -i n g , n a m e l y a n u n d e r s t a n d -i n g o f w h a t i t f u n d a m e n t a l l y m e a n s t o b e J e w i s h .”
T h e s e w o r d s w e r e w r i t t e n b y a y o u n g J e w i n h e r 2 0 s , a Te a c h F o r A m e r i c a c o r p s m e m b e r c o m m i t t e d t o s e r v i c e , t o e d u c a t i o n a l e q u a l -i t y, t o t i k k u n o l a m — a l t h o u g h s h e d i d n ’t k n o w w h a t t h e l a t t e r m e a n t a t t h e t i m e s h e w r o t e t h e m .
N e v e r f e e l i n g a c c e p t e d b y t h e J e w i s h c o m m u n i t y, n e v e r o f f e r e d o p p o r t u n i t i e s t o e x p l o r e h e r J e w i s h i d e n t i t y, s h e d i d n o t c o n n e c t h e r c o m m i t m e n t t o s e r v i c e t o t h e v a l -u e s t h a t u n d e r g i r d J e w i s h l i f e — t o t h e f u n d a m e n t a l m e a n i n g o f w h a t i t m e a n s t o b e J e w i s h .
Yo u n g p e o p l e l i k e h e r — a n d t h e r e a r e t h o u s a n d s o f t h e m , p a r -t i c u l a r l y a m o n g t h o s e c o m m i t t e d t o s o c i a l a c t i o n — a r e u n i q u e i n t h e i r f o c u s o n a s k i n g t h e m s e l v e s f u n d a -m e n t a l q u e s t i o n s a b o u t w h o t h e y a r e , w h a t i m p a c t t h e y w a n t t o h a v e o n t h e w o r l d , h o w t h e y d e f i n e s u c -c e s s , a n d w h a t i t m e a n s t o b e h a p p y a n d f e e l f u l f i l l e d . B l i n d a c c e p t a n c e i s n o t a n o p t i o n . F o r t h e m , b e i n g b o r n J e w i s h i s n o t r e a s o n e n o u g h t o r e m a i n c o n n e c t e d t o J u d a i s m .
T h e i r o n y h e r e — o r p e r h a p s t h e f r u s t r a t i o n — f o r a c o m m u n i t y t h a t s p e n d s m i l l i o n s o f d o l l a r s a n d
c o u n t l e s s h o u r s t r y i n g t o g e t y o u n g p e o p l e t o d o s o m e t h i n g — a n y -t h i n g ! — J e w i s h i n t h i s w o r l d i s t h a t J u d a i s m h a s a t r e m e n d o u s w e a l t h o f t h o u g h t o n t h e v e r y q u e s t i o n s y o u n g J e w s a r e a s k i n g t h e m s e l v e s . I t a l s o h o l d s a t i t s c o r e m a n y o f t h e s a m e v a l u e s .
A n d s o i t g o e s t h a t p e r h a p s p a r t o f t h e a n s w e r t o h o w w e c a n e n -g a g e y o u n g p e o p l e i n J e w i s h l i f e i s m a k i n g a n e x p l i c i t c o n n e c t i o n b e t w e e n t h e v a l u e s y o u n g J e w s e s -p o u s e — n a m e l y, s o c i a l a c t i o n — a n d J e w i s h v a l u e s .
L e t ’s c a l l i t o u r T h e o r y o f R e l -e v a n c y : I f w e c a n f i n d t h e t h i n g s t h a t y o u n g p e o p l e a r e a l r e a d y d o -i n g t h a t a r e r o o t e d i n J e w i s h v a l -u e s a n d h e l p t h e m c o n n e c t t h a t c o m m i t m e n t t o t h e f u n d a m e n t a l m e a n i n g o f w h a t i t i s t o b e J e w i s h t o d a y, t h e n w e h a v e a t o u r d i s p o s a l a c o s t - e f f e c t i v e , i n c r e d i b l y p o w e r -f u l o p p o r t u n i t y t o e n g a g e y o u n g p e o p l e i n J e w i s h l i f e i n a d e e p , m e a n i n g f u l w a y.
I n 2 0 0 9 , a n d a g a i n i n 2 010 ,
o u r f o u n d a t i o n , t o g e t h e r w i t h t h e S a m b e r g F a m i l y F o u n d a t i o n , p l a c e d a b e t o n t h i s t h e o r y : L e t ’ s t a k e a g r o u p o f Te a c h F o r A m e r i c a c o r p s m e m b e r s — e x a c t l y t h e t y p e o f l e a d e r s , m o v e m e n t b u i l d e r s , s o c i a l c h a n g e a g e n t s , a n d r o l e m o d e l s w e w a n t b e i n v e s t i n g i n — o n a f r e e
10 - d a y t r i p t o I s r a e l . L e t ’ s p r o v i d e t h e m w i t h w h a t c a n o n l y b e c o n -s i d e r e d a r e l a t i v e l y s m a l l a m o u n t o f e x p o s u r e t o J e w i s h i d e a s , s a y t h a n k y o u o n b e h a l f o f t h e J e w i s h c o m m u n i t y f o r m a k i n g t h e w o r l d a b e t t e r p l a c e , a n d c r e a t e a s e n s e o f c o m m u n i t y a m o n g t h e s e y o u n g J e w s w h o a r e f i g h t i n g f o r t h e s a m e i s s u e s , n a m e l y e d u c a t i o n a l e q u a l i t y.
T h e r e s u l t , w e t h o u g h t , w o u l d b e a c o m p l e t e l y n e w d e f i n i t i o n o f J e w i s h l i f e — a c o m p l e t e l y d i f f e r -e n t v i s i o n o f w h a t J u d a i s m i s . I t ’ s n o l o n g e r j u s t o b l i g a t o r y H e b r e w s c h o o l c l a s s e s a n d m o n o t o n o u s H i g h H o l i d a y s e r v i c e s w h e r e y o u w a l k o u t k n o w i n g h o w m a n y l i g h t b u l b s a r e i n t h e c e i l i n g b u t l i t t l e e l s e — i t ’s n o w a b o u t w h a t ’s m y r e -
a new reality >> adam simon
theORy OF Relevancy
“IJ u d a i s m h a s a t r e m e n d o u s w e a l t h o f t h o u g h t o n t h e v e r y q u e s t i o n s y o u n g J e w s a r e a s k i n g t h e m s e l v e s .
Group shot of REALITY participants in Israel. Photo provided by the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation.
presentense.org/magazine ideas
issue thirteen 2011 25
s p o n s i b i l i t y a s s o m e o n e w h o h a s t o t h o s e w h o d o n ’t h a v e ? H o w d o I h a n d l e c o n f l i c t b e t w e e n c o m m u n i -t i e s a n d p e r s o n a l n e e d s ? H o w d o I s e r v e w i t h o u t t u r n i n g t h e p e o p l e a n d c o m m u n i t i e s I a s p i r e t o h e l p i n t o p r o p s u p o n w h i c h I a l l e v i a t e t h e b u r d e n o f p r i v i l e g e ? A n d f i n a l l y, h o w d o I c r a f t a l i f e f o r m y s e l f t h a t i s f u l l o f m e a n i n g , p u r p o s e , d i r e c -t i o n , f u l f i l l m e n t , a n d f u n ?
A c c o r d i n g t o o u r s o u r c e s —n a m e l y, t h e p a r t i c i p a n t s t h e m s e l v e s , Te a c h F o r A m e r i c a , a n d t h e i m p a c t s t u d y w e c o m m i s s i o n e d — t h i s t r i p , c a l l e d R E A L I T Y, s t r e n g t h e n e d p a r -t i c i p a n t s ’ a l r e a d y - h i g h c o m m i t m e n t t o s e r v i c e ; o p e n e d t h e d o o r t o s e r -v i c e t h r o u g h J e w i s h o r g a n i z a t i o n s ; s t r e n g t h e n e d p a r t i c i p a n t s ’ c o n -n e c t i o n w i t h I s r a e l ; a n d f o r t h o s e p a r t i c i p a n t s w h o s e l f - i d e n t i f i e d a s J e w i s h , h e l p e d t h e m c o n n e c t t h e i r J e w i s h i d e n t i t i e s w i t h t h e i r p a s s i o n f o r s e r v i c e a n d c i v i c e n g a g e m e n t , r e i n f o r c i n g t h e i m p o r t a n c e o f b o t h w i t h i n t h e i r l i v e s a n d p r o v i d i n g a d e e p e r u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f w h a t i t m e a n s t o b e J e w i s h .
We a t Te a c h F o r A m e r i c a a r e t r y i n g t o b u i l d a m o v e m e n t o f l e a d e r s c o m m i t t e d t o e n d i n g e d u c a t i o n a l i n e q u a l i t y i n t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s . To d o t h i s , f o r t h e p a s t 2 0 y e a r s , w e h a v e r e c r u i t e d , t r a i n e d , a n d s u p p o r t e d r e c e n t c o l l e g e g r a d u a t e s o f a l l a c a d e m i c m a j o r s t o t e a c h f o r t w o y e a r s i n p u b l i c s c h o o l s i n l o w - i n c o m e c o m m u n i t i e s a c r o s s t h e c o u n t r y. We b e l i e v e t h a t , a s a r e s u l t o f w o r k i n g t o c a t c h o u r s t u d e n t s u p , o u r c o r p s m e m b e r s w i l l g a i n t h e a d d e d c o n v i c t i o n , c o m m i t m e n t , a n d i n s i g h t t o s p e n d t h e i r c a r e e r s a d d r e s s i n g t h e m y r i a d r e a s o n s w h y t h e a c h i e v e m e n t g a p b e t w e e n s t u d e n t s f r o m l o w - a n d h i g h - i n c o m e b a c k g r o u n d s e x i s t s .
R E A L I T Y r e p r e s e n t s t h e f i r s t m a j o r p r o g r a m i n r e c e n t m e m o r y t o e n a b l e o u r c o r p s m e m b e r s t o d e e p l y r e f l e c t f o r a n e x t e n d e d p e r i o d o f t i m e a b o u t t h e i r e x p e r i e n c e s i n
t h e c l a s s r o o m , w h a t i t m a k e s t h e m t h i n k a b o u t r o o t c a u s e s o f i n e q u i t y, a n d w h a t t h e y w i s h t o d o w i t h t h e i r l i v e s . R e f l e c t i o n i s a c r i t i c a l p a r t o f m a k i n g m e a n i n g , a n d d o i n g s o i n a n i m m e r s i v e s o c i a l s e t t i n g , w i t h p e e r s w h o h a v e h a d s i m i l a r t r i a l s , w h i l e b e i n g e x p o s e d t o i m p r e s s i v e r o l e m o d e l s , h a s s t i r r e d t h e p o t f o r p a r t i c i p a n t s i n u n p r e c e d e n t e d w a y s .
I s r a e l w a s a n i d e a l s e t t i n g f o r t h i s r e f l e c t i o n . A c o u n t r y t h a t a l s o w r e s t l e s t o a c h i e v e i t s i d e a l s o f e q u a l i t y, I s r a e l s e r v e s a s a h e l p f u l m i r r o r f o r t h e c h a l l e n g e s w e f a c e i n A m e r i c a . C o m b i n e t h a t w i t h t h e n a t i o n ’s i n c r e d i b l e e n t r e p r e n e u r i a l s p i r i t a n d , i n p a r t i c u l a r , i m p r e s s i v e c a d r e o f y o u n g s o c i a l - j u s t i c e -m i n d e d m o v e r s a n d s h a k e r s , a n d y o u h a v e a g r e a t t r a i n i n g g r o u n d f o r l e a d e r s h i p . O f c o u r s e , i t i s a l s o a d e e p l y s p i r i t u a l p l a c e w h e r e o n e c a n c o n s i d e r o n e ’s v a l u e s i n t h e
A l l o f w h i c h b r i n g s u s b a c k t o t h e y o u n g w o m a n w h o s e w o r d s o p e n e d t h i s a r t i c l e . S h e w a s a p a r -t i c i p a n t i n t h e f i r s t R E A L I T Y t r i p , a n d h e r r e f l e c t i o n e n d s l i k e t h i s : “ I a m c u r r e n t l y… t u t o r i n g m y k i d s f o r t h e S ATs a n d b e c a u s e o f t h e t r i p , I f e e l a r e n e w e d s e n s e o f t i k k u n o l a m . I n f a c t , I p l a n o n c r e a t i n g a p a i n t -i n g i n t h e c e n t e r s o I c a n w a k e u p t o t h a t e v e r y m o r n i n g . W h i l e I f e e l r e - i n s p i r e d t o b e g i n m y w o r k i n t h e c l a s s r o o m , I a l s o f e e l a s t r o n g s e n s e o f c o n n e c t i o n t o I s r a e l . W h i l e I a m p l a n n i n g o n e v e n t u a l l y o b t a i n i n g a P h D i n c l i n i c a l p s y c h o l o g y, I a m a l s o s e r i o u s l y l o o k i n g i n t o p r o g r a m s s u c h a s O T Z M A a n d Te a c h F i r s t I s r a e l . A s I l o o k f o r w a r d t o w h a t -e v e r t h e f u t u r e m a y b r i n g , I f e e l a n e w f o u n d s e n s e o f e a s e .”
T h a t a y o u n g w o m a n w h o h a d f e l t m a r g i n a l i z e d b y t h e J e w i s h c o m m u n i t y h e r e n t i r e l i f e c o u l d f i n d c o m f o r t a n d d i r e c t i o n i n a n e w f o u n d c o n n e c t i o n t o t i k k u n o l a m a n d I s r a e l i s p r o f o u n d . R E -A L I T Y— a n d s o c i a l a c t i o n p r o g r a m s i n i t s v e i n — c r e a t e s e n t r y p o i n t s t o
Why Does Teach For America Care About REALITY?By Andrew Mandel
m i d s t o f a n c i e n t s i t e s a n d s t o r i e s .A t o u r l a s t i n t e r n a l e x e c u t i v e
d i r e c t o r c o n f e r e n c e , w e s a w a s w e l l o f e x c i t e m e n t a b o u t e x p a n d i n g s u c h o p p o r t u n i t i e s t o o t h e r c o r p s m e m b e r s , a n d w e a r e n o w c o n s i d e r i n g d o m e s t i c v e r s i o n s o f t h e R E A L I T Y t r i p . W h y t h e i n t e r e s t ? We h a v e n e v e r b e f o r e s e e n a s u r v e y w h e r e 10 0 p e r c e n t o f p a r t i c i p a n t s a t a Te a c h F o r A m e r i c a e v e n t s t r o n g l y a g r e e t h a t t h e y w o u l d r e c o m m e n d i t t o a f r i e n d . T h i s j o u r n e y c l e a r l y l e d p e o p l e t o f e e l m o r e a t t u n e d t o t h e i r o w n t a l e n t s a n d i n t e r e s t s , a n d m o r e c o n n e c t e d t o o u r o r g a n i z a t i o n , w h i c h w e b e l i e v e w i l l l e a d t o a s t r o n g e r m o v e m e n t o f p e o p l e l e v e r a g i n g o n e a n o t h e r t o m a k e t h e c h a n g e s w e m u s t e n a c t i n o u r c o u n t r y. PT
andrew Mandel is vice president of interactive learning and engage-ment at Teach For America.
c o n v e r s a t i o n s a b o u t J e w i s h i d e n t i t y a n d I s r a e l f o r p e o p l e w h o o t h e r w i s e m i g h t n o t s e e k o u t s u c h e x p e r i e n c e s i f r u n b y J e w i s h i n s t i t u t i o n s b u t d o s o b e c a u s e o f t h e a f f i l i a t i o n w i t h a n o r g a n i z a t i o n t h e y i m p l i c i t l y t r u s t : Te a c h F o r A m e r i c a .
We l i v e t o d a y i n a s e c u l a r i z e d w o r l d . T h a t p e n d u l u m h a s s w u n g , a n d i t ’ s n o t s w i n g i n g b a c k . J u d a i s m h a s t o a d a p t t o , a n d c o n n e c t w i t h , m o d e r n t i m e s i f o u r m i l l e n n i a o f r i c h t r a d i t i o n a n d w i s d o m a r e g o i n g t o r e m a i n r e l e v a n t r a t h e r t h a n a q u a i n t r e l i c o f t i m e s g o n e b y. S o c i a l a c t i o n , a n d i t s i m p o r t a n t p l a c e i n o u r h e r i t a g e , h a s a h u g e r o l e t o p l a y i n c r e a t i n g t h e v e r y t o u c h p o i n t s t h a t h a v e t h e p o t e n t i a l t o s p a r k l i f e l o n g J e w i s h j o u r n e y s . PT
adam Simon is the associate na-tional director for the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Founda-
tion’s DC office. His focus includes young Jewish identity development, facilitating the transformation of service to be a normative tenet of Jewish practice, and building diverse and inclusive Jewish communities.
ideas presentense.org/magazine
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e n n i f e r L e v i n e w a s 17 y e a r s o l d a s s h e w a t c h e d h e r s i s t e r c e l e b r a t e t h e m i l e s t o n e o f b e c o m i n g a b a t m i t z v a h . S h e r e c a l l s f e e l i n g e n v i o u s o f h e r
1 3 - y e a r - o l d s i b l i n g a n d e v e n n o w, o v e r 2 0 y e a r s l a t e r , s h e r e m e m -b e r s e x p e r i e n c i n g a s e n s e o f l o s s . S h e r e c o g n i z e d t h a t t h e r e w a s a p l a c e f o r h e r s i s t e r b e c a u s e s h e w a s “m a i n s t r e a m” — s h e l e a r n e d i n t h e s a m e w a y a s m o s t o t h e r k i d s . B u t L e v i n e , n o w t h e e d u c a t i o n d i r e c -t o r a t Te m p l e E m a n u - E l o f C l o s t e r , N J , h a d d y s l e x i a — a n d s o h e r J e w -i s h i d e n t i t y h a d a v a s t l y d i f f e r e n t e v o l u t i o n .
A t h e r c o r e , L e v i n e i s a s o c i a l a c t i v i s t . H e r t o p p r i o r i t y i s t o e n -s u r e t h a t n o c h i l d i s d e n i e d a m e a n -i n g f u l J e w i s h e d u c a t i o n b e c a u s e o f h i s / h e r l e a r n i n g n e e d s — a n d s h e i s n o t a f r a i d t o c h a l l e n g e t h e s y s -t e m . S h e d o e s n ’t a s s u m e t h a t h e r 310 - s t u d e n t r e l i g i o u s s c h o o l h a s t o l o o k l i k e e v e r y o t h e r s c h o o l , n o r d o e s s h e m a k e a s s u m p t i o n s a b o u t t h e t y p e s o f l e a r n e r s w h o c o u l d o r c o u l d n o t b e i n c l u d e d . “ I u s e d t o s a y, ‘ I w a s d y s l e x i c a s a c h i l d , ’ ” s a y s J e n n i f e r . “ N o w I s a y ‘ I a m d y s l e x i c . ’
surpassing expectations >> dori frumin kirshner & meredith englander polsky
sPecial needs
JI ’m r e a l i z i n g t h a t t h e d y s l e x i c b r a i n h a s t h e s e i n c r e d i b l e g i f t s w h i c h r e l a t e t o m u l t i s e n s o r y e d u c a t i o n , w h i c h s o c l o s e l y r e l a t e s t o m y p a s -s i o n f o r t h e a r t s . I t ’ s a n i n t e r e s t i n g t h i n g t h a t ’s h a p p e n i n g p e r s o n a l l y a n d p r o f e s s i o n a l l y. I t ’ s h e l p i n g m e g r o w a p r o g r a m t h a t i s s e n s i t i v e t o a l l t h r e e o f t h o s e t h i n g s .”
T h e L e a r n i n g D i s a b i l i t i e s A s -s o c i a t i o n o f A m e r i c a r e p o r t s t h a t 15% o f t h e p o p u l a t i o n h a s a l e a r n -i n g d i s a b i l i t y. O n e i n 110 i n d i -v i d u a l s — a n d o n e i n 7 0 b o y s — i s d i a g n o s e d w i t h a u t i s m . A p p r o x i -m a t e l y 9 8 8 , 0 0 0 c h i l d r e n i n t h e U S a r e J e w i s h . I t i s s a f e t o a s s u m e t h a t t h e J e w i s h p o p u l a t i o n m i r r o r s t h e g e n e r a l p o p u l a t i o n ; m i n i m a l l y, 15 0 , 0 0 0 s c h o o l - a g e d J e w i s h c h i l -d r e n g r a p p l e w i t h s o m e f o r m o f a d i s a b i l i t y.
Ye t a s s e c u l a r A m e r i c a n e d u -c a t i o n a l i n s t i t u t i o n s a r e m a k i n g l e a p s a n d b o u n d s i n t h e i r e f f o r t s
t o a c c o m m o d a t e s t u d e n t s o f d i v e r s e l e a r n i n g c a p a b i l i t i e s , o u r J e w i s h e d u c a t i o n a l s e t t i n g s l a g b e h i n d . F a c u l t y l a c k s p e c i a l i z e d t r a i n i n g , b a c k g r o u n d k n o w l e d g e , a n d t h e t o o l s t o b e s t s e r v e s t u d e n t s w i t h s p e c i a l n e e d s . U n d e r t h e p r e s s u r e t o p r o v i d e h i g h - q u a l i t y e d u c a t i o n t o m a i n s t r e a m s t u d e n t s , t h e n e e d s o f t h e m a n y t r u m p t h e n e e d s o f t h e f e w. F a m i l i e s a r e t u r n e d a w a y a g a i n a n d a g a i n f r o m a J e w i s h e d u c a t i o n t h e y s o d e s p e r a t e l y w a n t a n d t h e i r c h i l d r e n d e s e r v e . T h i s f a r t o o c o m -m o n o c c u r r e n c e i s u n a c c e p t a b l e a n d a v o i d a b l e .
L e v i n e r e c a l l s a t t e n d i n g Wo r k -m e n ’s C i r c l e , a n A m e r i c a n J e w i s h f r a t e r n a l o r g a n i z a t i o n c o m m i t t e d t o s o c i a l j u s t i c e , J e w i s h c o m m u -n i t y, a n d A s h k e n a z i c u l t u r e — a n d a c r e a t i v e a l t e r n a t i v e t o H e b r e w s c h o o l . I n a l o w - p r e s s u r e s e t t i n g ( a c t u a l l y, a c h u r c h ) , L e v i n e p a r t i c i -p a t e d i n s t o r y t e l l i n g a n d h o l i d a y
Jennifer Levine with her students. Photo by Leah Mendyk.
M i n i m a l l y , 15 0 , 0 0 0 s c h o o l - a g e d J e w i s h c h i l d r e n i n A m e r i c a g r a p p l e w i t h s o m e f o r m o f d i s a b i l i t y .
sOc
iety
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c e l e b r a t i o n s , a n d f o r h e r s e v e n t h -g r a d e c o m m e n c e m e n t c e r e m o n y s h e m e m o r i z e d a n d r e c i t e d “ T h e L a s t B u t t e r f l y.” T h i s e x p e r i e n c e w a s t h e f i r s t t o c o n n e c t h e r i n t e r e s t i n a r t w i t h h e r b u d d i n g c u r i o s i t y i n J u d a -i s m . I t t o o k m a n y y e a r s f o r t h o s e t w o p a s s i o n s t o c r o s s p a t h s a g a i n , b u t n o w, 25 y e a r s l a t e r , t h i s i s h e r m i s s i o n f o r r e l i g i o u s s c h o o l .
W h e n L e v i n e w a s h i r e d b y Te m -p l e E m a n u - E l t w o a n d a h a l f y e a r s a g o , s h e c a m e w i t h a v i s i o n : t o h e l p s t u d e n t s c o n n e c t w i t h t h e s p i r i t o f J u d a i s m . “ We a r e a l w a y s t r y i n g t o f i n d a m o d a l i t y t o a w a k e n t h a t
s p i r i t ,” L e v i n e s a y s — a n d s h e i s n o t a f r a i d t o e x p e r i m e n t . S h e i m m e d i -a t e l y r e q u e s t e d t w o t h i n g s : o n e , a r o o m t o g e t m e s s y. T h i s r o o m b e -c a m e a l a b o r a t o r y w h e r e s h e w o r k e d w i t h t e e n s , t e s t i n g o u t d i f f e r e n t c r e a t i v e p r o g r a m s a n d i n v i t i n g o t h e r c l a s s e s t o p a r t i c i p a t e . Tw o , a c o n s u l t a t i o n w i t h M a t a n (w w w.m a t a n k i d s . o r g ) , a n o r g a n i z a t i o n t h a t s u p p o r t s J e w i s h c o m m u n i t i e s , p r o f e s s i o n a l s , a n d i n s t i t u t i o n s i n e d u c a t i n g c h i l d r e n w i t h s p e c i a l l e a r n i n g n e e d s . T h i s c o n s u l t a t i o n h e l p e d c o n c r e t i z e w h a t s h e a l r e a d y
k n e w f r o m p e r s o n a l e x p e r i e n c e : J e w -i s h e d u c a t i o n c a n a n d m u s t b e a c c e s -s i b l e t o a l l t y p e s o f l e a r n e r s .
J e n n i f e r ’ s r e l i -g i o u s s c h o o l , T h e K e s e m C o n n e c t i o n , l o o k s n o t h i n g l i k e t h e r e l i g i o u s s c h o o l o f y o u r c h i l d h o o d . W i t h M a t a n ’s h e l p i n r e v a m p i n g c u r -r i c u l u m , c r e a t i n g m a t e r i a l s , a n d p r o -v i d i n g p r o f e s s i o n a l d e v e l o p m e n t , c l a s s r o o m s t h a t w e r e p r e v i o u s l y l i n e d w i t h d e s k s a n d c h a i r s n o w h a v e s t a t i o n s t h r o u g h o u t t h e r o o m . C h i l d r e n r o t a t e i n s m a l l g r o u p s , a n d t e e n s a r e a n i n t e g r a l p a r t o f t h e p r o g r a m ’s s u c c e s s . S t u d e n t s u s e t h e i r h a n d s , b o d i e s , a n d m i n d s i n a m u l t i - m o d a l (u t i l i z i n g a l l o f t h e s e n s e s ) a p p r o a c h a n d a r e n o t a s k e d t o s i t f o r l o n g p e r i o d s o f t i m e . T h e y o u n g e r k i d s e x e r c i s e i n H e b r e w b e t w e e n c l a s s e s a n d t e l l t h e i r p a r -e n t s , “ I w a s h a v i n g s o m u c h f u n I d i d n ’t k n o w I w a s l e a r n i n g a n y -t h i n g .” C h i l d r e n a r e h a p p i e r a n d b e t t e r b e h a v e d , t e a c h e r s f e e l m o r e p r o d u c t i v e , a n d p a r e n t s d o n ’t h a v e t o f i g h t w i t h t h e i r k i d s w h e n i t ’ s t i m e f o r r e l i g i o u s s c h o o l . A c c o r d i n g t o A n d i F l u g Wo l f e r , p r e s i d e n t o f t h e B o a r d o f E d u c a t i o n a t Te m p l e E m a n u - E l , “ J e n n i f e r ’ s c r e a t i v i t y a n d v i s i o n h a v e a l l o w e d u s t o s u c -
c e s s f u l l y t e a c h t h e f u t u r e o f o u r s y n a g o g u e , o u r c h i l d r e n .”
I t i s s a i d t h a t c h a n g e i n t h e J e w i s h c o m m u n i t y w i l l o n l y o c -c u r o n c e a c r i t i c a l m a s s h a s b e e n r e a c h e d . T h o s e c o m m i t t e d t o t h e J e w i s h f u t u r e — a n d i n p a r t i c u l a r t o a J u d a i s m i n f u s e d w i t h n e w a n d c r e a t i v e i d e a s t h a t p r o m o t e s o c i a l j u s t i c e — m u s t l o o k a t c u r r e n t - d a y s t a t i s t i c s o n c h i l d r e n w i t h s p e c i a l n e e d s a n d u n d e r s t a n d t h a t t h e c r i t i -c a l m a s s h a s i n d e e d b e e n a c h i e v e d . H o w m a n y p e o p l e l i k e L e v i n e h a s t h e J e w i s h c o m m u n i t y l o s t b e c a u s e w e w e r e u n a b l e t o s e e t h e i r i n c r e d -i b l e g i f t s , t h e i r p o t e n t i a l t o l e a d , a n d t h e i r u n i q u e w a y o f l o o k i n g a t t h e w o r l d ? W h a t J e w i s h i s s u e s c o u l d t h e y h a v e t a c k l e d i f g i v e n t h e c h a n c e ? W i t h t h e p r o p e r s u p p o r t , d e t e r m i n a t i o n a n d b e l i e f , i n d i v i d u -a l s w i t h s p e c i a l n e e d s w i l l s u r p a s s y o u r e x p e c t a t i o n s . T h e r e a l q u e s -t i o n i s , c a n w e s u r p a s s t h e i r s ?
L e a r n m o r e a b o u t Te m p l e E m a -n u - E l a t w w w. t e m p l e e m a n u - e l . c o m /P u b l i c / R E L I G I O U S S C H O O L . PT
d o r i f r u m i n K i r s h n e r , e x e c u -t i v e d i r e c t o r o f M a t a n , h o l d s a m a s t e r ’ s d e g r e e i n J e w -
i s h e d u c a t i o n . S h e i s a f o r m e r d a y s c h o o l a n d H e b r e w s c h o o l t e a c h e r a n d F e d e r a t i o n p r o f e s s i o n a l .
M e r e d i t h e n g l a n d e r p o l s k y , s p e c i a l n e e d s c o o r d i n a t o r a n d c o - f o u n d e r o f M a t a n ,
h o l d s m a s t e r ’ s d e g r e e s i n s p e c i a l e d u c a t i o n a n d s o c i a l w o r k . F o r h e r w o r k w i t h M a t a n , s h e w a s i n t h e f i r s t c o h o r t o f t h e J o s hu a Ve n tu r e G r o u p F e l l o w s h i p .
J e w i s h e d u c a t i o n c a n a n d m u s t b e a c c e s s i b l e t o a l l t y p e s o f l e a r n e r s .
Levine’s students, with artwork that Levine painted in the background.
Levine’s students. Photos by Leah Mendyk.
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b d i , a s h e p h e r d b y t r a d e , w a s 19 w h e n h e f i n a l l y r e a c h e d I s r a e l ’ s b o r d e r i n F e b r u a r y 2 0 0 9 . To g e t t o I s r a e l , h e h a d p a i d a t r a f f i c k e r $1 , 8 0 0 t o d r i v e h i m , h i d d e n i n a s e c r e t c o m p a r t m e n t w i t h o t h e r r e f u g e e s u n d e r p i l e s o f r e f u s e , f r o m
h i s h o m e l a n d , S o m a l i a , a c r o s s E t h i o p i a , S u d a n , a n d E g y p t . B u t a s s o o n a s h e a r r i v e d t o s a f e t y, h e w a s a r -r e s t e d a n d p l a c e d i n t h e K e t z i o t D e t e n t i o n C e n t e r i n t h e N e g e v d e s e r t .
I m e t A b d i i n t h e G i v o n D e t e n t i o n C e n t e r , w h e r e h e a n d o v e r 10 0 o t h e r r e f u g e e s a n d m i g r a n t w o r k e r s w e r e b e i n g k e p t “p r i o r t o d e p o r t a t i o n ,” w h i c h o f t e n a d d s u p t o y e a r s o f w a i t i n g . We s a t a c r o s s a p i c n i c t a b l e a n d h e t o l d m e h i s s t o r y. I t w a s n e a r l y 9 0 d e g r e e s a n d t h e r e w a s n o a i r c o n d i t i o n i n g i n t h e d e t e n t i o n c e n t e r . T h e s u n s t r e a m e d d o w n t h r o u g h w i r e n e t t i n g t h a t t o o k t h e p l a c e o f a c e i l i n g , i n o r d e r t o g i v e t h e p r i s o n e r s “o u t d o o r t i m e .” A b d i s a i d t h e c e l l s w h e r e t h e p r i s o n e r s s l e e p , s o m e t i m e s 16 t o a r o o m , a r e e v e n h o t t e r .
T h i s i s n o t a n u n u s u a l w e l c o m e f o r r e f u g e e s t h a t a r r i v e i n I s r a e l f r o m t h e b o r d e r w i t h E g y p t . T h e c u r -
israel faces a new refugee wave >> laura berger
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r e n t w a v e o f r e f u g e e s f r o m A f r i c a s t a r t e d i n e a r l y 2 0 0 6 , a f t e r a p r o t e s t b y t h o u s a n d s o f S u d a n e s e r e f u g e e s i n C a i r o a g a i n s t t h e i r l i v i n g c o n d i t i o n s a n d t h e U N H C R ’s s u s p e n s i o n o f t h e i r R e f u g e e S t a -t u s D e t e r m i n a t i o n P r o c e s s . T h e s e r e f u g e e s , a f t e r c a m p i n g o u t i n f r o n t o f t h e U N H C R o f f i c e f o r t h r e e m o n t h s , w e r e f o r c i b l y r e m o v e d b y E g y p t i a n a u t h o r i -t i e s i n a v i o l e n t i n c i d e n t t h a t l e f t 2 8 r e f u g e e s d e a d , i n c l u d i n g s e v e r a l c h i l d r e n . E v e r s i n c e , t h o u s a n d s h a v e c r o s s e d t h e S i n a i d e s e r t d e s p i t e t h e d a n g e r o f b e i n g s h o t b y E g y p t i a n s o l d i e r s o r b e i n g t r a f f i c k e d b y t h e p e o p l e t h e y p a y t o h e l p t h e m a r r i v e s a f e l y.
I n I s r a e l , t h e y f a c e x e n o p h o b i a a n d h o s t i l i t y f r o m g o v e r n m e n t o f f i c i a l s w h o f e a r t h a t t r e a t i n g t h e r e f u g e e s w e l l m a y c a u s e m o r e t o f o l l o w. W h i l e m a n y r e f u g e e s a r e f l e e i n g w a r , g o v e r n m e n t o p p r e s -s i o n , o r o t h e r l i f e - t h r e a t e n i n g d a n g e r s , E l i Y i s h a i , t h e M i n i s t e r o f t h e I n t e r i o r , c a l l s t h e m “ i n f i l t r a -t o r s ” a n d a t t a c k s h u m a n r i g h t s o r g a n i z a t i o n s t h a t t r y t o h e l p t h e m . Ya a k o v K a t z , t h e C h a i r m a n o f t h e K n e s s e t C o m m i t t e e o n F o r e i g n Wo r k e r s , h a s p u b l i s h e d a r t i c l e s s t a t i n g t h a t A f r i c a n r e f u g e e s a r e a t h r e a t t o t h e J e w i s h s t a t e , w i t h s t a t e m e n t s l i k e , “ T h e l e a d e r s o f S u d a n a n d E r i t r e a , i n c o l l a b o r a t i o n w i t h t h e E g y p t i a n s , a r e c o n q u e r i n g t h e S t a t e o f I s r a e l .” I n f a c t , t h e I s r a e l i g o v e r n m e n t h a s a l r e a d y b e g u n c o n s t r u c t i o n o n a b a r r i e r a l o n g t h e E g y p t i a n b o r d e r t o p r e v e n t f u t u r e r e f u g e e s f r o m c r o s s i n g .
A b d i , s h y a n d t h i n , o n l y k n o w s t h a t f o r s o m e r e a s o n t h e I s r a e l i g o v e r n m e n t h a s d e c i d e d t h a t h e i s a t h r e a t . “ I f I g o b a c k t o S o m a l i a , I h a v e n o p r o -t e c t i o n a n d I w i l l p r o b a b l y b e k i l l e d . M a n y t r i b a l a n d p o l i t i c a l g r o u p s a t t a c k e a c h o t h e r , a n d I d o n ’t k n o w w h y t h e y t a r g e t e d m e . B u t t w i c e a l r e a d y I w a s b e a t e n b y t h e S h a b a b i F i g h t e r s , t h e m o s t d a n g e r o u s g r o u p , a n d t h e y l e f t m e f o r d e a d i n 2 0 0 8 .”
S o o n a f t e r h e r e c o v e r e d , h e l e f t t h e c o u n t r y, w i t h o u t a p a s s p o r t o r a n y t r a v e l d o c u m e n t s , h o p i n g t o r e a c h I s r a e l , w h e r e h e h e a r d i t w a s s a f e . I n s t e a d , I s r a e l ’ s M i n i s t r y o f t h e I n t e r i o r t r i e d t o g e t h i m t o s i g n a f o r m a g r e e i n g t o b e r e t u r n e d t o S o m a l i a .
I s r a e l , a n a t i o n o f r e f u g e e s , w a s o n e o f t h e l e a d i n g c o u n t r i e s i n d r a f t i n g t h e 19 51 C o n v e n t i o n o n t h e S t a t u s o f R e f u g e e s , i n f l u e n c e d b y t h e H o l o c a u s t . A c -c o r d i n g t o o n e o f I s r a e l ’ s l e a d i n g H o l o c a u s t s c h o l a r s , Ye h u d a B a u e r , “ I t i s a s c a n d a l f o r t h i s g o v e r n m e n t
t o a d o p t a p o l i c y o f r e f o u l m e n t [d r i v i n g t h e m b a c k ] , w h i c h i s e x a c t l y w h a t t h e S w i s s g o v e r n m e n t d i d d u r -i n g Wo r l d Wa r I I t o m o s t l y J e w i s h r e f u g e e s .” T h e H o t l i n e f o r M i g r a n t Wo r k e r s , a n o r g a n i z a t i o n t h a t h e l p s A f r i c a n r e f u g e e s a s w e l l a s t r a f f i c k e d w o m e n a n d m i g r a n t w o r k e r s i n I s r a e l , h a s s t a t e d t h a t b y d e t a i n i n g o r r e t u r n i n g r e f u g e e s , I s r a e l i s v i o l a t i n g
Givon Detention Center. Photo by Laura Berger.
“ I k n o w i t ’ s d a n g e r o u s b a c k i n S o m a l i a , b u t I ’ v e h a d e n o u g h h e r e .”
in a ReFugee natiOn
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i n c e m o v i n g t o R w a n d a f o r t h e y e a r , I h a v e b e e n s t r u c k b y t h e c o u n t l e s s R w a n d e s e w h o d e c i d e d t o r e t u r n t o R w a n d a f r o m C a n a d a ,
E U c o u n t r i e s , t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s , U g a n d a , S o u t h A f r i c a , a n d m o r e c o u n t r i e s i n o r d e r t o h e l p r e b u i l d R w a n d a . M a n y c o u l d a n d w a n t e d t o r e t u r n s p e c i f i c a l l y i n o r d e r t o u t i l i z e t h e s k i l l s , e x p e r i e n c e s , a n d e d u c a t i o n t h e y g a i n e d w h i l e l i v -i n g i n t h e i r r e s p e c t i v e c o u n t r i e s o f a s y l u m .
A c o m m o n a r g u m e n t i n I s r a e l i s t h a t , i f I s r a e l a c c e p t s s o m e r e f u -g e e s , m o r e r e f u g e e s w i l l c o m e t h a n I s r a e l c a n h a n d l e . A s a r e s u l t , I s r a e l d e p o r t s s o m e a t t h e b o r d e r , a n d l e t s o t h e r s s t a y w i t h o u t a n y l o n g -t e r m p r o m i s e o f r e c o g n i z i n g t h e m a s o f f i c i a l r e f u g e e s , w i t h t h e r i g h t s t o e d u c a t i o n a n d t o s e e k a j o b t h a t w o u l d c o m e w i t h s u c h a r e f u g e e s t a t u s . W h a t i s o f t e n i g n o r e d i s t h a t m a n y r e f u g e e s , e s p e c i a l l y t h o s e
not just a refuge for jews >> mollie gerver
S
t h i s i n t e r n a t i o n a l c o n v e n t i o n . T h e c o n v e n t i o n g i v e s g u i d -
a n c e i n t h e c a s e t h a t r e f u g e e s e n -t e r u n l a w f u l l y i n t o t h e c o u n t r y o f r e f u g e — i n t h i s c a s e , I s r a e l c a n -n o t i m p o s e p e n a l t i e s o n r e f u g e e s s i m p l y o n a c c o u n t o f t h e i r i l l e g a l e n t r y o r p r e s e n c e , a s l o n g a s t h e y p r e s e n t t h e m s e l v e s t o a u t h o r i t i e s a n d s h o w g o o d c a u s e f o r t h e i r p r e s -e n c e . D e t e n t i o n i s o n l y t o b e u s e d w h e n n e c e s s a r y, a n d o n l y u n t i l t h e y g a i n s t a t u s . B u t i n I s r a e l , f e w e r t h a n 1% o f r e f u g e e s h a v e b e e n g i v e n a n y r e g u l a r s t a t u s , t h e m a j o r i t y b e -i n g d e t a i n e d o r g i v e n “c o n d i t i o n a l r e l e a s e ” v i s a s , w h i c h a l l o w t h e m
t o r e m a i n i n t h e c o u n t r y w i t h o u t b e i n g d e t a i n e d , b u t w i t h n o o t h e r f o r m a l r i g h t s .
T h i n g s a r e o n l y g e t t i n g w o r s e f o r r e f u g e e s . I n N o v e m b e r , t h e I s -r a e l i g o v e r n m e n t a n n o u n c e d t h a t e m p l o y i n g a s y l u m s e e k e r s w o u l d b e c o n s i d e r e d i l l e g a l . I n D e c e m -b e r , t h e K n e s s e t a n n o u n c e d a p l a n t o b u i l d a n e v e n l a r g e r d e t e n t i o n c e n t e r f o r “A f r i c a n i n f i l t r a t o r s ” n e a r t h e b o r d e r b e t w e e n I s r a e l a n d E g y p t . F o r A b d i a n d o t h e r r e f u g e e s l i k e h i m , t h e s e s i g n s a r e l e a d i n g t o a c h o i c e t o r e t u r n t o d a n g e r o u s s i t u a t i o n s i n t h e i r h o m e c o u n t r i e s r a t h e r t h a n s p e n d a n o t h e r y e a r o r
m o r e i n p r i s o n i n I s r a e l .“ I ’m j u s t w a i t i n g t o b e d e p o r t -
e d ,” h e s a i d . “ I h a v e a p p l i e d t o e v e r y o r g a n i z a t i o n , a n d n o o n e c a n h e l p m e . I k n o w i t ’ s d a n g e r o u s b a c k i n S o m a l i a , b u t I ’ v e h a d e n o u g h h e r e .”
A b d i ’s n a m e w a s c h a n g e d a t h i s r e q u e s t . PT
l a u r a B e r g e r i s a c u r r e n t s e c o n d - y e a r s t u d e n t a t F o r d -h a m L aw, h o p i n g t o p r a c t i c e
i m m i g r a t i o n l aw a f t e r g r a d u a t i n g i n 2 01 2 . S h e s p e n t l a s t s u m m e r i n t e r n i n g a t t h e H o t l i n e f o r M i g r a n t Wo r ke r s i n Te l A v i v .
the case FOR asylumf r o m S o u t h S u d a n , e a g e r l y w i s h t o r e t u r n w h e n i t i s s a f e . T h e r e f u g e e s d i d n o t l e a v e t h e i r h o m e s i n o r d e r t o o b t a i n s t a b l e j o b s a n d h e a l t h i n -s u r a n c e . W h i l e s o m e w o u l d h a p p i l y a c c e p t t h e s e b e n e f i t s , r e f u g e e s l e f t b e c a u s e t h e y w e r e p e r s e c u t e d d u e t o t h e i r e t h n i c i t y, r e l i g i o n , p o l i t i c a l i d e n t i t y, o r g r o u p i d e n t i t y.
N o t o n l y i s t h i s a l i m i t e d p o o l , i t i s a g r o u p o f p e o p l e w h o h a v e l e f t t h e i r c o u n t r y f o r r e a s o n s t h a t c a n b e c o m e i r r e l e v a n t i f t h e s i t u a t i o n i n t h e i r c o u n t r y c h a n g e s . H o w e v e r ,
t h e y n e e d s k i l l s t o a s s u r e t h a t r e -t u r n i n g i s g o o d f o r t h e m a n d g o o d f o r t h e i r c o u n t r y. T h e i n i t i a l r e f u -g e e s w h o t a k e t h e c h a n c e a n d v o l -u n t a r i l y r e p a t r i a t e t h e m s e l v e s a r e o f t e n t h o s e w h o h a v e t h e e d u c a t i o n a n d s k i l l s o b t a i n e d w h i l e l i v i n g i n t h e i r c o u n t r i e s o f a s y l u m , a n d i t i s t h e s e r e f u g e e s w h o c o n t r i b u t e t o t h e w e l f a r e , s e c u r i t y, a n d j o b o p p o r t u n i t i e s t h a t m a k e r e t u r n -i n g e v e n s a f e r f o r o t h e r s . J u s t a s
o n e s a w a m a s s i n f l o w o f R w a n -d a n s c o m i n g h o m e t o R w a n d a i n t h e l a t e 19 9 0 s a f t e r i t w a s c l e a r t h a t t h a t t h e i r l i v e s w e r e n o t i n d a n g e r i n t h e i r c o u n t r y o f o r i g i n , m a n y S o u t h S u d a n e s e — w h o m a k e u p t h e s e c o n d - l a r g e s t r e f u g e e g r o u p i n I s r a e l — h o p e t o t a k e b a c k s k i l l s , f u n d s , a n d f a m i l y t o S o u t h S u d a n o n c e t h e y k n o w t h e y w i l l n o t b e p e r s e c u t e d t h e r e .
I h a v e h a d t h e h o n o r o f l i v i n g i n t w o c o u n t r i e s — I s r a e l a n d R w a n d a — w h e r e r e f u g e e s d i d r e t u r n h o m e t o c r e a t e a n d s e e a b e t t e r f u t u r e . I n d i v i d u a l s w h o r e c e i v e d a s y l u m r e t u r n e d t o t h e i r h o m e l a n d a n d c o n t r i b u t e d t o m a s s i v e j o b g r o w t h , i m p r o v e m e n t s i n e d u c a t i o n , a n d s a f e t y. S u c h a f u t u r e i s o n l y p o s -s i b l e i f w e r e s p e c t o u r e t h i c a l , l e g a l , a n d p r a c t i c a l o b l i g a t i o n s a n d a s s u r e t h a t a s y l u m s e e k e r s c a n a p p l y f o r a s y l u m t o b e g i n w i t h , t o g a i n t h e r i g h t s t h a t w i l l s a v e t h e i r l i v e s n o w a n d r e b u i l d t h e i r c o u n t r i e s l a t e r . PT
Mollie Gerver is founder of Advo-cates for Asylum (www.asylumseek-ers.org) and was a 2010 Presen-
Tense Global Fellow. She is currently a JDC Jewish Service Corp fellow at the Agahozo-Shalom Youth Village in Rwanda.
W h a t i s o f t e n i g n o r e d i s t h a t m a n y r e f u g e e s . . . e a g e r l y w i s h t o r e t u r n w h e n i t i s s a f e .
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o n c e p t s o f t i k k u n o l a m a n d t z e d a k a h a r e i n s t i l l e d i n J e w i s h c h i l d r e n f r o m a n e a r l y a g e . T h e y l e a r n t o p u t a c o i n i n t h e p u s h k e , t o s a y
p r a y e r s b e f o r e a n d a f t e r e a t i n g , t o s h a r e m i s h l o a c h m a n o t ( g i f t s f o r f r i e n d s ) o n P u r i m , a n d o n P a s s o v e r t o i n v i t e E l i j a h — a n d a n y o n e w h o i s h u n g r y — s o t h a t t h e y m a y j o i n a n d e a t .
T h e i n d i g n i t y o f h a v i n g t o a s k f o r c h a r i t y c a n b e a m e n d e d t h r o u g h c o m m u n i t y a c t i o n ; t h i s i s n o t a c o n d e m n a t i o n o f s o u p k i t c h e n s o r f o o d p a n t r i e s , b u t r a t h e r a c a l l f o r a n e w m o d e l . R e l i g i o u s t r a d i t i o n s t e e p e d i n c h a r i t y c a n s h i f t t o a s u s t a i n a b l e f o o d j u s t i c e m o d e l , b u t i t i s e s s e n t i a l t h a t a n y c h a n g e s t o -w a r d s s u s t a i n a b i l i t y b e i d e n t i f i e d a n d s h a p e d b y t h o s e w h o l a c k d i r e c t t r a n s p o r t a t i o n t o g r o c e r y s t o r e s , o n l y h a v e h i g h l y - p r i c e d , l o w - q u a l -
what’s your grocery story? >> miriam leibowitzFOOd, Faith, and Justice
Ci t y f o o d s a v a i l a b l e , a n d h a v e a n i n t e r e s t i n e a t i n g m o r e h e a l t h f u l l y.
R e / S t o r i n g N a s h v i l l e i s d e d i -c a t e d t o a t t r a c t i n g g r o c e r y s t o r e s t o N a s h v i l l e ’ s f o o d d e s e r t n e i g h -b o r h o o d s t h r o u g h c o m m u n i t y o r g a -n i z i n g a n d o u t r e a c h t o f a i t h - b a s e d c o m m u n i t i e s . T h e c a m p a i g n a r o s e
f r o m i n c r e a s i n g r a t e s o f d i e t - r e l a t e d d i s e a s e s i n N a s h v i l l e ’ s f o o d d e s -e r t s a n d f r o m a d e m a n d f o r f r e s h f o o d . I n i t i a l f u n d i n g f o r R e / S t o r -i n g N a s h v i l l e w a s p r o v i d e d b y t h e R o b e r t Wo o d J o h n s o n F o u n d a t i o n .
N a s h v i l l e , t h e p r o v e r b i a l b u c k -l e o f t h e B i b l e B e l t , i s h o m e t o 10 0 0 + c h u r c h e s , f o u r m o s q u e s , f i v e
s y n a g o g u e s , a n d l a r g e B u d d h i s t , B a h a ’ i , a n d H i n d u c o m m u n i t i e s . S t r o n g r e l i g i o u s t i e s , d e d i c a t e d w o r s h i p p e r s , a n d r e s p e c t e d c l e r g y p o i n t t o w a r d t h e p a l p a b l e p o w e r o f t h e “c h u r c h ,” w h i c h i s t h e c e n -t e r o f m a n y N a s h v i l l i a n s ’ s o c i a l a n d s p i r i t u a l l i v e s . U n d e r s t a n d i n g
t h i s d y n a m i c , a n I n t e r f a i t h Wo r s h i p To o l k i t w a s d e v e l o p e d b y t h e R e /S t o r i n g N a s h v i l l e I n t e r f a i t h P l a n -n i n g C o u n c i l — a d i v e r s e g r o u p o f c l e r g y m e m b e r s a n d l a y l e a d e r s . T h e t o o l k i t w a s c r e a t e d t o h e l p e d u c a t e a n d a c t i v a t e c o n g r e g a t i o n s a b o u t f o o d d e s e r t l i f e a n d t r a n s i t i o n f r o m p u r e c h a r i t y t o f o o d j u s t i c e .
T h e o w n e r w i l l n o t c a r r y f r e s h p r o d u c e b e c a u s e “ p e o p l e w i l l n o t b u y i t ,” t h o u g h E d g e h i l l r e s i d e n t s s a y o t h e r w i s e .
Community volunteers work with Nashville youth at the January 17, 2009 King Day of Service, part of the Re/Storing Nashville youth initiative. Photo provided by Community Food Advocates.
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O v e r t h e p a s t t w o y e a r s , R e /S t o r i n g N a s h v i l l e s t a f f a n d L e a d -e r s h i p Te a m ( r e s i d e n t s o f N a s h -v i l l e ’ s f o o d d e s e r t s ) h a v e w o r k e d t o r e - e n e r g i z e g r o c e r y c a m p a i g n s i n N o r t h , S o u t h , a n d E a s t N a s h v i l l e . T h e s e a r e a s u n d e r w e n t u r b a n r e -n e w a l p r o j e c t s i n t h e 19 5 0 s -19 7 0 s w h i c h a i m e d t o c l e a n u p b l i g h t e d n e i g h b o r h o o d s a n d b u i l d l o w -i n c o m e h o u s i n g . I n t h e S o u t h e r n N a s h v i l l e n e i g h b o r h o o d E d g e h i l l , t h i s m e a n t t h a t m a n y s i n g l e - f a m i l y h o m e s w e r e r e p l a c e d w i t h m u l t i - u n i t c o m p l e x e s , c h a n g i n g t h e d y n a m i c o f t h e h i s t o r i c a l l y m i d d l e - c l a s s , A f r i -c a n - A m e r i c a n n e i g h b o r h o o d . W i t h t h e l a t e r c o n v e r s i o n o f h o m e s i n t o M u s i c R o w — r e c o r d i n g s t u d i o s a n d
o t h e r m u s i c i n d u s t r y b u s i n e s s e s —E d g e h i l l b e c a m e s e g r e g a t e d f r o m o t h e r p a r t s o f t h e c i t y, m o s t i m -m e d i a t e l y f r o m t h e m a j o r i t y - w h i t e u n i v e r s i t i e s s u r r o u n d i n g t h e n e i g h -b o r h o o d . P r i o r t o u r b a n r e n e w a l , E d g e h i l l h a d 15 g r o c e r y s t o r e s ; n o w, t h e o n l y f o o d s t o r e s w i t h i n t h r e e m i l e s o r m o r e a r e c o n v e n i e n c e s t o r e s . E d g e h i l l r e s i d e n t s h a v e b e e n w o r k i n g f o r d e c a d e s t o a t t r a c t a n d r e t a i n s u p e r m a r k e t s t o t h e a r e a .
“ I ’ d r a t h e r h a v e a b a n a n a t h a n t h e c h i p s ,” p r o n o u n c e d D e b b i e S m i t h , E d g e h i l l R e s i d e n t A s s o -c i a t i o n Tr e a s u r e r a n d R e / S t o r i n g N a s h v i l l e L e a d e r s h i p Te a m m e m -b e r , i n a c o n v e r s a t i o n a b o u t t h e n e i g h b o r h o o d s t o r e t w o b l o c k s f r o m h e r h o m e — w h i c h d o e s n o t s e l l b a -n a n a s , o r a n y o t h e r f r e s h p r o d u c e . S h e l v e s a r e l i n e d w i t h p r e - p a c k a g e d f o o d s f r o m a d i s c o u n t g r o c e r y c h a i n a c r o s s t o w n a n d t h e r e s t o f t h e s t o r e i s f u l l o f h a i r p r o d u c t s , c l o t h i n g , a n d a p i z z a c o u n t e r . T h e o w n e r w i l l n o t c a r r y f r e s h p r o d u c e b e c a u s e “p e o p l e w i l l n o t b u y i t ,” t h o u g h E d g e h i l l r e s i d e n t s s a y o t h e r w i s e .
I n N a s h v i l l e ’ s f o o d d e s e r t s , a f f o r d a b i l i t y a n d q u a l i t y a r e p r i -o r i t i e s ; t h e b e s t y o u c a n g e t i s a s h r i v e l e d , o v e r p r i c e d p e a c h , a b o x o f g r e e n f i s h s t i c k s , a n d r a n c i d m e a t t h a t ’ s l a b e l e d : “ M e a t D e p t .” O n e i s l u c k y i f c h a r g e d t h e s a m e p r i c e
a t t h e r e g i s t e r t h a t i s l a b e l e d o n t h e s h e l f , i f t h e e x p i r a t i o n d a t e o n t h e c a n o f g r e e n b e a n s h a s n o t p a s s e d , a n d i f a n E B T c a r d i s n o t m i s t a k e n l y t a x e d o r d o u b l e s w i p e d — c h a r g i n g y o u t w i c e f o r y o u r f o o d s t a m p p u r c h a s e .
A t h i r d o f N a s h v i l l e ’ s f o o d d e s -e r t r e s i d e n t s d o n o t o w n c a r s , r e l y -i n g o n p u b l i c t r a n s p o r t a t i o n , t h e g e n e r o s i t y o f f a m i l y a n d f r i e n d s , a n d m o r e o f t e n t h a n n o t , u n d e r -g r o u n d t a x i s e r v i c e s c o s t i n g $10 -$ 4 0 p e r t r i p , g a s m o n e y, o r p u r -c h a s e s o f g r o c e r i e s — u s u a l l y f r o m t h e r i d e r ’s l i m i t e d f o o d s t a m p b u d -g e t . F o r a s e n i o r o n a f i x e d i n c o m e a v e r a g i n g $55 0 0 p e r y e a r , t h i s i s a n u n r e a s o n a b l e e x p e n s e .
I t i s p a r t o f J e w i s h t r a d i t i o n t o t a k e c a r e o f t h o s e i n n e e d , b u t o u r t r a d i t i o n a l s o i n c l u d e s g l e a n -i n g , o r l e a v i n g c r o p s i n t h e f i e l d f o r t h e p o o r a n d t h e t r a v e l e r . O v e r t h e p a s t f e w y e a r s , g l e a n i n g p r o j -e c t s h a v e t a k e n h o l d i n f a r m e r s ’ m a r k e t s a c r o s s t h e c o u n t r y, a s w e l l a s a t f a r m s . A t t h e e n d o f t h e m a r -k e t d a y, v o l u n t e e r s c o l l e c t b r u i s e d a n d w i l t e d f r u i t s a n d v e g e t a b l e s t o b r i n g t o s o u p k i t c h e n s a n d f e e d i n g p r o g r a m s f o r p r o c e s s i n g a n d d i s t r i -b u t i o n . A t f i r s t g l a n c e , t h i s i s a n i n c r e d i b l e g i f t — u t i l i z i n g r e c l a i m e d f o o d . H o w e v e r , c o n t r o v e r s y e x i s t s o v e r w h e t h e r t h e r e i s d i g n i t y i n e a t -i n g b r u i s e d f o o d , e s p e c i a l l y w h e n u n b l e m i s h e d i t e m s a r e t h e n o r m i n a f f l u e n t n e i g h b o r h o o d s .
K e e p i n g a l l o f t h i s i n m i n d , t h e J e w i s h c o m m u n i t y h a s a r e -s p o n s i b i l i t y t o b e a w a r e , t o m a k e n o i s e , a n d t o g e t i n v o l v e d . R i d e t h e b u s t o t h e g r o c e r y s t o r e . F i n d y o u r c o m m u n i t y g a r d e n — o r s t a r t o n e ! S h a r e r e c i p e s f o r h e a l t h y m e a l s o n a b u d g e t . E d u c a t e y o u r p o l i c y -m a k e r s a n d e l e c t e d o f f i c i a l s a b o u t w h a t ’s h a p p e n i n g i n y o u r c i t y. I f y o u h a v e a f a r m s h a r e , w o r k w i t h y o u r f a r m e r t o a c c e p t f o o d s t a m p s , s l i d i n g s c a l e p a y m e n t , a n d f o o d d e s -e r t m a r k e t s . E n s u r e t h a t f a r m e r s ’ m a r k e t s t a k e f o o d s t a m p s a n d a r e e a s i l y a c c e s s i b l e .
J e w i s h h o l i d a y s a r e a l l a b o u t f o o d — a n d c e l e b r a t i n g n o t b e i n g a n n i h i l a t e d o n e m o r e t i m e . T h r o w a p a r t y o n o n e o f o u r m a n y h o l i d a y s t o r a i s e a w a r e n e s s a b o u t f o o d j u s -t i c e w o r k i n y o u r c o m m u n i t y. P l a n t t h e s e v e n s p e c i e s f o r Tu B ’s h e v a t a n d a p p l e t r e e s f o r R o s h H a s h a n a (o r t r y b e e k e e p i n g ! ) , h e l p p a s s u r -b a n g a r d e n s a n d c h i c k e n o r d i n a n c e s t o l e g a l i z e g r o w i n g y o u r o w n f o o d , a n d c h a n g e S h a b b a t o n e g t o i n c l u d e l o c a l , o r g a n i c f o o d . PT
I t i s t i m e t o s t a r t s o m e n e w t r a d i t i o n s i n J e w i s h f o o d j u s t i c e .
M i r i a m l e i b o w i t z i s t h e R e/S t o r i n g N a s hv i l l e p r o g r a m c o o r d i n a t o r w i t h C o m mu n i t y
F o o d A d v o c a t e s , a n a l u m n a o f t h e J e w i s h O r g a n i z i n g I n i t i a t i v e , a n d a m e m b e r o f C o n g r e g a t i o n S h e r i t h I s -r a e l S y n a g o gu e (w h e r e s h e s t a r t e d a g a r d e n a n d t e a c h e s S u n d ay S c h o o l ) . P l e a s e s h a r e y o u r G r o c e r y S t o r y a t w w w. r e s t o r i n g n a s hv i l l e . o r g .
I t i s t i m e t o s t a r t s o m e n e w t r a d i t i o n s i n J e w i s h f o o d j u s t i c e .
food Justice presentense.org/magazine
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r o m t h e M i d d l e E a s t t o E a s t -e r n E u r o p e t o t h e A m e r i c a s , J e w s a r e k n o w n f o r p l a c i n g a v e r y h i g h p r e m i u m o n f o o d . A n d e v e n i f j o k e s a b o u t J e w -
i s h m o t h e r s a n d t h e i r t e n d e n c y t o p l y t h e i r c h i l d r e n ( a n d e v e r y o n e e l s e i n t h e v i c i n i t y ) w i t h a n u n -e n d i n g s u p p l y o f f o o d a r e a b i t o v e r b l o w n , t h e s t e r e o t y p e o f t h e f o o d - l o v i n g J e w e x i s t s f o r a r e a s o n . I t s h o u l d c o m e a s n o s u r p r i s e t h a t f o o d i s c e n t r a l t o a p e o p l e w h o s e r e l i g i o n i n c l u d e s r i t u a l m e a l s o n t h e f i r s t t w o n i g h t s o f P a s s o v e r , a P u r i m f e a s t , t h e p r e s c r i b e d d i e t o f k a s h r u t , a n d w h o s e s a c r e d t e x t t e l l s t h e f a m o u s s t o r y o f a h u n g r y f i r s t - b o r n s o n w h o s e l l s h i s b i r t h -r i g h t t o h i s y o u n g e r b r o t h e r — f o r a b o w l o f s o u p .
Pe r h a p s i t i s b e c a u s e a f o o d -c e n t r i c c u l t u r e b r e e d s a m o n g i t s a d h e r e n t s a n a c u t e a w a r e n e s s o f t h e i m p o r t a n c e o f f o o d t h a t m a n y a t t h e f o r e f r o n t o f t h e i n t e r n a t i o n a l w a r a g a i n s t h u n g e r a r e J e w s . I n f a c t , J e w s h a v e b e e n o b l i g a t e d t o f i g h t h u n g e r f o r a t l e a s t a s l o n g a s t h e To r a h h a s b e e n a r o u n d — a p -p r o x i m a t e l y 2 , 5 0 0 y e a r s . L e v i t i -c u s 19 : 9 -11 c o m m a n d s : “A n d w h e n y o u r e a p y o u r l a n d ’s h a r v e s t , y o u s h a l l n o t f i n i s h o f f t h e e d g e o f y o u r f i e l d , n o r p i c k u p t h e g l e a n -i n g s o f y o u r h a r v e s t . A n d y o u r v i n e y a r d y o u s h a l l n o t p l u c k b a r e , n o r p i c k u p t h e f a l l e n f r u i t o f y o u r v i n e y a r d . F o r t h e p o o r a n d f o r t h e s o j o u r n e r s h a l l y o u l e a v e t h e m .” J e w i s h a n t i - h u n g e r a c t i v i s t J o s e p h
fighting hunger through food rescue >> asher weiss
F
G i t l e r h o n o r e d t h e i n j u n c t i o n t o l e a v e t h e p o o r g l e a n i n g s — l e k e t i n H e b r e w — i n n a m i n g t h e o r g a n i z a -t i o n h e f o u n d e d L e k e t I s r a e l .
L e k e t i s a n I s r a e l i o r g a n i z a t i o n t h a t e m p l o y s a h u n g e r - f i g h t i n g s t r a t e g y c a l l e d f o o d r e s c u e , w h i c h , a s i t s n a m e s u g g e s t s , i n v o l v e s t h e “ r e s c u e ” o f n o u r i s h i n g f o o d t h a t w o u l d o t h e r w i s e b e t h r o w n a w a y b y r e s t a u r a n t s , c a t e r i n g h a l l s , a n d c a f e t e r i a s . L e k e t w a s i n s p i r e d b y C i t y H a r v e s t , “ t h e g r a n d d a d d y o f f o o d r e s c u e ,” a c c o r d i n g t o G i t l e r . I n d e e d , s i n c e C i t y H a r v e s t ’ s f o u n d -i n g i n N e w Yo r k C i t y i n 19 8 2 , t h e f o o d - r e s c u e m o d e l h a s s t e a d i l y g a i n e d t r a c t i o n . N o w, a l o n g s i d e t h e m o r e e s t a b l i s h e d m o d e l o f d o n a t i o n a l l o c a t i o n , e m p l o y e d b y a v a r i e t y o f p r o m i n e n t o r g a n i z a t i o n s i n c l u d i n g t h e A m e r i c a n J e w i s h o r g a n i z a t i o n M a z o n , f o o d r e s c u e h a s b e c o m e a c -c e p t e d a s o n e o f t h e m o s t e f f e c t i v e m e t h o d s f o r c o m b a t i n g h u n g e r .
L e k e t ( f o r m e r l y S h u l c h a n l e -S h u l c h a n o r Ta b l e t o Ta b l e ) w a s f o u n d e d i n 2 0 0 3 w h e n G i t l e r b e g a n
p h o n i n g l o c a l c a t e r i n g c o m p a n i e s a n d r e s t a u r a n t s , a s k i n g i f h e c o u l d “ r e s c u e ” u n t o u c h e d n u t r i t i o u s f o o d t h a t w o u l d g o t o w a s t e . T h e r e -s p o n s e w a s o v e r w h e l m i n g l y p o s i -t i v e , a n d s o o n h e w a s d e l i v e r i n g t h e r e s c u e d f o o d t o I s r a e l i s o u p k i t c h e n s a n d f o o d b a n k s . O n l y s e v e n y e a r s l a t e r , L e k e t i s I s r a e l ’ s N a t i o n a l F o o d B a n k . I t h a s a $5 m i l l i o n b u d g e t , 8 0 p a i d e m p l o y e e s , s e v e r a l t h o u s a n d v o l u n t e e r s a t a n y g i v e n t i m e , a n d p r o v i d e s a t l e a s t o n e m e a l a d a y t o 2 0 , 0 0 0 - 3 0 , 0 0 0 p e o p l e a t o v e r 2 3 0 s o u p k i t c h e n s , h o m e l e s s s h e l t e r s , s e n i o r - c i t i z e n c e n t e r s , a n d o t h e r s o c i a l s e r v i c e o r g a n i z a t i o n s t h r o u g h o u t I s r a e l .
G i t l e r , a 3 6 - y e a r - o l d A m e r i c a n -b o r n J e w, m a d e a l i y a h ( i m m i g r a t -e d t o I s r a e l ) i n 2 0 0 0 a n d s e t t l e d i n t h e a f f l u e n t c i t y o f R a ’a n a n a , w i t h a j o b a s a m a r k e t i n g e x e c u -t i v e a t a n I s r a e l i h i g h - t e c h f i r m . D e s p i t e o r p e r h a p s b e c a u s e o f h i s r e l a t i v e l y c o m f o r t a b l e l i f e , G i t l e r c o u l d n o t o v e r l o o k t h e p o v e r t y h e s a w a l l a r o u n d h i m . “ Po v e r t y i n
F o o d r e s c u e i s l i k e l y t o b e c o m e a l e a d i n g s t r a t e g y i n f i g h t i n g h u n g e r .
What’s on your plate? The Corktown Community Brunch. Photo by Blair Nosan.
let all whO aRe hungRy
Leket rescues food to fight hunger. Photo by Leket.
presentense.org/magazine food Justice
issue thirteen 2011 33
I s r a e l i s s i m i l a r t o p o v e r t y i n t h e U S ,” h e s a y s . “ Pe o p l e a r e n ’t s t a r v -i n g b u t h a v e t o m a k e s a c r i f i c e s i n w h a t t h e y ’r e e a t i n g o r h o w m u c h t h e y ’r e e a t i n g .”
I t i s s m a l l c o n s o l a t i o n t o G i t l e r t h a t t h i s “ We s t e r n p o v e r t y,” a s h e d e s c r i b e s i t , i s n o t a s s e v e r e a s p o v -e r t y i n m a n y p a r t s o f t h e d e v e l o p -i n g w o r l d . H e m a y n o t b e s e e i n g s t a r v a t i o n , b u t m a l n o u r i s h m e n t , e s p e c i a l l y f o r b a b i e s a n d y o u n g c h i l d r e n , i s a p e r s i s t e n t c o n c e r n . “ I ’m n o t f o c u s e d o n a b o v e o r b e l o w t h e p o v e r t y l i n e ,” h e s a y s . “A s m u c h a s w e ’r e d o i n g , y o u n e v e r r e a c h e v -e r y o n e w h o n e e d s a h a n d .”
O n e m i g h t a s s u m e f r o m i t s b i b -l i c a l n a m e t h a t L e k e t i s a J e w i s h o r g a n i z a t i o n , b u t G i t l e r i s l e s s s u r e . “ We a r e i m p a c t e d a n d i n f l u e n c e d b y J e w i s h c u l t u r e , b u t L e k e t i s a n I s r a e l i o r g a n i z a t i o n ,” r a t h e r t h a n a r e l i g i o u s o n e , G i t l e r s a y s . M o s t o f t h e s t a f f a n d v o l u n t e e r s a r e J e w i s h , a n d f o o d a n d f u n d r a i s i n g d r i v e s a r e o f t e n p l a n n e d a r o u n d t h e J e w -i s h c a l e n d a r , b u t t h i s i s a f u n c t i o n o f t h e f a c t t h a t L e k e t e x i s t s i n a
s o c i e t y t h a t i s p r e d o m i n a n t l y J e w -i s h . I n f a c t , L e k e t i s i n t e n t i o n a l l y m u l t i c u l t u r a l : 2 0 m e m b e r s o f i t s p a i d s t a f f a r e I s r a e l i - A r a b w o m e n w h o f o r t h e f i r s t t i m e a r e e a r n i n g m o r e t h a n t h e m i n i m u m w a g e a n d h a v e f u l l h e a l t h b e n e f i t s . “ T h e m i s -s i o n o f t h i s o r g a n i z a t i o n w a s n e v e r c o e x i s t e n c e , b u t w e ’r e p r o u d t h a t w e s e e m t o h a v e c r e a t e d i t t h r o u g h o u r w o r k ,” s a y s M o s h e K i n d e r l e h r e r , d i r e c t o r o f d e v e l o p m e n t f o r A m e r i -c a n F r i e n d s o f L e k e t I s r a e l , L e k e t ’s p r e s e n c e i n t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s .
M o r e o v e r , L e k e t ’s g o a l i s t o h e l p a s m a n y c o m m u n i t i e s i n I s r a e l ’ s e t h n i c a l l y d i v e r s e s o c i e t y a s p o s -s i b l e . “ We r e a l l y b e l i e v e t h a t t h e g o a l o f t h i s o r g a n i z a t i o n i s t o s e r v e t h e I s r a e l i - A r a b , D r u z e , a n d B e d -o u i n p o p u l a t i o n s ” i n a d d i t i o n t o J e w i s h o n e s , s a y s G i t l e r . L e k e t a l s o p r o v i d e s f o o d f o r a g r o u p o f a r o u n d 10 , 0 0 0 C h r i s t i a n a n d M u s l i m r e f u -g e e s f r o m E r i t r e a a n d D a r f u r w h o r e c e n t l y a r r i v e d i n I s r a e l .
T h a t t h e f o o d - r e s c u e s t r a t e g y h a s r e s o n a t e d b e y o n d t h e U S a n d I s r a e l i s e v i d e n c e d b y A u s t r a l i a ’ s
O z H a r v e s t , C a n a d a ’s S e c o n d H a r -v e s t , a n d G e r m a n y ’s B e r l i n e r Ta f e l , a m o n g m a n y o t h e r s . F o o d r e s c u e i s s u c c e s s f u l i n m a n y p a r t s o f t h e w o r l d b e c a u s e i t s i m u l t a n e o u s l y f i g h t s f o o d i n s e c u r i t y e f f e c t i v e l y a n d m a i n t a i n s l o w o r g a n i z a t i o n -a l o v e r h e a d — L e k e t , f o r e x a m p l e , c l a i m s t h a t e v e r y $1 d o n a t e d g e n e r -a t e s $5 w o r t h o f f o o d — m a k i n g i t h i g h l y e f f e c t i v e a n y w h e r e t h e r e i s a s u r p l u s o f f o o d . S u c h s u r p l u s e s e x i s t , a c c o r d i n g t o G i t l e r , i n a l l o f t h e d e v e l o p e d w o r l d a n d e v e n l a r g e p a r t s o f t h e d e v e l o p i n g w o r l d . H e n c e , f o o d r e s c u e i s l i k e l y t o b e -c o m e a l e a d i n g s t r a t e g y i n f i g h t -i n g h u n g e r . W h i l e i t ’ s d i f f i c u l t t o i m a g i n e t h a t t h e w o r l d w i l l s e e a n e n d t o h u n g e r i n G i t l e r ’ s l i f e t i m e , w i t h t h e c o n t i n u i n g s u c c e s s o f f o o d r e s c u e , i t ’ s r e a s o n a b l e t o d r e a m . PT
a s h e r We i s s i s a B r o o k l y n -b a s e d s i n g e r - s o n gw r i t e r w h o a l s o w r i t e s o n p o l i t i c s a n d
t h e M i d d l e E a s t . H e p l a n s t o a t t e n d a m a s t e r ’ s p r o g r a m i n i n t e r n a t i o n a l r e l a t i o n s i n f a l l , 2 01 1 .
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tzedek ba’sadeh
I n 2 010 , P a n i m ’s P B & J ( Po v e r t y, B r e a d , a n d J u s t i c e ) p r o g r a m b r o u g h t 7 0 J e w i s h t e e n a g e r s t o Wa s h i n g t o n , D . C . f o r f i v e d a y s t o m e e t w i t h g o v -e r n m e n t r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s , p e r -f o r m c o m m u n i t y s e r v i c e , a n d e x p l o r e J e w i s h a n d n o n - J e w i s h t e x t s r e l a t i n g t o f o o d j u s t i c e , n u t r i t i o n , a n d s u s t a i n a b i l i t y . S u c h p r o g r a m s g u a r a n t e e t h e c o n t i n u a t i o n o f f o o d j u s t i c e a w a r e n e s s a m o n g f u t u r e J e w -i s h l e a d e r s .
K a y a m F a r m i n R e i s t e r -s t o w n , M D p r a c t i c e s m a ’a s e r a n i b y d o n a t i n g a p o r t i o n o f i t s p r o d u c e t o a l o c a l f a m i l y s h e l t e r . T h e f a r m , a p r o g r a m o f t h e Pe a r l s t o n e C o n f e r e n c e & R e t r e a t C e n t e r , a n a g e n c y o f t h e A S S O C I A T E D : J e w i s h C o m m u n i t y F e d e r a t i o n o f B a l -t i m o r e , p r o m o t e s To r a h - b a s e d f o o d j u s t i c e b y t e a c h i n g a g -r i c u l t u r a l l a w s a n d p r a c t i c e s t o t h o u s a n d s o f p e o p l e e a c h y e a r . S u m m e r K o l l e l i m m e r s e s y o u n g J e w s i n J e w i s h f o o d j u s -t i c e - f a r m i n g , s t u d y i n g To r a h , a n d l e a r n i n g t o c r e a t e m o r e j u s t a n d e q u i t a b l e f o o d s y s -t e m s f o r a l l p e o p l e .
o d a y, t h e J ew i s h im a ge o f p h i l a n t h r o p y i s o f t e n as s o c i a t e d w i t h t h e t y p i c a l p h o t o - o p o f a d o n o r h a n d i n g o v e r a c h e c k . B u t i n t r u t h , t h e t i t h e — t h a t 10 % d o n a t i o n o f i n c o m e t o c h a r i t y — o r i g i n a l l y g r ew i n t h e f i e l d s .
I n a n c i e n t I s r a e l , J ew s w e r e f a r m e r s , a n d c r o p s w e r e c u r r e n c y. T h e To r a h c o m m a n d e d d i s t r i b u t i o n o f f o o d t h r o u g h o u t s o c i e t y a s a n e x p r e s s i o n o f t z e d ak ah — l i t e r a l l y , “ j u s t i c e .” T h r o u g h b i b l i c a l m a n d a t e a n d t r a d i t i o n , J ews we r e f a r m e r s f o r j u s t i c e , a n d t h e M i s hn ah , t h e f i r s t c o d e o f J ew i s h l aw a f t e r t h e To r a h , w as t h e p e r f e c t f o o d j u s t i c e m a n u a l .
T h e m os t f a m i l i a r a sp e c t o f J ew i s h f o o d j u s t i c e i s m a ’a s e r a n i : 10 % o f t h e h a r v e s t w as c o n t r i b u t e d t o t h e p o o r e v e r y t h i r d a n d s i x t h y e a r o f t h e s e ve n -y e a r a g r i c u l t u r a l c y c l e . T h e a c t o f h a r v e s t i n g , t o o , w as a n e xe r c i s e i n t z e d akah . I n t h e B o o k o f Ru t h , w e a r e r e m i n d e d o f t h e l aw s o f l e ke t , ( g l e a n i n gs) a n d s h i c h e c h a , ( f o r go t t e n c r o p s) w h i c h r e q u i r e t h a t p r o d u c e d r o p p e d o r ove r l o o ke d d u r i n g h a r ve s t t i m e i s l e f t f o r t h e h u n g r y. P e ’ah , ( l i t e r a l l y , c o r n e r ) c o m m a n d s J ew i s h f a r m e r s t o l e a ve t h e c o r n e r s o f t h e i r f i e l d s u n h a r v e s t e d s o t h a t t h e p o o r c a n c o m e a n d e a t . P e ’a h , l e ke t a n d s h i c h e c h a r e q u i r e t h e t z e d a k a h r e c i p i e n t t o b e a c t i ve i n t h e p r o c e s s . T h i s i s n o t a h a n d - o u t : t h e p o o r m us t go o u t i n t o t h e f i e l d s t h e ms e l v e s a n d h a r v e s t i f t h e y w a n t t o r e c e i v e p r o d u c e . T h e r e i s s t r e n g t h i n t h a t t r a d i t i o n , s h a r e d r e sp o ns i b i l i t y , a n d p e r h a p s g r e a te r d i g n i t y a s we l l .
We l e a r n i n M i s hn ah P e ’ah 1 :2 , “O n e s h o u l d n o t g i v e p e ’a h l e s s t h a n o n e s i x t i e t h , a n d…eve r y t h i n g d ep e n d s o n t h e s i z e o f t h e f i e l d , t h e n u m b e r o f t h e p o o r, a n d a c c o r d i n g t o t h e e x t e n t o f t h e c r o p .” O u r r e l i g i o us r o o t s as s e r t t h a t w e m us t g i v e a c c o r d i n g t o o u r m e a ns a n d o u r c o m m u n i t i e s .
O u r f i e l d s a r e s m a l l b u t o u r c r o p s a r e f l o u r i s h i n g . T h e t im e i s r i p e f o r J ew s t o p r a c t i c e f o o d j u s t i c e f o r t h e h u n g r y a n d p o o r i n l o ca l c o m m u n i t i e s a n d a r o u n d t h e wo r l d .
jewish food justice >> jakir manela & daniel kieval
TU r b a n A d a m a h i n B e r k e -
l e y, C A i s a p r o g r a m t h a t t r a i n s y o u n g a d u l t s t o g r o w f r e s h , h e a l t h y f o o d i n a n u r -b a n s e t t i n g , p a r t n e r s t h e m w i t h l o c a l f o o d j u s t i c e o r g a -n i z a t i o n s t o d o s e r v i c e w o r k , a n d p r o v i d e s J e w i s h p e r s p e c -t i v e s o n i s s u e s r e l a t i n g t o o u r m o d e r n f o o d s y s t e m .
L e k e t I s r a e l h a s u p d a t e d J e w i s h f o o d j u s t i c e p r a c t i c e s t o m e e t c o n t e m p o r a r y n e e d s . T h e I s r a e l i o r g a n i z a t i o n c o l -l e c t s m i l l i o n s o f p o u n d s o f f o o d t h a t w o u l d o t h e r w i s e h a v e g o n e t o w a s t e a n d d i s -t r i b u t e s p r o d u c e t o o r g a n i z a -t i o n s t h a t f e e d I s r a e l ’ s p o o r ( s e e p . 3 2 ) .
Tz e d a k a h i s o f t e n r o -m a n t i c i z e d , b u t d i g n i t y i s n o t g u a r a n t e e d . R a b b i n i c l i t e r a t u r e a c c o u n t s f o r d e s -p e r a t i o n a n d p o t e n t i a l l y v i o l e n t c o m p e t i t i o n a m o n g t h e h u n g r y a n d h o m e l e s s . I n M i s h n a h Pe ’a h 4 : 4 w e r e a d , “P e ’ a h m a y n o t b e r e a p e d b y t h e p o o r w i t h s i c k l e s , n o r u p r o o t e d w i t h a x e s , s o t h a t t h e y s h o u l d n o t s t r i k e o n e a n o t h e r .” T h e p e ’ a h g a t h e r -e r s h a v e a r e s p o n s i b i l i t y t o g a t h e r i n p e a c e , o n e t h a t i s p e r h a p s e q u a l t o t h e f a r m e r ’ s r e s p o n s i b i l i t y t o l e a v e p e ’ a h .
W h a t h a p p e n s w h e n o t h e r l a w s i n a s o c i e t y c o n -f l i c t w i t h a c t s o f t z e d a k a h ? T h e g r a s s r o o t s o r g a n i z a t i o n F o o d N o t B o m b s p r e p a r e s a n d s e r v e s f r e e v e g e t a r -i a n m e a l s i n p u b l i c p l a c e s a r o u n d t h e w o r l d . Po l i c e a n d h e a l t h a u t h o r i t i e s h a v e a t t e m p t e d t o s h u t d o w n t h e g r o u p f o r d i s t r i b u t i n g f o o d w i t h o u t p r o p e r l i c e n s e s a n d p e r m i t s . I t s m e m b e r s d e f e n d t h e i r r i g h t t o s h a r e f r e e l y w i t h o t h e r s , c l a i m i n g t h a t g o v e r n m e n t a l e f f o r t s t o f i g h t h u n g e r a r e i n a d e q u a t e . T h e i n c i d e n t s h a v e s p a r k e d h e a t -e d d e b a t e o v e r i s s u e s o f f o o d w a s t e , s o c i a l j u s t i c e , a n d p u b l i c h e a l t h , w i t h c o m m u n i t i e s a n d a u t h o r i t i e s s t r u g g l i n g t o f i n d a b a l a n c e b e t w e e n t h e m .
daniel Kieval recently completed his un-dergraduate degree at Wesleyan Univer-sity and two seasons at Kayam Farm. He
is about to begin studying at Kibbutz Lotan.
Jakir Manela is the founder and director of Kayam Farm, trans-forming our community through
hands-on Jewish agricultural education.
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Leaders singing Dalit freedom songs at a Dalit Foundation workshop in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India. Photo by Abby Bellows.
a new context for community organizing >> abby bellows
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w o u l d r e s o r t t o d i r e m e a s u r e s t o o q u i c k l y. I h a d a l r e a d y m e t s e v e r a l l e a d e r s o n h u n g e r s t r i k e f o r “ D a l i t r i g h t s ” w h o c o u l d n o t a r t i c u l a t e a s p e c i f i c d e m a n d , d e a d l i n e , o r t h e n a m e s o f r e l e v a n t d e c i s i o n - m a k e r s . T h e y h a d p a s s i o n a n d c o u r a g e b u t l i t t l e s t r a t e g y. I t a u g h t t h e m o r g a -n i z i n g s t r a t e g y a s I h a d l e a r n e d i t i n t h e U S — a n a l y z i n g p o w e r s t r u c -t u r e s , p i c k i n g w i n n a b l e g o a l s , a n d e s c a l a t i n g p r e s s u r e . A s t h e y j o t t e d n o t e s , I r e a l i z e d t h a t t h e m e t h o d i -c a l s t r a t e g i e s w e u s e b a c k h o m e c o u l d b e n e f i t f r o m t h e i r b o l d n e s s a n d v i c e v e r s a .
B e yo n d “G I v e a M a n a f I S h…”
W h e n I l e d t r a i n i n g s o n M e t h -o d s o f S o c i a l C h a n g e f o r Av o d a h o r J e w i s h F u n d s f o r J u s t i c e , I c o n -t r a s t e d d i r e c t s e r v i c e a n d o r g a n i z -i n g . D i r e c t s e r v i c e — v o l u n t e e r i n g a t a s o u p k i t c h e n , f o r e x a m p l e — a d -d r e s s e s v i t a l n e e d s t o d a y b u t d o e s n o t a d d r e s s t h e s c a r c i t y o f g o o d j o b s t h a t d r i v e s t h e s a m e p e o p l e t o t h e s o u p k i t c h e n t o m o r r o w. S e r v i c e i s o f t e n d o n e b y a “p r o v i d e r ” t o a “ c l i e n t ,” w h e r e a s o r g a n i z i n g a i m s t o b e d r i v e n b y t h e p e o p l e m o s t a f f e c t e d b y t h e p r o b l e m s a t h a n d . A d m i t t e d l y, t h e w o r k s h o p s I l e d w e r e s l a n t e d t o w a r d o r g a n i z i n g . L i k e o t h e r s , I w a s c o n c e r n e d t h a t s o m a n y s y n a g o g u e s f o c u s s o l e l y o n M i t z v a h D a y i n s t e a d o f a l s o t a p p i n g
f t e r f i v e y e a r s o f o r g a n i z i n g c l e r g y a r o u n d s o c i a l j u s t i c e i s s u e s i n t h e B r o n x , I h e a d e d t o I n d i a i n t e n s e l y c u r i o u s . Wo u l d t h e g r a s s r o o t s l e a d -
e r s t h a t t h e A m e r i c a n J e w i s h Wo r l d S e r v i c e Vo l u n t e e r C o r p s m a t c h e d m e w i t h f i n d m y p r a c t i c e o f c o m -m u n i t y o r g a n i z i n g r e l e v a n t ? Wo u l d I b e a b l e t o e x t r a c t l e s s o n s f r o m t h e I n d i a n s o c i a l m o v e m e n t s t h a t h a d l o n g i n s p i r e d m e ? A f t e r f o u r m o n t h s o f t e a c h i n g a n d l e a r n i n g f r o m I n d i a n a c t i v i s t s , I w a s a m a z e d b y t h e f r u i t f u l n e s s o f o u r e x c h a n g e . I d i s c o v e r e d t h a t m a n y I n d i a n o r -g a n i z i n g p r a c t i c e s c a n n u r t u r e t h e J e w i s h c o m m u n i t y ’s s w e l l i n g i n t e r -e s t i n o r g a n i z i n g .
ta Ke R I S K S – W h e n S t R at eG I C
A s I e n t e r e d t h e s i t e o f t h e C h e n g a r a L a n d S t r u g g l e i n s o u t h e r n I n d i a , a c c o m p a n i e d b y I n d i a n l e a d -e r s I w a s t r a i n i n g , I n o t i c e d c o l o r f u l f l a g s h a n g i n g f r o m t h e t r e e s . T h e y g a v e w a y t o b l a c k p l a s t i c t e n t s ; w i r y c h i l d r e n w i t h i n s t a r e d o u t a t u s . S o m e 2 0 , 0 0 0 D a l i t s ( f o r m e r l y “ U n -t o u c h a b l e s ” ) a n d i n d i g e n o u s p e o p l e h a d o c c u p i e d t h e s e 6 , 0 0 0 a c r e s f o r t h e p a s t t h r e e y e a r s d e m a n d i n g l a n d t h a t t h e y w e r e l e g a l l y d u e . B y d o i n g s o , t h e y h a d p r e v e n t e d t h i s g o v e r n -m e n t l a n d f r o m b e i n g t u r n e d o v e r t o a r u b b e r c o m p a n y. O n e o f t h e l e a d e r s e x p l a i n e d t o m e t h a t w h e n t h e g o v e r n m e n t t r i e d t o e v i c t t h e l a n d l e s s f a m i l i e s , 25 D a l i t s c l i m b e d t r e e s , f a s t e n e d s a r i s t o b r a n c h e s , a n d t i e d t h e o t h e r e n d a r o u n d t h e i r n e c k s . T h e y t h r e a t e n e d t o j u m p t o t h e i r d e a t h s i f t h e p o l i c e f o r c e d t h e m o u t . I r e a l i z e d w i t h a s h u d d e r t h a t t h e f a b r i c s a t t h e e n t r a n c e t o C h e n g a r a w e r e t h e s e s a m e s a r i s —t h e i r b a t t l e f l a g s .
I f o u n d m y s e l f s i n g i n g u n d e r m y b r e a t h — M a h n o r a h a ’ m a k o m h a ’ z e h , H o w a w e - i n s p i r i n g i s t h i s p l a c e . A l l t h e L e t t e r s - t o - t h e - E d i t o r a n d d e m o n s t r a t i o n s I h a d h e l p e d o r g a n i z e i n c o l l e g e , i n t h e B r o n x , a n d w i t h m y s y n a g o g u e c o u l d n o t c o m p a r e t o t h e r i s k s t h e s e D a l i t l e a d e r s h a d t a k e n .
A t t h e s a m e t i m e , I w o r r i e d t h a t t h e I n d i a n l e a d e r s I w a s t r a i n i n g
A
i n t o t h e J e w i s h c o m m u n i t y ’s p o w e r f o r l a s t i n g o r g a n i z i n g v i c t o r i e s .
S o c i a l c h a n g e i n t h e I n d i a n c o n -t e x t u n r a v e l s t h i s w h o l e p a r a d i g m . I f a s o c i a l w o r k e r h e l p s a v i l l a g e s e -c u r e f o o d t o d a y, t h i s “ s e r v i c e ” w i l l h a v e l i t t l e l a s t i n g i m p a c t . I f , o n t h e o t h e r h a n d , t h e s o c i a l w o r k e r h e l p s t h e v i l l a g e s e c u r e l a n d s u i t a b l e f o r f a r m i n g f r o m t h e g o v e r n m e n t , t h i s “ s e r v i c e ” c a n h a v e t h e l a s t i n g i m -p a c t a s s o c i a t e d w i t h o r g a n i z i n g . F u r t h e r m o r e , r a t h e r t h a n a s s u m e t h a t a s e r v i c e - p r o v i d e r e n c o u r a g e s d e p e n d e n c y, t h e q u e s t i o n i n I n d i a i s w h a t a p p r o a c h t h e p r o v i d e r t a k e s . I f a s o c i a l w o r k e r f i l l s o u t l a n d a p -p l i c a t i o n s o n b e h a l f o f r e s i d e n t s , t h e y r e m a i n d e p e n d e n t “c l i e n t s .” H o w e v e r , i f t h e s o c i a l w o r k e r t r a i n s c o m m u n i t y m e m b e r s t o s e e g o v e r n -m e n t l a n d a s t h e i r l e g a l r i g h t , a s i t i s i n I n d i a , a n d t o g e t h e r w i t h t h e m f i l e s l a n d a p p l i c a t i o n s , t h e n l o n g - t e r m l e a d e r s h i p h a s b e e n b u i l t .
T h e r e f o r e , t h e d e v a l u a t i o n o f d i r e c t s e r v i c e i n p a r t s o f t h e J e w -i s h s o c i a l j u s t i c e w o r l d m u s t b e r e c o n s i d e r e d . C e r t a i n t y p e s o f d i -r e c t s e r v i c e , i f d o n e t h e r i g h t w a y, c a n p r o d u c e t h e l a s t i n g c h a n g e a n d l e a d e r s h i p u s u a l l y a t t r i b u t e d t o o r g a n i z i n g . T h i s c a n i n f o r m t h e t y p e o f d i r e c t s e r v i c e t h a t J e w i s h c o m m u n i t i e s e n g a g e i n a s w e l l a s t h e r e l a t i o n s h i p b e t w e e n v a r i o u s m e t h o d s o f s o c i a l c h a n g e .
Members of the Chengara Land Struggle, taken in April 2010 in Kerala, India, with sari seen in the trees. Photos by Abby Bellows.
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issue thirteen 2011 37
I n S I S t o n I - t h o u Re l at I o n S h I p S
T h e f i r s t s t e p o f c o m m u n i t y o r g a n i z i n g i s u s u a l l y c o n n e c t i n g p e o p l e t o o n e a n o t h e r . W h e t h e r i n l a r g e s y n a g o g u e s , t r a n s i e n t c o l l e g -e s , o r a n e i g h b o r h o o d o f R u s s i a n i m m i g r a n t s , b u i l d i n g r e l a t i o n s h i p s i s a p r e c o n d i t i o n f o r i d e n t i f y i n g c o m m o n c o n c e r n s a n d a m a s s i n g t h e p e o p l e p o w e r n e c e s s a r y t o p r o d u c e c h a n g e . N o n e t h e l e s s , t h i s s t a g e c a n a l s o b e e x h a u s t i n g .
S o I w a s t h r i l l e d t o d i s c o v e r i n I n d i a t h a t c o n n e c t i n g p e o p l e t o e a c h o t h e r w a s o f t e n u n n e c e s s a r y. I n a c o u n t r y w h e r e 7 0 p e r c e n t o f t h e p o p u l a t i o n l i v e s i n v i l l a g e s , p e o p l e
r e s p o n d e d e n t h u s i a s t i c a l l y, “ N o w w e a r e e c o n o m i c a l l y s o u n d b e c a u s e w e s a v e t o g e t h e r .”
P a n i d y a n a s k e d w h e t h e r t h e i r c h i l d r e n w e r e i n s c h o o l . T h e w o m e n s a i d s o m e w e r e , b u t s o m e g r a z e d g o a t s f o r m o n e y.
“ B u t y o u j u s t t o l d m e t h a t y o u ’r e e c o n o m i c a l l y s o u n d ! ” P a n d i y a n e x -c l a i m e d .
T h e r e w a s a l o n g s i l e n c e . E v e n -t u a l l y o n e w o m a n s p o k e u p . “ M y h u s b a n d i s a n a l c o h o l i c ,” s h e e x -p l a i n e d , t e a r s s t a r t i n g t o w e l l u p i n h e r e y e s . “ H e s t a n d s o u t s i d e o u r m e e t i n g s — h e i s w a i t i n g a r o u n d t h e c o r n e r r i g h t n o w — a n d w h e n I l e a v e t h e m e e t i n g , h e t a k e s m y m o n e y t o g o d r i n k . W h e n I p r o t e s t o r t r y t o s p e n d i t f i r s t , h e b e a t s m e .”
“ H a v e y o u t r i e d t o g o t o s o m e -o n e e l s e ’ s h o u s e t o c o o k f o r y o u r s e l f a n d y o u r c h i l d r e n a n d n o t f e e d h i m , a s p u n i s h m e n t ? ” P a n d i y a n a s k e d .
“ Ye s ,” s h e r e p l i e d . “ I c o o k e d a t a f r i e n d ’s h o u s e a n d d i d n o t m a k e a n y f o r m y h u s b a n d . B u t w h e n I g o t h o m e , h e b e a t m e e v e n w o r s e .”
“ D i d y o u t r y t o g o t o t h e p o -l i c e ? ”
“ I c a n ’t ,” s h e s a i d . “ I w o u l d b e t e r r i b l y o s t r a c i z e d i f a n y m a n s a w m e t h e r e a l o n e .” A f t e r s o m e t i m e , s h e c o n t i n u e d . “ I t ’ s n o t j u s t m e . A l l t h e s e w o m e n h a v e a l c o h o l i c s a s h u s b a n d s . T h e y b e a t u s a n d w e c a n ’t g o t o t h e p o l i c e .”
T h e o t h e r w o m e n s l o w l y n o d d e d . O t h e r s s t a r t e d t o c o n f e s s . I t w a s a h u g e p r o b l e m i n t h e i r c o m m u n i t y, a n d f o r a l l t h e s e y e a r s t h e y h a d n e v e r t a l k e d a b o u t t h e f a c t t h a t t h e m o n e y t h e y d e a l t w i t h e a c h w e e k i n t h e S e l f - H e l p G r o u p w a s n o t r e a l l y g o i n g t o w a r d t h e i r f a m i l y ’s w e l l b e -i n g o r t h e i r e c o n o m i c i n d e p e n d e n c e .
A f t e r l i s t e n i n g f o r a t i m e , P a n -d i y a n a s k e d , “ W h a t d o y o u w a n t t o d o a b o u t i t ? ”
I t w a s a s i f h e h a d r e l e a s e d a c o r k . T h e y b e g a n c o m i n g u p w i t h s t r a t e g i e s t o a d d r e s s t h e p r o b l e m . “ We c o u l d i n v i t e a d o c t o r t o t a l k t o t h e m e n a b o u t t h e m e d i c a l c o n s e -q u e n c e s o f a l c o h o l a b u s e . We c o u l d c o n v e n e o u r h u s b a n d s f o r y o u t o t a l k t o t h e m , P a n d i y a n . T h e y m i g h t l i s t e n t o a m a n ’s a d v i c e a b o u t h o w t o b e a g o o d h u s b a n d . We c o u l d a s k t h e N G O t o f i l e p o l i c e c h a r g e s o n
i n a p a r t i c u l a r c o m m u n i t y a l r e a d y k n o w e a c h o t h e r . F o r i n s t a n c e , w h e n I m a d e a f i e l d v i s i t i n H a r y a n a , a l o c a l l e a d e r c a l l e d a n i m p r o m p t u m e e t i n g a n d 5 0 p e o p l e s h o w e d u p t h a t e v e n i n g . I h a d n e v e r s e e n s u c h a n e a s y m o b i l i z a t i o n b e f o r e .
H o w e v e r , I f o u n d t h a t s i m p l y b e i n g c o n n e c t e d i s n o t a r e c i p e f o r s o c i a l c h a n g e . T h e b e s t i l l u s t r a -t i o n c o m e s f r o m P a n d i y a n , a D a l i t l e a d e r i n Ta m i l N a d u . H e v i s i t e d a S e l f - H e l p G r o u p , t h e t e r m f o r a v i l l a g e s a v i n g s c o l l e c t i v e . F o r f i v e y e a r s , t h e s a m e w o m e n h a d c o m e t o g e t h e r e v e r y w e e k t o d o f i n a n c i a l t r a n s a c t i o n s .
“ W h a t i s t h e i m p a c t o f t h e g r o u p ? ” P a n d i y a n a s k e d t h e m . T h e y
One of the street children who participates in Khoj, an organization that builds the skills of children who live in the street medians of New Delhi. On this day, the children made butterflies.
features presentense.org/magazine
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o r i g i n a l l y h a i l f r o m t h e w o r l d o f d i r e c t s e r v i c e — g e t t i n g i n t o t h e t r e n c h e s a n d g e t t i n g m y h a n d s d i r t y, d o i n g t h e w o r k o n t h e f r o n t l i n e s . T h e r e s u l t s
a r e i m m e d i a t e a n d y o u f e e l l i k e c h a n g e i s p o s s i b l e b e c a u s e y o u s e e i t e v e r y d a y.
B u t i n a c l a s s o f f e r e d t o s e m i -n a r y s t u d e n t s t h r o u g h J e w i s h F u n d s f o r J u s t i c e a n d t h e C e n t e r f o r J e w -i s h O r g a n i z i n g , t h i s y e a r I w a s p r e s e n t e d w i t h a d i f f e r e n t m o d e l : c o m m u n i t y o r g a n i z i n g . T h i s i n -v o l v e s a s l o w e r p r o c e s s o f b u i l d i n g s o c i a l c a p i t a l t h r o u g h t a k i n g o n a s e t o f o n e - t o - o n e r e l a t i o n a l c o n -v e r s a t i o n s , l e a r n i n g w h a t m a k e s a p e r s o n t i c k , w h a t t h e y c a r e a b o u t , a n d t h e i s s u e s u p o n w h i c h t h e y a r e m o t i v a t e d t o a c t . O n c e y o u h a v e
choosing a model for change >> rachel van thyn
diRect seRvice OR cOmmunity ORganizing?
I g a t h e r e d m u l t i p l e s t o r i e s f r o m v a r i -o u s p e o p l e (w h i c h c a n b e d o n e i n a s a l o n o r h o u s e m e e t i n g ) , y o u f i g u r e o u t w h a t i s s u e p e o p l e h a v e i n c o m -m o n a n d l e v e r a g e i t t o e n a c t c h a n g e i n t h e i m m e d i a t e c o m m u n i t y.
“ W h i l e w e d o n e e d t o p r o v i d e f o o d t o p e o p l e w h o a r e h u n g r y, p r o -v i d i n g t h a t k i n d o f d i r e c t s e r v i c e a g a i n a n d a g a i n d o e s n o t a c t u a l l y c h a l l e n g e t h e r o o t c a u s e s o f p o v -e r t y. We h a v e t o w o r k f o r s y s t e m i c c h a n g e ,” s a i d M a r i l y n S n e i d e r m a n , e x e c u t i v e d i r e c t o r o f AVO DA H : T h e J e w i s h S e r v i c e C o r p s , a o n e -y e a r t r a n s - d e n o m i n a t i o n a l p r o g r a m f o r y o u n g J e w s t h a t i n v o l v e s a n t i -p o v e r t y d i r e c t s e r v i c e w o r k , c o m -m u n i t y b u i l d i n g , a n d s t u d y. “ Yo u c a n ’t a d d r e s s t h e c a u s e s w i t h o u t e n g a g i n g a n d o r g a n i z i n g t h o s e
w h o a r e s u f f e r i n g f r o m s o c i e t y ’s i n e q u i t i e s . B y i n t e g r a t i n g s e r v i c e w o r k a n d o r g a n i z i n g f o r s y s t e m i c c h a n g e , w e c a n h e l p p e o p l e m o v e f r o m p o v e r t y, h o p e l e s s n e s s , a n d d e -s p a i r t o b e c o m e a c t i v i s t s w h o s e i z e c o n t r o l o f a n d c h a n g e t h e i r l i v e s , t h e i r c o m m u n i t i e s , a n d s o c i e t y.”
A s f a r b a c k a s t h e To r a h , w e h a v e s t o r i e s a n d l a w s s u r r o u n d i n g c a r e f o r t h e w i d o w e d , t h e h u n g r y, a n d t h e s t r a n g e r i n o u r m i d s t . “ T h e r e h a s a l w a y s b e e n h u n g e r a n d h o m e l e s s n e s s , a n d t h e r e i s a l o n g h i s t o r y o f p e o p l e w h o h a v e d e d i c a t e d t h e m s e l v e s t o s e r v i n g t h e p o o r , a n d o t h e r s w h o h a v e f o u g h t a g a i n s t i n j u s t i c e . . . C o r e r e l i g i o u s v a l u e s i n s p i r e d a n d g u i d e d t h e i r a c t i o n s ,” S n e i d e r m a n s a i d .
C o m m u n i t y o r g a n i z i n g , t o o , h a s
o u r b e h a l f t o a v o i d g o i n g p u b l i c l y t o t h e s t a t i o n .” T h e r o o m b u z z e d w i t h e n e r g y. A s P a n d i y a n
h e l p e d t h e m d e v e l o p n e x t s t e p s , h e r e a l i z e d t h e y h a d b e e n c o n n e c t e d f o r f i v e y e a r s b u t w e r e n o t o r g a n i z e d a r o u n d t h e i s s u e s t h a t r e a l l y k e p t t h e m u p a t n i g h t .
I r e a l i z e d t h a t , i n t h i s c a s e , t h e I n d i a n c o n -t e x t w a s m o r e s i m i l a r t o t h e A m e r i c a n J e w i s h c o n t e x t t h a n i t s e e m e d a t f i r s t g l a n c e . Pe r h a p s w e k n o w e a c h o t h e r ’s n a m e s b u t n o t o u r d e e p e r s t o r i e s . We c a n a l l s t r i v e t o w a r d B u b e r ’s i d e a l o f p e r s o n a l a n d h o n e s t I -T h o u r e l a t i o n s h i p s .
T h o s e t r u s t i n g r e l a t i o n s h i p s a r e w h a t e n -a b l e d t h e l a n d l e s s p e o p l e o f C h e n g a r a t o t i e t h o s e s a r i s a r o u n d t h e i r t h r o a t s a s t h e p o l i c e a p p r o a c h e d . T h e i r s t r e n g t h a n d r e s i l i e n c y c a n i n s p i r e u s t o d e e p e n o u r o r g a n i z i n g , e n r i c h e d b y c r o s s - c u l t u r a l i n s i g h t s . PT
a b b y B e l l o w s wo r k s a t J ew i s h Fu n d s f o r J u s t i c e , w h e r e s h e r u n s a c amp a i g n f o r m o r e c o n s t r u c t i v e p u b l i c d i s c o u r s e
f o c u s e d o n G l e nn B e c k . P r e v i o u s l y s h e w a s t h e d i r e c t o r o f c o n g r e g a t i o n a l o r g an i z i n g a t t h e N o r t hw e s t B r o n x C o m mu n i t y an d C l e r g y C o a l i t i o n an d i s a c t i v e i n i n d e p e n d e n t h av u r o t an d m i n y an i m .
Near the Chengara Land Struggle are Chinese fishing nets in the city of Cochin, Kerala, India. Photo by Abby Bellows.
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b e e n a r o u n d a s l o n g a s t h e r e h a v e b e e n p e o p l e a c t i n g c o l l e c t i v e l y t o -w a r d s a c o m m o n g o a l . H o w e v e r , i n t h e 19 4 0 s , S a u l A l i n s k y l o o k e d t o w h a t w a s h a p p e n i n g i n t h e w o r l d o f o r g a n i z i n g a n d s a w r o o m f o r c h a n g e . P r e v i o u s l y t h e f o c u s h a d b e e n o n g a t h e r i n g i n d i v i d u a l s a n d b u i l d i n g g r o u p s o n e p e r s o n a t a t i m e . A l i n s k y s a w t h e w i s d o m a n d p o w e r o f i n s t i t u t i o n s . H e w a n t e d t o d e v e l o p a m o d e l b a s e d o n i n s t i -t u t i o n s , n o t i n d i v i d u a l s , t o d e m -o n s t r a t e t o p e o p l e t h a t t h e y h a v e m o r e p o w e r t h a n t h e y t h i n k , a n d
t o s h o w t h a t “p o w e r ” d o e s n ’t h a v e t o b e a d i r t y w o r d . I n t h e 19 6 0 s , t h i s a p p r o a c h w a s b e i n g u s e d i n c o n g r e g a t i o n s a n d f a i t h - b a s e d o r -g a n i z i n g . B y t h e 19 9 0 s , t h e r e w a s a n e w s h i f t , w i t h m o r e a n d m o r e i n d i v i d u a l s t a k i n g o n r o l e s o f l e a d -e r s h i p w i t h a s e n s e o f o w n e r s h i p a n d m i s s i o n , r a t h e r t h a n j u s t f o c u s i n g o n g a t h e r i n g m e m b e r s i n t o t h e i r c o n g r e g a t i o n . To d a y, t h e f o c u s i s a l s o o n s u s t a i n a b i l i t y, r e a c h i n g o u t t o y o u n g p e o p l e , a n d a d a p t i n g t o c h a n g e s i n t e c h n o l o g y a n d c o m -m u n i c a t i o n .
“ O n e q u e s t i o n i s , a s y o u n g p e o p l e a r e b e i n g i n s p i r e d b y t h e s e i n c r e d i b l e e x p e r i e n c e s t h e y a r e h a v i n g i n d i r e c t s e r v i c e o p p o r t u -n i t i e s , a r e t h e r e t h e n g o i n g t o b e i n s t i t u t i o n s t h e y c a n b e a p a r t o f a s t h e y g e t o l d e r t h a t r e f l e c t t h e s a m e s e n s e o f m i s s i o n a n d f u n d a -m e n t a l v a l u e s ? ” a s k e d M e i r L a k e i n , a c o m m u n i t y o r g a n i z e r w i t h o v e r 2 0 y e a r s o f e x p e r i e n c e i n t h e f i e l d , w h o i s c u r r e n t l y p a r t o f a n e f f o r t t o b u i l d a n e w n a t i o n a l c e n t e r f o r J e w i s h o r g a n i z i n g b e i n g l e d b y b o t h t h e J e w i s h O r g a n i z i n g I n i t i a t i v e
a n d J e w i s h F u n d s f o r J u s t i c e . “ I f a y o u n g p e r s o n g e t s r e a l l y p a s s i o n a t e a b o u t d i r e c t s e r v i c e a n d t h e n g e t s o l d e r a n d f e e l s s y n a g o g u e s a r e s t a l e , t h e n w e l o s e a l l t h a t p o t e n t i a l a n d e n e r g y… O u r o r g a n i z a t i o n s n e e d t o b e a b l e t o d r a w i n t h e n e w t a l e n t a n d p o t e n t i a l .”
L a k e i n h a s h i s o w n i d e a s f o r h o w t o a c h i e v e t h a t g o a l . “ F o r t h e J e w i s h w o r l d , i f w e r e a l l y w a n t t o t r a n s f o r m t h i n g s … w e c a n ’t j u s t l o o k a t o r g a n i z i n g a s o u r s o c i a l j u s t i c e p r o j e c t . We h a v e t o l o o k a t i t a s h o w w e c a n c o l l e c t i v e l y
l i v e o u t t h e s e i d e a s … t a k i n g w h a t w e ’r e l e a r n i n g a n d a p p l y i n g i t t o s t r e n g t h e n t h e w h o l e o f o u r l i v e s , a n d t h e l i v e s o f o u r c h i l d r e n a n d f a m i l i e s .”
R a b b i J o e l M o s b a c h e r , w h o s e r v e s a t c o n g r e g a t i o n B e t h H a v e r -i m S h i r S h a l o m i n M a h w a h , N J , t a l k e d t o m e a b o u t p u t t i n g i n p r a c -t i c e t h e i n t e g r a t i o n o f t h e c o m -m u n i t y o r g a n i z i n g m o d e l i n t o h i s c o n g r e g a t i o n , w h i c h i s a l s o w e l l -k n o w n f o r i t s c o n t r i b u t i o n i n t h e w o r l d o f d i r e c t s e r v i c e . W h e n I a s k e d h o w t h i s b a l a n c e b e t w e e n c o m m u n i t y o r g a n i z i n g a n d d i r e c t s e r v i c e w o r k e d , h e s h a r e d , “ O n e a i m s t o a d d r e s s i m m e d i a t e n e e d s a n d t h e o t h e r a t t e m p t s t o g e t a t r o o t c a u s e s … B o t h a r e n e e d e d a n d b o t h a r e m o d e l s t h a t s p e a k t o d i f f e r e n t s e l f - i n t e r e s t s t h a t p e o p l e h a v e , d i f -f e r e n t l e v e l s o f p a t i e n c e a n d t o l e r -a n c e … I t ’ s n o t r e a l l y c o m p e t i n g f o r t h e s a m e c o r e o f p e o p l e l i k e s o m e t i m e s h a p p e n s i n s y n a g o g u e l i f e … I t i n c r e a s e s t h e n u m b e r o f p e o p l e d o i n g j u s t i c e w o r k .”
T h e f u t u r e o f t h e s o c i a l j u s t i c e m o v e m e n t o f f e r s d i f f e r e n t b u t n o t c o n t r a d i c t o r y a p p r o a c h e s t o b u i l d a n d l e v e r a g e p o w e r t o c r e a t e l a s t i n g c h a n g e . “ W h a t i s e x c i t i n g i s t h a t m o r e a n d m o r e y o u n g J e w i s h a d u l t s a r e p a y i n g a t t e n t i o n t o t h e w o r l d a r o u n d t h e m , s e e i n g i n j u s t i c e i n t h e w o r l d a n d w a n t i n g t o d o s o m e t h i n g a b o u t i t . A n d i t m a n i f e s t s i t s e l f i n d i f f e r e n t w a y s ,” S n e i d e r m a n s a i d . “ T h e r e a r e p e o p l e w h o a r e o u t -r a g e d t h a t , i n t h e r i c h e s t c o u n t r y i n t h e w o r l d , p e o p l e c a n ’t a f f o r d f o r t h e i r k i d s t o g o t o t h e d o c t o r o r r e c e i v e t h e e d u c a t i o n t h e y n e e d a n d d e s e r v e ; t h e r e a r e y o u n g p e o p l e s a y i n g , ‘ I w a n t t o g e t i n t h e r e a n d m a k e a d i f f e r e n c e . ’ ”
W h a t m a t t e r s i s t h a t w e c o n -t i n u e t o p u r s u e t i k k u n o l a m a n d f i g h t a g a i n s t i n j u s t i c e , w i t h w h a t -e v e r m o d e l s p e a k s t o u s t h e m o s t . PT
R a c h e l va n t h y n w a s a n AV O DA H C o r p s M e m b e r i n 2 0 0 4 - 2 0 0 5 . S h e i s c u r r e n t l y
s t u d y i n g f o r r a b b i n i c o r d i n a t i o n a t H e b r e w U n i o n C o l l e g e - J e w i s h I n s t i -t u t e o f R e l i g i o n i n N e w Yo r k C i t y . S h e i s p a s s i o n a t e a b o u t c h a p l a i n c y , t h e a r t s , s o c i a l j u s t i c e , a n d J e w i s h s u m m e r c a m p .
“ Yo u c a n’ t a d d r e s s t h e c a u s e s w i t h o u t e n g a g i n g a n d o r g a n i z i n g t h o s e w h o a r e s u f f e r i n g f r o m s o c i e t y ’ s i n e q u i t i e s .”
features presentense.org/magazine
March through Boston’s Back Bay to demand full-time jobs. Photo by Amy West.
issue thirteen 201140
n a h o t J u l y n i g h t i n 19 6 4 , H e a t h e r To b i s B o o t h — a y o u n g J e w i s h c o l l e g e s t u -d e n t s p e n d i n g t h e s u m m e r a s a c i v i l r i g h t s a c t i v i s t i n
R u l e v i l l e , M i s s i s s i p p i — w r o t e a l e t t e r t o h e r b r o t h e r . B o o t h w a s o n e o f a p p r o x i m a t e l y 1 , 0 0 0 y o u n g p e o p l e w h o c a m e t o M i s s i s s i p p i a s p a r t o f t h e F r e e d o m S u m m e r P r o j -e c t t o r e g i s t e r v o t e r s , r u n F r e e -d o m S c h o o l s f o r A f r i c a n - A m e r i c a n c h i l d r e n , a n d b u i l d t h e M i s s i s s i p p i F r e e d o m D e m o c r a t i c P a r t y a s a n a l t e r n a t i v e t o t h e s t a t e ’s a l l - w h i t e D e m o c r a t i c P a r t y. I n h e r l e t t e r , s h e d e s c r i b e d t h e f e a r s h e f a c e d d a i l y a s a n a c t i v i s t i n M i s s i s s i p p i , t h e p o w e r o f s i n g i n g f r e e d o m s o n g s l i k e “ We S h a l l O v e r c o m e ” t o d i s s i p a t e t h a t f e a r , a n d h o w h e r e x p e r i e n c e p r o v o k e d r e l i g i o u s f e e l i n g s :
“ T h e r e i s a l m o s t a r e l i g i o u s q u a l i t y a b o u t s o m e o f t h e s e s o n g s , h a v i n g l i t t l e t o d o w i t h t h e u s u a l c o n c e p t o f a g o d . I t h a s t o d o w i t h t h e m i r a c l e t h a t y o u t h h a s o r g a -n i z e d t o f i g h t h a t r e d a n d i g n o r a n c e . I t h a s t o d o w i t h t h e h o l i n e s s o f t h e d i g n i t y o f m a n . T h e G o d t h a t m a k e s s u c h m i r a c l e s i s t h e G o d I d o b e l i e v e i n w h e n w e s i n g , ‘ G o d i s o n o u r s i d e ’.”
M o s t J e w i s h s o c i a l j u s t i c e a c t i v -i s t s t o d a y p r o b a b l y c a n n o t r e l a t e t o t h e f e a r t h a t B o o t h f e l t i n M i s -s i s s i p p i , k n o w i n g t h a t t h r e e o f h e r p e e r s h a d a l r e a d y b e e n m u r d e r e d f o r t h e i r a c t i v i s m . B u t t h e q u e s -t i o n s s h e r a i s e s a b o u t t h e r o l e o f G o d a n d r e l i g i o n i n w o r k i n g f o r j u s t i c e e c h o i n o u r o w n t i m e .
To d a y, a n e w g e n e r a t i o n o f a c -t i v i s t s a r e t u r n i n g t h e i r a t t e n t i o n b o t h t o t h e s p i r i t u a l a n d t e x t u a l r o o t s o f t h e J e w i s h c o m m i t m e n t t o j u s t i c e a n d t h e i r a p p l i c a t i o n t o c o n t e m p o r a r y s o c i e t y. M a n y y o u n g J e w s l e a r n a b o u t t i k k u n o l a m a n d t h e b i b l i c a l i n j u n c t i o n t o p u r s u e
complicating the narrative, learning from our past >> judith rosenbaum
Jews and sOcial Justice
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j u s t i c e , s t u d y i n g r a b b i n i c l a w s a b o u t h o w t o t r e a t w o r k e r s , s t r a n g -e r s , a n d t h e p o o r .
A l o n g t h e w a y, w e m a y a l s o h e a r a b o u t t h e J e w i s h r o l e i n A m e r i c a n s o c i a l j u s t i c e m o v e m e n t s : “ J e w s b u i l t t h e A m e r i c a n l a b o r m o v e -m e n t ! ” “ J e w s m a d e u p m o r e t h a n h a l f o f t h e w h i t e F r e e d o m R i d e r s ! ” T h i s l e g a c y i s u s u a l l y p r e s e n t e d i n c e l e b r a t o r y t e r m s , w i t h o u t e x p l o r a -
t i o n o f t h e c o m p l e x i t i e s , o b s t a c l e s , a n d f e a r s A m e r i c a n J e w s e x p e r i -e n c e d i n t h e s e m o v e m e n t s . We d o n ’t u s u a l l y h e a r t h e v o i c e s o f p e o p l e l i k e B o o t h , a n d w e ’r e p o o r e r f o r i t .
I t ’ s t i m e t o b r o a d e n t h e n a r -r a t i v e , f i l l i n g i n t h e h i s t o r i c a l c o n t e x t o f J e w s a n d s o c i a l j u s t i c e a n d e x a m i n i n g n o t o n l y t h e l e a d e r -s h i p o f J e w s i n m a n y s o c i a l j u s t i c e m o v e m e n t s b u t a l s o t h e c h a l l e n g e s t h e y h a v e f a c e d . T h e i r s t o r i e s a r e r e l e v a n t t o o u r o w n i d e n t i t i e s a s J e w s a n d a s A m e r i c a n s a n d c a n h e l p i l l u m i n a t e t h e c o n t e m p o r a r y p o l i -t i c s o f s o c i a l c h a n g e .
C o n s i d e r t h e C i v i l R i g h t s M o v e -
I t ’ s t i m e t o b r o a d e n t h e n a r r a t i v e .
Heather Tobis Booth playing guitar for Fannie Lou Hamer during the Freedom Summer Project in Mississippi, 1964. Copyright Wallace Roberts.
presentense.org/magazine features
issue thirteen 2011 41
m e n t . W h i l e s o m e J e w s — l i k e B o o t h a n d h e r m a r t y r e d f e l l o w F r e e d o m S u m m e r a c t i v i s t s — w e r e o n t h e f r o n t l i n e s , o t h e r s , s u c h a s s o m e S o u t h -e r n J e w s , w e r e a m b i v a l e n t a t b e s t , s t r u g g l i n g t o b a l a n c e e t h i c s w i t h c o n c e r n s f o r t h e i r o w n p h y s i c a l a n d e c o n o m i c s e c u r i t y. I n 19 5 6 , f o r e x -a m p l e , t h e H e b r e w U n i o n C o n g r e g a -
t i o n i n G r e e n v i l l e , M i s s i s s i p p i , w r o t e a l e t t e r t o t h e R e -f o r m M o v e m e n t ’s U n i o n o f A m e r i c a n H e b r e w C o n g r e g a -t i o n s , d e f e n d i n g s e g r e g a t i o n a n d u r g i n g “ t h a t y o u r f i n e o r g a n i z a t i o n n o t e m b a r r a s s a n d i n j u r e t h e J e w s o f t h i s c o m m u n i t y a n d o t h e r S o u t h e r n c o m m u n i t i e s w h o f e e l a s w e d o , b y h a v i n g i t b r o a d c a s t t h a t t h e J e w s a s a w h o l e a r e a c t i v e l y w o r k i n g t o d e s e g -r e g a t e t h e S o u t h .”
D e s p i t e w h a t w e m i g h t p r e f e r t o r e m e m b e r , A m e r i c a n J e w s w e r e n o t o f o n e m i n d a b o u t c i v i l r i g h t s .
C e r t a i n l y, s o m e J e w s w e r e d r a w n t o c i v i l r i g h t s b y J e w i s h v a l u e s o r b y t h e m e m o r y o f J e w i s h p e r s e c u t i o n . F r e e d o m S u m m e r v o l u n t e e r a n d j o u r n a l i s t P a u l C o w a n r e c a l l s o v e r -h e a r i n g a g i r l a t t h e F r e e d o m S u m -m e r t r a i n i n g i n J u n e 19 6 4 s h o u t i n g t o h e r p a r e n t s o n t h e p h o n e t h a t o f c o u r s e s h e w a s s t i l l g o i n g t o p a r t i c i p a t e d e s p i t e t h e m u r d e r o f h e r t h r e e c o l l e a g u e s : “ I f s o m e o n e i n N a z i G e r m a n y h a d d o n e w h a t w e ’r e d o i n g , y o u r b r o t h e r w o u l d s t i l l b e a l i v e t o d a y.”
O t h e r s , l i k e M e l a n i e K a y e / K a n -
t r o w i t z , j o i n e d t h e M o v e m e n t t o s e e k r e f u g e f r o m t h e s u p e r f i c i a l -i t y o f t h e i r J e w i s h c o m m u n i t i e s . S h e r e c a l l s t h e i n i t i a l i m p e t u s t o h e r c o m m i t m e n t t o c i v i l r i g h t s , “ I n t h e C i v i l R i g h t s M o v e m e n t , I c o u l d e s c a p e F l a t b u s h , m y p a r e n t s ’ c l o t h i n g s t o r e , t h e w o r l d o f w o r k -i n g - a n d l o w e r - m i d d l e - c l a s s J e w s , a w o r l d I t h o u g h t o f a s m a t e r i a l i s -t i c . . . A g a i n s t m a t e r i a l i s t i c s t o o d t h e w o r l d o f s t r u g g l e a n d c h a n g e .”
S o h o w d o t h e s e m o r e v a r i e d a c c o u n t s h e l p u s i n o u r o w n a c t i v -i s m t o d a y ? F i r s t o f a l l , w e l e a r n t o l i s t e n t o d i f f e r e n t v o i c e s t o u n d e r -s t a n d t h e t a p e s t r y o f e x p e r i e n c e s t h a t b r i n g a m o v e m e n t t o g e t h e r . We h o p e t h a t J e w i s h a c t i v i s t s t o -d a y a r e i n s p i r e d b y t h e t e x t s o f o u r t r a d i t i o n , b u t w e m u s t a l s o a c -k n o w l e d g e a n d r e s p e c t t h o s e J e w s w h o a r e m o t i v a t e d t o a c t i v i s m b y n e g a t i v e e x p e r i e n c e s w i t h i n t h e J e w i s h c o m m u n i t y.
T h o u g h t h e t e x t u r e o f t h e r e l a -t i o n s h i p b e t w e e n J e w s a n d b l a c k s h a s c h a n g e d i n t h e 35 y e a r s s i n c e t h e h e i g h t o f t h e C i v i l R i g h t s M o v e m e n t , w e ’r e s t i l l s t r u g g l i n g
w i t h s o m e o f t h e s a m e d y n a m i c s a n d c h a l l e n g e s , s u c h a s s u s p i c i o n o f t h e o t h e r o r t h e s t i n g o f h i g h e x p e c t a t i o n s t h a t h a v e n o t b e e n m e t . T h e w o r d s o f L e w, a F r e e -d o m S u m m e r a c t i v i s t w h o w r o t e h o m e a b o u t t h e l a c k o f t r u s t a m o n g w h i t e s a n d b l a c k s i n t h e M o v e m e n t , m i g h t r e s o n a t e w i t h t o d a y ’s a c t i v -i s t s n e g o t i a t i n g t h e r o c k y t e r r a i n o f i n t e r r a c i a l c o o p e r a t i o n : “ R i g h t n o w w e d o n ’t k n o w w h a t i t i s t o b e a N e g r o a n d e v e n i f w e d i d , t h e N e g r o e s h e r e w o u l d n o t a c c e p t u s . I t ’ s t h e o l d c a s e o f h a v i n g t o p r o v e o u r s e l v e s … I n t e l l e c t u a l l y, I t h i n k m a n y o f u s w h i t e s c a n u n d e r s t a n d t h e N e g r o e s ’ r e s e n t m e n t , b u t e m o -
t i o n a l l y w e w a n t t o b e ‘ a c c e p t e d ’ a t f a c e v a l u e .”
T h e C i v i l R i g h t s M o v e m e n t c a n a l s o h e l p u s b e t t e r u n d e r s t a n d h o w t o w o r k i n o u r c u r r e n t m u l t i c u l t u r a l c o n t e x t . D e b r a S c h u l t z , a u t h o r o f G o i n g S o u t h : J e w i s h Wo m e n i n t h e C i v i l R i g h t s M o v e m e n t , e x p l a i n s w h a t t h e e x p e r i e n c e o f J e w s i n t h e M o v e m e n t c a n t e a c h u s t o d a y : “ T h e s t o r y o f J e w s a n d t h e C i v i l R i g h t s M o v e m e n t d e m o n s t r a t e s h o w t o p r a c t i c e w h a t m a y b e t h e k e y p o -l i t i c a l s k i l l o f t h e 21 s t c e n t u r y — t h e a b i l i t y t o e m p a t h i z e w i t h a n d b e a n a l l y t o p e o p l e w h o d i f f e r f r o m o n e s e l f o n t h e b a s i s o f r a c e , e t h n i c -i t y, r e l i g i o n , n a t i o n a l i t y, g e n d e r , s e x u a l i d e n t i t y, s o c i o e c o n o m i c s t a -t u s , a n d g e o g r a p h i c l o c a t i o n .” I n a n i n c r e a s i n g l y d i v e r s e a n d g l o b a l i z i n g w o r l d , t h i s l e s s o n w i l l o n l y b e c o m e m o r e e s s e n t i a l .
F i n a l l y, t h o u g h i t ’ s g r e a t t o c e l e b r a t e J e w i s h h e r o e s , s o m e t i m e s c e l e b r a t i n g o r d i n a r y f o l k s c a n b e e v e n m o r e i n s p i r i n g . B a r b a r a R o s e n -b l i t , a f i f t h - g e n e r a t i o n S o u t h e r n e r a n d t e a c h e r a t t h e We b e r S c h o o l , a J e w i s h h i g h s c h o o l i n A t l a n t a , r e -c e n t l y t a u g h t a b o u t t h e C i v i l R i g h t s M o v e m e n t u s i n g L i v i n g t h e L e g a c y , a n o n l i n e s o c i a l j u s t i c e c u r r i c u l u m f r o m t h e J e w i s h Wo m e n ’s A r c h i v e . “ We n e e d t o k n o w w h a t d e e p l y o r -d i n a r y f e l l o w h u m a n b e i n g s c a n a c h i e v e — h e r o i c b e h a v i o r m o d e l e d b y o r d i n a r y p e o p l e , d e m o n s t r a t i n g w h a t i t m e a n s t o b e i n a c o m p l i c a t e d s i t u a t i o n a n d k n o w t h a t t h e r e a r e t i m e s t h a t a c t i o n t r u m p s d e b a t e ,” s h e s a y s .
B e i n g a J e w i s h s o c i a l j u s t i c e a c t i v i s t c a n r a i s e m o r e q u e s t i o n s t h a n a n s w e r s : W h a t ’s J e w i s h a b o u t t h i s w o r k ? W h a t ’s t h e r o l e o f r e l i -g i o n i n s o c i a l c h a n g e ? W h e r e i s G o d i n a l l o f t h i s ? T h e s e q u e s t i o n s a r e p r e s s i n g , b u t t h e y a r e n o t n e w. I n s e e k i n g a n s w e r s , w e w i l l e n r i c h t h e c o n v e r s a t i o n i f w e a l l o w t h e v o i c e s o f h i s t o r y — v o i c e s l i k e B o o t h ’s — t o m i n g l e w i t h o u r o w n . PT
J u d i t h R o s e n b a u m , P h D , i s d i r e c t o r o f p u b l i c h i s t o r y a t t h e J e w i s h Wo m e n ’ s A r c h i v e
a n d c o - au t h o r o f L i v i n g t h e L e g a c y : A J e w i s h S o c i a l J u s t i c e Ed u c a t i o n P r o j e c t ( j w a . o r g / l i v i n g t h e l e g a c y ) .
T h e s t o r y o f J e w s a n d t h e C i v i l R i g h t s M o v e m e n t d e m o n s t r a t e s h o w t o p r a c t i c e w h a t m a y b e t h e k e y p o l i t i c a l s k i l l o f t h e 21s t c e n t u r y .
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y f i r s t j o b o u t o f c o l l e g e w a s w i t h a n o n p r o f i t o r -g a n i z a t i o n t h a t h a d a n a m a z i n g v i s i o n s t a t e m e n t ,
e x t r e m e l y h i g h s t a f f t u r n o v e r , a n d a b o s s t h a t v i e w e d a “ l i v e - w o r k b a l -a n c e ” a s l a z y. I t ’ s n o t a n e w s t o r y : O r g a n i z a t i o n s b u i l t o n m i s s i o n s o f p e a c e a n d j u s t i c e o f t e n d o n ’t h a v e e i t h e r i n t h e i r w o r k c u l t u r e o r s t a f f r e l a t i o n s . A c t i v i s t s b u r n o u t a f t e r y e a r s o f w o r k f u e l e d a l m o s t e n t i r e l y b y o u t r a g e . We s e e c y c l e s o f a c t i v -i s m a n d a p a t h y g e n e r a t i o n a l l y a n d i n o u r o w n l i v e s , b u t t h e r e s e e m s t o b e s o m e t h i n g n e w h a p p e n i n g . A y o u n g e r g e n e r a t i o n o f J e w s i s f i n d -i n g d e e p m e a n i n g a n d r e l e v a n c e i n u s i n g c o n t e m p l a t i v e a n d m e d i t a t i o n p r a c t i c e s n o t o n l y t o g o s e a r c h i n g f o r i n n e r p e a c e , b u t a l s o t o u s e t h a t s e n s e o f r o o t e d n e s s a n d e n g a g e d J e w i s h s p i r i t u a l i t y t o i n f o r m t h e i r w o r k i n t h e w o r l d .
I s p e n t m y t e e n s a n d m o s t o f m y t w e n t i e s p r o t e s t i n g , f i g h t i n g f o r
meditating on change >> alison laichter
sPiRituality and activism
M c h a n g e , t r y i n g t o s a v e t h e w o r l d (w h a t e v e r t h a t m e a n s ) , a n d t h e n a t s o m e p o i n t I g o t t i r e d o f b e i n g a n g r y. T h r o u g h m y o w n p e r s o n a l m e d i t a t i o n p r a c t i c e , I s t a r t e d t o s e e t h a t m y o u t r a g e w a s n o t r e a l l y s e r v i n g m e , o r t h e w o r l d . A s R a -c h e l C o w a n , e x e c u t i v e d i r e c t o r o f t h e I n s t i t u t e f o r J e w i s h S p i r i t u a l -i t y ( I J S ) , t o l d m e o n c e , “ a n g e r i s a g r e a t c a t a l y s t a n d h o r r i b l e f u e l .”
“ I n t h e k i n d o f a c t i v i s m I ’v e
b e e n i n v o l v e d i n , t h e p u r s u i t s t h a t h a v e i n v o l v e d s p i r i t u a l i t y l i k e c a n -d l e l i t v i g i l s a n d i n t e r f a i t h r e l a t i o n s h a v e s h a r p l y c o n t r a s t e d w i t h g o -i n g t o a D a r f u r o r l a b o r r a l l y. T h e f o r m e r a r e n ’t m o t i v a t e d b y a n g e r ,” s a y s L e e L e v i t e r , a 25 - y e a r - o l d l a w s t u d e n t a n d a c t i v e p a r t i c i p a n t a t t h e J e w i s h M e d i t a t i o n C e n t e r ( J M C )
o f B r o o k l y n . “ I ’v e s e e n t h e d i v i -s i v e n e s s t h a t c o m e s f r o m a c t i v i s m f u e l e d b y a n g e r , a n d i t ’ s v e r y d i s -t a s t e f u l . To t h e e x t e n t t h a t o u r g e n e r a t i o n i s m o r e e x p o s e d t o m e d i -t a t i v e p r a c t i c e s a n d m o r e w i l l i n g t o i n t e g r a t e i t i n t o o u r o w n l i v e s , w e ’r e l o o k i n g f o r a n e w w a y t o a c h i e v e t h e s a m e r e s u l t s .”
J u d a i s m h a s a v e r y l o n g h i s t o r y o f p r a c t i c e s t h a t i n v o l v e r e f l e c t i o n a n d m e d i t a t i o n . F o r t h o u s a n d s
o f y e a r s , t h e r e h a v e b e e n J e w i s h t e a c h e r s i n e v e r y p a r t o f t h e w o r l d t e a c h i n g m e d i t a t i o n , K a b b a l a h , m y s t i c i s m , a n d d e e p l y m e a n i n g f u l a n d p e r s o n a l J e w i s h c o n t e m p l a t i v e p r a c t i c e s . R e f l e c t i v e p r a c t i c e s h a v e b e e n i n t r o d u c e d i n t o c u t t i n g - e d g e l e a d e r s h i p p r o g r a m s s u c h a s J e w i s h F u n d s f o r J u s t i c e ’s S e l a h p r o g r a m
A c t i v i s t s b u r n o u t a f t e r y e a r s o f w o r k f u e l e d a l m o s t e n t i r e l y b y o u t r a g e .
Meditation at the Isabella Freedman Jewish Retreat Center. Photos provided by the Isabella Freedman Jewish Retreat Center.
presentense.org/magazine features
issue thirteen 2011 43
s a c r i f i c e e v e r y t h i n g f o r a c a u s e . M e d i t a t i o n d o e s n ’t n e c e s s a r i l y r e -p l a c e t h e m o t i v a t i o n o f o u t r a g e ; i t h e l p s c h a n n e l t h a t i m p e t u s i n a h e a l t h i e r a n d m o r e e f f e c t i v e w a y. C o n t e m p l a t i v e p r a c t i c e m a y s e e m v e r y i n d i v i d u a l - f o c u s e d , b u t w h e n y o u f e e l c o n n e c t e d t o y o u r s o u r c e , t o d i v i n i t y, t h e r e ’s n o d i s c o n n e c t i o n b e t w e e n y o u a n d e v e r y o t h e r b e i n g i n t h e w o r l d . L e a r n i n g t o l i v e f u l l y i n t h e p r e s e n t t e n s e s t r e n g t h e n s y o u r a b i l i t y t o t r u l y s e e t h e w h o l e p i c t u r e , t o a p p r o a c h i n j u s t i c e w i t h c o m p a s s i o n . T h r o u g h t h a t p r a c t i c e c o m e s t h e s t r e n g t h t o s u s t a i n a b l y p r a c t i c e t i k k u n o l a m a n d h o l d s u f -f e r i n g a l o n g w i t h h o p e . B y c r e a t i n g l i v e s a n d w o r k i n f u s e d w i t h r e f l e c -t i o n , w e a r e c r e a t i n g t h e w o r l d i n w h i c h w e w a n t t o l i v e . PT
a l i s o n l a i c h t e r i s t h e e x e c u -t i v e d i r e c t o r o f t h e J e w i s h M e d i t a t i o n C e n t e r o f B r o o k -
l y n .
w h a t i m p a c t y o u m a d e . I t ’ s h a r d t o s e e w h a t ’s r e a l l y g o i n g o n , a n d I ’v e q u e s t i o n e d w h e t h e r I ’m w a s t i n g m y t i m e ,” s a y s D a n S i e r a d s k i , 31 , a d i g i t a l s t r a t e g i s t f o r J e w i s h n o n -p r o f i t s , J e w i s h c o m m u n i t y a c t i v i s t , a n d N Y C P r e s e nTe n s e f e l l o w.
M e d i t a t i o n i s o n e w a y t o p r e -v e n t o r m e d i a t e b u r n o u t . “ G e n e r -a l l y, p r a c t i c e s t h a t h e i g h t e n a w a r e -n e s s o f m i n d a n d a w a r e n e s s o f b o d y e n c o u r a g e a h e i g h t e n e d a b i l i t y t o t r a c k s t r e s s a n d e x h a u s t i o n ,” s a y s B e n j a m i n R o s s , c h i e f o f f i e l d o p -e r a t i o n s o f J e w i s h F u n d s f o r J u s -t i c e . “ M y m e d i t a t i o n p r a c t i c e h a s b e c o m e t h e g r o u n d i n g f r o m w h i c h I a c t i n t h e w o r l d . A s m y p r a c t i c e h a s d e e p e n e d , s o h a s m y c a p a c i t y t o h o l d t e n s i o n a n d u n c e r t a i n t y, c o m m u n i c a t e a u t h e n t i c a l l y, a n d b e m o r e c o m p a s s i o n a t e . A l l o f t h i s h a s m a d e m e a m o r e s k i l l f u l a n d e f f e c -t i v e l e a d e r f o r c h a n g e .”
“ [ J e w i s h c o n t e m p l a t i v e p r a c -
t i c e ] c a n r e m i n d u s t h a t w e a r e n o t a l o n e a n d t h a t e v e r y t h i n g i s n o t u p t o u s a l o n e t o f i x ,” R a b b i S h e i l a Pe l t z We i n b e r g , a l e a d -i n g J e w i s h m e d i t a t i o n t e a c h e r , a c t i v i s t , a n d f a c u l t y m e m b e r o f I J S , s a y s . “ S p i r i t u a l p r a c -t i c e n o u r i s h e s o u r a b i l -i t y t o r i d e t h e s t o r m s o f l i f e , t o a s s e s s w h e n t o a c t a n d w h e n t o r e -l a x . T h e r e i s a r h y t h m t o l i f e t h a t w e l e a r n a n d d e v e l o p t h r o u g h o u r p r a c t i c e , w h i c h c a n b e n o u r i s h i n g w h e n e n g a g e d i n c h a l -l e n g i n g a n d d e m a n d i n g w o r k .”
T h i s i d e a o f b e -i n g n o u r i s h e d a n d e n g a g e d b y a c t i v i s m i s v e r y d i f f e r e n t f r o m t h e t y p i c a l i m a g e o f a m a r t y r w i l l i n g t o
f o r J e w i s h s o c i a l j u s t i c e l e a d e r s , t h r o u g h r e t r e a t s a t I s a b e l l a F r e e d -m a n J e w i s h R e t r e a t C e n t e r , a n d b y o r g a n i z a t i o n s l i k e I J S , J M C , A w a k e n e d H e a r t P r o j e c t , a n d o t h -e r s . We ’v e r e a l i z e d t h a t w e n e e d l e a d e r s w h o h a v e t h e c a p a c i t y t o l i s t e n a n d f e e l s u p p o r t e d i n t h e i r w o r k a n d w o r l d .
“ I t ’ s t o t a l l y a g e n e r a t i o n a l t h i n g ,” s a y s R a b b i B r e n t S p o d e k , 35 , f o u n d e r a n d d i r e c t o r o f E m e k P r o j e c t . “ I n e a r l i e r g e n e r a t i o n s , t h e r e w a s a s e n s e o f ‘ I ’m J e w i s h , b u t I ’m n o t r e l i g i o u s , ’ m e a n i n g ‘ I ’m s e c u l a r a n d h a v e a h i s t o r y a n d c u l -t u r a l r e l a t i o n s h i p w i t h J u d a i s m a n d a b e l i e f i n j u s t i c e t h r o u g h t h a t . ’… O u r g e n e r a t i o n w a n t s t o m i n e t h e J e w i s h t r a d i t i o n f o r m e a n i n g f u l e x p e r i e n c e . We a r e i n t e r e s t e d i n f o r m a l J e w i s h p r a c t i c e o n l y i f i t b r i n g s u s d e e p e r s p i r i t u a l m e a n -i n g . We a r e m u c h m o r e c o m f o r t a b l e w i t h t h a t l a n g u a g e t h a n p r e v i o u s
g e n e r a t i o n s .” M a n y o f u s h a v e b e e n i n s p i r e d
b y s t o r i e s o f R a b b i A b r a h a m J o s h u a H e s c h e l m a r c h i n g w i t h M L K a n d “p r a y i n g w i t h h i s l e g s ,” a n d G a n -d h i ’s c a l l t o “ b e t h e c h a n g e y o u w a n t t o s e e i n t h e w o r l d ,” b u t i t ’ s d i f f i c u l t t o f i g u r e o u t h o w t o d o i t a l l w i t h o u t g e t t i n g s w e p t u p i n t h e f i g h t a n d n o t f e e l t h e c o m b i n a -t i o n o f t h e w o r l d o n o u r s h o u l d e r s a n d o u r i n a b i l i t y t o d o e n o u g h . O p e r a t i n g u n d e r t h e J e w i s h f r a m e -w o r k o f R a b b i Ta r f o n — “ Yo u a r e n o t o b l i g a t e d t o f i n i s h t h e w o r k ; n e i t h e r a r e y o u f r e e t o d e s i s t f r o m i t ” ( P i r k e i Av o t 2 : 21) — c a n b e c o m -p l e t e l y o v e r w h e l m i n g a n d l e a d t o b u r n o u t .
O f t e n b u r n o u t s t e m s f r o m n o t s e e i n g r e s u l t s . “ B u r n o u t h a s a l o t t o d o w i t h n o t s e e i n g t h e f r u i t s o f y o u r e f f o r t s , n o t b e i n g a b l e t o m e a s u r e y o u r i m p a c t i n m e a n i n g f u l w a y s . I c a n a s s u m e a n d t a k e c r e d i t f o r w h a t e v e r I w a n t t o i m a g i n e m y a c -t i v i s m b e i n g r e s p o n s i b l e f o r , b u t a t t h e e n d o f t h e d a y, y o u d o n ’t k n o w
We’ v e r e a l i z e d t h a t w e n e e d l e a d e r s w h o h a v e t h e c a p a c i t y t o l i s t e n a n d f e e l s u p p o r t e d i n t h e i r w o r k a n d w o r l d .
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h e n I w a s t w e n t y -t h r e e y e a r s o l d , I b e -g a n w r i t i n g H u s h ,” t h e a u t h o r o f H u s h w r i t e s i n a p o s t -
s c r i p t t o t h e n o v e l . “ I t w a s n ’t a b o o k b a c k t h e n ; i t w a s o n l y a s t o r y. M y s t o r y. I t b e c a m e m y s t o r y w h e n I f i r s t l e a r n e d w h a t t h e w o r d s s e x u a l a b u s e m e a n t .” Wr i t i n g u n d e r t h e p s e u d o n y m E i s h e s C h a y i l (w o m a n o f v a l o r ) , t h e a u t h o r , w h o g r e w u p w i t h i n t h e i n v i s i b l e w a l l s o f C h a s -s i d i c B r o o k l y n , b o l d l y a n d a u t h o r i -t a t i v e l y s p e a k s t h r o u g h t h e b o o k ’s m a i n c h a r a c t e r , G i t t e l .
G i t t e l a n d D e v o r y a r e o n l y n i n e y e a r s o l d w h e n D e v o r y, a v i c t i m o f s e x u a l a b u s e , t a k e s h e r o w n l i f e . F r o m t h a t m o m e n t o n , G i t t e l s t r u g -g l e s w i t h t h e r i g h t c o u r s e o f a c t i o n : t o r e v e a l t h e t r u t h , t h e r e b y h u r t -i n g h e r c o m m u n i t y a n d c h a l l e n g i n g e v e r y t h i n g s h e h a s e v e r b e l i e v e d , o r t o c o n c e a l i t a n d l i v e w i t h h e r o w n c o m p l i c i t y i n t h e c r i m e .
G i t t e l ’ s u l t i m a t e d e c i s i o n t o t e l l t h e t r u t h — a n d t h e w a y s h e e m p l o y s t h e w r i t t e n w o r d t o d o s o — p a r a l l e l s E i s h e s C h a y i l ’ s o w n r e a l - l i f e d e c i s i o n a n d a c t i o n . B o t h a r e c a l l e d t o b r i n g a w a r e n e s s t o a p e r v a s i v e p r o b l e m a n d t o b r i n g t h e w r o n g d o e r s t o j u s t i c e . I n t h i s w a y, H u s h d e m o n s t r a t e s t h e p o w e r o f t h e a r t s a s a v e h i c l e f o r s o c i a l c h a n g e a n d a c t i o n .
B u t H u s h i s s o m u c h m o r e t h a n a c a l l f o r j u s t i c e , a n d i t i s f a r f r o m a s i m p l i f i e d a n d v i n d i c t i v e p o r -
t r a i t o f h e r o e s a n d v i l l a i n s . E m -b e d d e d i n t h e n a r r a t i v e i s G i t t e l ’ s s t r u g g l e w i t h c o m m u n i t y, t r u t h , a n d u l t i m a t e l y, G o d . T h e q u e s t i o n o f G o d ’s r o l e i n t h e w o r l d i s b o t h a b a s i c a n d p r o f o u n d l y c h a l l e n g i n g o n e f o r a c t i v i s t s o f f a i t h . W h e r e i s G o d a m o n g t h e s h a r d s o f a b r o k e n w o r l d , a n d a l l t h e m o r e s o a m o n g a b r o k e n c o m m u n i t y, a b r o k e n f a m -i l y ? W h a t r o l e d o h u m a n s p l a y i n t h i s c o s m i c d r a m a ?
A c c o r d i n g t o y o u n g G i t t e l ’ s b l a c k - a n d - w h i t e w o r l d , G o d l i v e s i n B r o o k l y n ; t h e g o y i s h e ( n o n - J e w i s h ) w o r l d o u t s i d e i s u n h o l y a n d u n s a f e . A s G i t t e l i n f o r m s t h e r e a d e r , “ I h a d n e v e r b e e n o u t s i d e o f B r o o k l y n , b u t a l l J e w s k n e w t h a t B o r o u g h P a r k w a s t h e m o s t h o l y p l a c e a f t e r J e r u s a l e m . H a s h e m w a s r i g h t h e r e ,
i n o u r m i d s t , b e c a u s e t h a t ’ s w h e r e a l l t h e C h a s s i d i s h ( a n d o k a y, e v e n L i t v i s h ) Y i d e n w e r e .”
Ye t G o d ’s f a c e i s h i d d e n i n H u s h . O u t o f G i t t e l ’ s c h a r m i n g l y i n n o c e n t , s p i r i t u a l l y b i f u r c a t e d w o r l d , s h a d e s o f g r a y b e g i n t o e m e r g e . G i t t e l w a t c h e s a s h e r f a -t h e r ’s s h t r e i m e l ( h a t ) — w h e r e G i t -t e l b e l i e v e s G o d l i v e s — i s s t o l e n a n d t h r o w n i n t o o n c o m i n g t r a f -f i c : “ M a y b e H a s h e m , r e a l i z i n g H i s d a n g e r , w o u l d m a k e t h e g r e e n l i g h t t u r n r e d . . . B u t H e d i d n ’t .” E p i -s o d e s l i k e t h i s o n e c h a n g e G i t t e l : “ I w a n t e d t o t e l l m y f a t h e r t h a t i t w a s a l l m y f a u l t — m y f a u l t t h a t D e v o r y w a s d e a d , m y f a u l t t h a t H a s h e m w a s c r u s h e d c o m p l e t e l y b e n e a t h t h e w h e e l s o f t h e c a r .”
T h i s p a r a d o x — b e t w e e n G o d ’s h a n d i n a l l t h i n g s , a s G i t t e l t a k e s f o r g r a n t e d , a n d G o d ’s l a c k o f a c -
t i o n a t t h e m o s t o p p o r t u n e m o -m e n t s — i s c e n t r a l , a n d t h e a u t h o r h a n d l e s i t w i t h g r a c e . N e a r l y e v e r y c h a l l e n g e f r o m m i n o r t o m a j o r t h a t G i t t e l f a c e s s p e a k s t o t h e r e l a t i o n -s h i p b e t w e e n h u m a n s a n d G o d , f r o m h e r f i r s t a g h a s t u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f h o w b a b i e s a r e m a d e t o h e r c o n -f r o n t a t i o n w i t h b o t h C h a s s i d i c a n d a t h e i s t H o l o c a u s t s u r v i v o r s .
O n e a n s w e r , a t l e a s t , i s g i v e n b y G i t t e l ’ s f a t h e r , o n e o f t h e n o v e l ’ s h e r o e s , w h o s m i l e s a t h e r t e a r s a n d a s s u r e s h e r t h a t H a s h e m i s e v e r y -w h e r e r i g h t e o u s J e w s a r e .
W i t h i n t h e m a i n c h a r a c t e r ’ s n a r -r a t i v e a r e t h e d y n a m i s m a n d w a r m t h o f C h a s s i d i c l i f e , s p i r i t u a l c r i s i s a n d y e a r n i n g , g r a c e , f a l l , a n d r e -d e m p t i o n . A s t h e c h a p t e r s o s c i l l a t e b e t w e e n G i t t e l ’ s s w e e t a n d c o m e -
d i c c h i l d h o o d w i t h D e v o r y a n d h e r y o u n g w o m a n h o o d c o m i n g t o t e r m s w i t h h e r p a s t — w i t h D e v o r y ’s d e a t h a s t h e a p e x — t h i s t a l e n t e d s t o r y t e l l -e r e m b e d s t h e p o l a r i z e d p o s s i b i l i -t i e s o f e f f i c a c i o u s p r a y e r , m i r a c l e s , j u s t i c e , a n d a b o v e a l l , G o d ’s r o l e i n t h e w o r l d .
E i s h e s C h a y i l m a s t e r f u l l y e m -p l o y s a r e f r e s h i n g l y a u t h e n t i c v o i c e w i t h o u t a n t a g o n i z i n g h e r o w n c o m -m u n i t y o r d o w n p l a y i n g t h e c o m p l e x -i t y o f t h e s p i r i t u a l p r o c e s s . W h e n G i t t e l f i n a l l y d o e s s p e a k o u t , i t i s h e r n e w a n d e q u a l l y s h e l t e r e d a n d f e a r f u l h u s b a n d w h o t u r n s o u t t o b e h e r b i g g e s t a l l y : “ ‘ Yo u a r e t h e E i s h e s C h a y i l , ’ h e s a i d . ‘ Yo u a r e t h e r e a l o n e . ’ ” PT
emily K. alhadeff is a writer and edi-tor based in Seattle, WA.
Eishes Chayil, Hush. New York: Walker and Company, 2010. 368 pp.Rev
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book review: hush >> emily k. alhadeffshades OF gRay
“WW h e r e i s G o d a m o n g t h e s h a r d s o f a b r o k e n w o r l d . . . a m o n g a b r o k e n c o m m u n i t y , a b r o k e n f a m i l y ?
presentense.org/magazine reviews
issue thirteen 2011 45
O n t h e o t h e r h a n d , a n i t e m d i s -c u s s e d i n t h e b o o k t h a t r e s o n a t e d w i t h t h e p a r t i c i p a n t s w a s t h e s t e -r e o t y p e o f J e w s a s c h e a p . W h o l e s e c t i o n s o n r e l i g i o u s a p p r o a c h e s t o f r u g a l i t y — f r o m J e s u s ’ t e a c h i n g s o f s i m p l i c i t y t o t h e B u d d h i s t e m p h a s i s o n n o t c o n c e r n i n g o n e s e l f d e e p l y w i t h w o r l d l y t h i n g s — h a d b e e n c u t f r o m t h e b o o k p r i o r t o p u b l i c a t i o n . Ye t We b e r , w h o i s J e w i s h , n o t e d t h a t t h i s c h a p t e r o n t h e J e w i s h s t e r e o t y p e — w h i c h a l s o a p p l i e s t o a n o t h e r s u c c e s s f u l m i n o r i t y g r o u p , C h i n e s e A m e r i c a n s — h a d b e e n t h e m o s t c o m p e l l i n g p a r t o f t h e b o o k t o w r i t e . “ W h a t ’s m o s t i n t e r e s t i n g t o m e i s m y s h a m e a r o u n d J e w s a n d m o n e y,” s h e c o m m e n t e d . T h i s s e n t i -m e n t m a y r e s o n a t e w i t h t h o s e c o n -c e r n e d w i t h p o t e n t i a l a n t i - S e m i t i c c r i t i c i s m s o f J e w s ’ b e h a v i o r a r o u n d m o n e y, p a r t i c u l a r l y i n t h e e r a o f B e r n i e M a d o f f .
Ye t f o r t h e m a n y J e w s w h o a r e p o o r , b e i n g c h e a p i s n o t a c h o i c e . “ We g e t $ 2 c h e c k s i n t h e m a i l ,” s a i d A J W S s t a f f m e m b e r L a u r e n M i l l e r , 3 2 , w h o v o u c h e d f o r t h e g e n e r o s i t y o f J e w i s h d o n o r s t o p h i l a n t h r o p i c c a u s e s a t a l l i n c o m e l e v e l s .
S t a r t i n g w i t h t h e P u r i t a n s a n d B e n j a m i n F r a n k l i n , We b e r t r a i n s h e r s h a r p h i s t o r i c a l e y e o n t h e i n -t e r n a l s t r u g g l e s w i t h w e a l t h t h a t h a v e d e f i n e d U S c u l t u r e o v e r t h e c e n t u r i e s . I n w a r t i m e , i t i s t r a d i -t i o n a l l y a m o r a l i m p e r a t i v e t o s a v e m o n e y a n d m a t e r i a l s ; i n p e a c e t i m e , t h o s e w h o d o n o t b u y, b u y, b u y c a n b e c o n s i d e r e d p e r s o n a l l y r e s p o n s i -b l e f o r t h e s t a g n a t i o n o f t h e n a t i o n ’s e c o n o m y, n o t t o m e n t i o n u n p a t r i -o t i c . I n a d d i t i o n , A m e r i c a n s ’ s a v -i n g r a t e s h a v e p l u n g e d d r a s t i c a l l y o v e r t h e y e a r s , e s p e c i a l l y a m o n g
r o w i n g u p , L a u r e n We b e r r a -t i o n e d s h o w e r t i m e , w o r e e x -t r a s w e a t e r s i n d o o r s t o f e n d o f f t h e c h i l l o f h e r f a i n t -
l y h e a t e d h o u s e , a n d w a s d r i v e n a r o u n d t o w n w i t h h e r f a t h e r u s i n g h a n d s i g n a l s d u r i n g t u r n s t o e x t e n d t h e l i f e o f t h e c a r ’ s l i g h t s . We b e r ’s f a m i l y w a s n e i t h e r p o o r n o r e c o -c o n s c i o u s a h e a d o f i t s t i m e . H e r f a m i l y w a s , t o p u t i t b l u n t l y, c h e a p .
We b e r ’s I n C h e a p We Tr u s t : T h e S t o r y o f a M i s u n d e r s t o o d A m e r i c a n V i r t u e , i n s p i r e d b y h e r o w n (u n d e r )s p e n d i n g h a b i t s a n d c h i l d h o o d o f s c r i m p i n g a t t h e b e h e s t o f h e r “m a -n i a c a l l y c h e a p ” f a t h e r , t r a c e s t h e p e n d u l u m s w i n g b e t w e e n f r u g a l -i t y a n d c o n s p i c u o u s c o n s u m p t i o n t h r o u g h A m e r i c a n h i s t o r y.
We b e r ’s b o o k w a s r e c e n t l y d i s -c u s s e d a t t h e Pe o p l e o f t h e B o o k C l u b , w h e r e p a r t i c i p a n t s r e a d a n d d i s c u s s f i c t i o n a n d n o n f i c t i o n w o r k s w i t h a t h e m e o f j u s t i c e . F o r t h e A J W S a n d AVO DA H s t a f f , a l u m n i , a n d o t h e r m e m b e r s o f t h e P u r s u e : A c t i o n f o r a J u s t Wo r l d c o m m u n i t y w h o a t t e n d , i t i s a n o p p o r t u n i t y t o r e l a t e t o o n e a n o t h e r b e y o n d w o r k o r f o r m a l s e t t i n g s w h e r e t h e y o t h -e r w i s e i n t e r a c t , s h a r i n g p e r s o n a l r e f l e c t i o n s o n l i t e r a r y t e x t s . T h e f o r m a t i o n o f t h e b o o k c l u b w a s i n -s p i r e d b y t h e J e w i s h t r a d i t i o n o f g r a p p l i n g w i t h t e x t a n d w i t h o t h e r p e o p l e , i n a n e x p a n d e d n o t i o n o f h e v r u t a s t u d y : l e a r n i n g w i t h o t h -e r s , r a t h e r t h a n a l o n e , e x p a n d s t h e d i s c o v e r y o f n e w i n s i g h t s . A l l d i s -c u s s i o n s a r e l e d b y a k n o w l e d g e a b l e f a c i l i t a t o r , a n d t h i s c o n v e r s a t i o n w a s n o e x c e p t i o n : We b e r h e r s e l f j o i n e d t h e g r o u p .
C h e a p n e s s a s a j u s t i c e i s s u e b r o u g h t u p f o r p a r t i c i p a n t s e v e r y -t h i n g f r o m t h e s t r i k i n g e c o n o m i c i n e q u i t i e s i n t h e U S t o d a y t o p e r -s o n a l s t r u g g l e s w i t h d i s p l a y s o f w e a l t h i n t h e i r o w n c o m m u n i t i e s . “ I w i s h t h e r e w a s m o r e o f a m o v e -m e n t i n J u d a i s m t o l i v e w i t h i n y o u r m e a n s ,” o n e p a r t i c i p a n t e x p r e s s e d .
book review: in cheap we trust >> suzanne lipkinJust cheaP
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t h e m i d d l e a n d w o r k i n g c l a s s e s , l e a v i n g p e o p l e e v e n m o r e v u l n e r -a b l e t o f i n a n c i a l t u r m o i l . N o w o n -d e r t h e t e n s i o n b e t w e e n s p e n d i n g a n d s a v i n g r e m a i n s f o r m a n y t o d a y, e s p e c i a l l y i n t h e w a k e o f r e c e n t r e c e s s i o n s .
M o r e t h a n a m a t t e r o f m a n a g i n g p e r s o n a l f i n a n c e s , i d e a s f o r t a k i n g s t e p s t o w a r d a t h r i f t i e r l i f e s t y l e m a y b e t h e m o t i v a t i o n a n d m e a n s f o r r e s p o n d i n g t o a n i n c r e a s i n g l y i n e q u i t a b l e , m a t e r i a l i s t i c w a y o f l i v i n g . I n a c u l t u r e t h a t e m p h a s i z e s t h e t h r i l l s o f p e r s o n a l c o n s u m p t i o n , t h e r i s i n g n o t o r i e t y o f t h e f r e e g a n s — w h o s c a v e n g e f o o d f r o m c a s t - o f f s o f o v e r p r o d u c t i o n — a c c e n t u a t e s t h e e n v i r o n m e n t a l u n s u s t a i n a b i l i t y o f c u r r e n t p r o d u c t i o n a n d c o n s u m p -t i o n r a t e s .
We b e r e x p l a i n e d t o t h e g r o u p t h a t s h e h o p e s t h e b o o k w i l l i n -f l u e n c e c o n v e r s a t i o n s a b o u t o u r e c o n o m y a n d c a u s e p e o p l e t o r e -t h i n k c o n s u m p t i o n . S h e h o p e s h e r r e a d e r s w i l l a s k , “ W h a t i s a m e a n -i n g f u l l i f e ? ”
“ I ’m n o t o p p o s e d t o s p e n d i n g ,” s h e s a i d , “ b u t i t ’ s a b o u t d o i n g s o t h o u g h t f u l l y a n d c a r e f u l l y, t h i n k -i n g a b o u t s h o r t - t e r m w a n t s v e r s u s l o n g - t e r m g o a l s .” PT
S u z a n n e l i p k i n w o r k s f o r P u r -s u e : A c t i o n f o r a J u s t Wo r l d , a p r o j e c t o f A J W S a n d AV O DA H :
T h e J e w i s h S e r v i c e C o r p s .
Lauren Weber, In Cheap We Trust: The Story of a Misunderstood American Virtue. New York: Little, Brown, and Company, 2009. 320 pp.
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m e r S e l a a n d h i s t e a m o f c h e f s a r e e x p e r t s i n c r e a t -i n g a p p e t i z i n g m e a l s d e -s i g n e d t o b e e n j o y e d w i t h -
o u t b e i n g s e e n . S e l a i s t h e m a n a g e r a t B l a c k o u t , a n u p s c a l e r e s t a u r a n t i n te l a v i v ’ s n a l a g a ’a t C e n t e r w h e r e p a t r o n s e a t i n t h e d a r k . f o u n d e d o n t h e b a s i c b e l i e f t h a t e v e r y h u m a n b e i n g h a s t h e r i g h t t o c o n t r i b u t e t o s o c i e t y , t h e n a l a g a ’a t C e n t e r (n a l a g a ’a t m e a n s “ p l e a s e t o u c h ” i n h e b r e w) , w o r k s w i t h b l i n d , d e a f , a n d d e a f - b l i n d f o l k s f r o m a c r o s s I s r a e l , e m p o w e r i n g t h e m t o b e p r o -d u c t i v e m e m b e r s o f s o c i e t y w h i l e p r o m o t i n g e x p a n d e d a w a r e n e s s i n t h e c o m m u n i t y .
S o h o w d o e s o n e e a t i n a p i t c h -b l a c k r e s t a u r a n t ? G u e s t s a r e l e d c o n g a - l i n e s t y l e t o t h e t a b l e b y t h e i r w a i t e r s , w h o e x p l a i n h o w t o n a v i g a t e t h r o u g h t h e d i n i n g r o o m . o n c e s e a t e d , w a i t e r s i n s t r u c t g u e s t s o n t h e f i n e r p o i n t s o f d i n -i n g i n t h e d a r k , s u c h a s p o u r i n g a g l a s s o f w a t e r . S i n c e t h e r e i s n o t e n o u g h t i m e t o l e a r n B r a i l l e b e f o r e d i n n e r , m e a l s a r e p r e - o r d e r e d — a n d o n c e t h e m e a l s a r r i v e , t h i n g s s t a r t t o g e t i n t e r e s t i n g . I t ’ s c l u m s y w o r k e a t i n g i n t h e d a r k f o r t h e f i r s t t i m e . a s B e c c a n a g o r s k y , 3 0 , s a y s , “ yo u s o r t o f e a t h a l f w i t h y o u r h a n d s b e c a u s e i f f o o d f a l l s o f f y o u r f o r k , y o u d o n ’ t r e a l l y h a v e a n y w a y t o l o c a t e i t . ” l u c k i l y , B l a c k o u t p r o -v i d e s p l e n t y o f n a p k i n s t o a v o i d t r o u b l e w h e n c u s t o m e r s ’ h a n d s a n d p a l a t e s a r e o n a d v e n t u r e .
u p s c a l e t o u c h e s , l i k e c l o t h n a p k i n s a n d a t t e n t i v e , d e d i c a t e d w a i t s t a f f , a r e o n e w a y B l a c k o u t c r e a t e s a m o r e s o p h i s t i c a t e d a t m o -s p h e r e . a n o t h e r i s t h e m e n u , w h i c h r e l i e s h e a v i l y o n t e x t u r e s t o m a k e u p f o r t r a d i t i o n a l v i s u a l c u e s l i k e g a r n i s h a n d p r e s e n t a t i o n . I n v e n t i v e d i s h e s i n c l u d e e n d i v e b o a t s f i l l e d w i t h r a d i s h s p r o u t a n d r e d o n i o n c e v i c h e (a r a w f i s h s a l a d “ c o o k e d ” i n c i t r u s j u i c e s a n d c h i l i e s ) , p i s t a -c h i o g n o c c h i i n a c r e a my p o p p y -s e e d a l m o n d s a u c e , a n d c h o c o l a t e w a l n u t i c e - c r e a m w i t h c r i s p y c o r i -a n d e r s e e d s . e a c h d i s h f e a t u r e s a
d i f f e r e n t c r u n c h y e l e m e n t . J u s t a c r o s s t h e d a r k d i v i d e r
i n n a l a g a ’a t ’ s r e n o v a t e d w a r e -h o u s e a r e t h e t a l l c e i l i n g s a n d w h i t e w a s h e d w a l l s o f C a f é K a p -i s h , B l a c k o u t ’ s s i s t e r c o f f e e h o u s e , w h e r e t h e s t a f f i s d e a f o r h e a r i n g i m p a i r e d . W i t h o u t g i v i n g a w a y t o o m u c h , i t ’ s w o r t h t h e v i s i t . I n a d d i -t i o n t o t h e t w o e a t e r i e s , n a l a g a ’a t h o s t s a p e r f o r m a n c e c e n t e r f e a t u r -i n g a t r o u p e o f d e a f - b l i n d a c t o r s . t h e c e n t e r a l s o o f f e r s a n a r r a y o f s e m i n a r s g e a r e d t o w a r d a g r e a t e r u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f t h e d e a f a n d b l i n d e x p e r i e n c e , i n c l u d i n g a o n e - d a y
s i g n l a n g u a g e c o u r s e f o r c h i l d r e n a n d w i n e - t a s t i n g a n d c l a y m o l d i n g w o r k s h o p s h e l d i n t h e d a r k .
S e l a , 3 6 , w o r k e d h i s w a y u p t h e r a n k s o f r e s t a u r a n t m a n a g e m e n t b e f o r e h e t o o k t h e h e l m a t B l a c k -o u t a n d C a f é K a p i s h i n 2 0 07. h e s a y s t h a t m o s t b l i n d I s r a e l i s a r e e n c o u r a g e d t o p u r s u e “ h a n d s - o n ” c a r e e r s l i k e m a s s a g e o r r e f l e x o l o g y , w h i l e t h e i r d e a f c o u n t e r p a r t s a r e o f t e n u s h e r e d i n t o c h e f p r o g r a m s . a t n a l a g a ’a t , t h e g o a l i s t o o f f e r e x p a n d e d c a r e e r o p p o r t u n i t i e s t o t h e i r d e a f a n d b l i n d s t a f f w h i l e c o n -c u r r e n t l y o f f e r i n g o p p o r t u n i t i e s t o t h e c o m m u n i t y f o r g r e a t e r a w a r e -n e s s o f d a y - t o - d a y l i f e f o r b l i n d a n d d e a f p e o p l e . t h e k e y t o t h e i r s u c c e s s i s t h e i r s p e c i a l i z e d , t i m e -i n t e n s i v e t r a i n i n g p r o g r a m s .
B a c k a t B l a c k o u t , 2 0 - s o m e t h i n g B r e n n a S t e i n s a y s s h e l o v e d t h e f o o d a n d t h e n a t u r a l w ay t h e m e a l g o t h e r t h i n k i n g a b o u t e v e r y d a y l i f e w i t h o u t s i g h t . S h e w a s s o e n a m o r e d w i t h h e r e x p e r i e n c e t h a t s h e w o u l d l i k e t o h e a d b a c k f o r a “ g e t - t o -k n o w - y o u ” d a t e . J u d g i n g f r o m a l l t h e l a u g h t e r a n d t h e e m p t y p l a t e s a l o n e , t h e c o m m u n i t y i s g a i n i n g f r o m t h e e x p e r i e n c e a s w e l l .
C h e c k o u t a l l t h e l a t e s t h a p -p e n i n g s , i n c l u d i n g d i n n e r t i m e s , a t w w w. n a l a g a a t . o r g . i l . t h a n k s t o o m e r S e l a f o r s h a r i n g t h e p i s t a c h i o g n o c c h i r e c i p e . PT
Melissa Meyers lives in Tel Aviv and loves crunchy food. Yum!
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blackout: dining in style in the dark >> melissa meyersblind taste test
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issue thirteen 2011 47
Pistachio gnocchi(6 servings)
Gnocchi
1 kg (2lbs) potatoes1 egg200 g (7 oz.) flour100 g (3.5 oz.) ground pistachios50 mL (1/5 c.) olive oilSalt and pepperDash of nutmeg
1. Bake the potatoes until they are soft.
2. Peel the potatoes and mash them.
3. Mix with all other ingredients; if the mixture is too sticky, add some flour.
4. Round the mixture to long round strips 1 cm (0.5 inch) wide and then cut to small cubes of about 1-2 cm (0.5 - 1 inch wide).
5. Bake the gnocchi for about 12 minutes until they stiffen.
6. Put the gnocchi in boiling water for 2-3 minutes until they float— they are ready!
Sauce
260 mL (8 oz.) heavy cream1 T butter1.5 tsp poppy seeds130 mL (0.5 cup) sliced and roasted almonds1 tsp diced fresh sage1 tsp diced fresh rosemaryDash of nutmeg
1. Melt the butter and add sage and rosemary and sauté for 1-2 minutes.
2. Add the almonds and poppy seed for another 2-3 minutes.
3. Add the cream and spices for 3-4 minutes.
4. Add the gnocchi and fry for 2 minutes.
For a BlackOut experience at home, give yourself a blindfold and let the tastes and textures work their magic! When you’re done, sign onto the PT website and tell the Nalaga’at staff how it went.
B’tayavon!
Theatrical performance at the Nalaga’at performance center. Photo provided by Nalaga’at.
elke Reva Sudin is an illustrator and contemporary Jewish art advocate based in Brooklyn, New York. View her work on
ElkeRevaSudin.com and follow her Jewish art news and resources site at JewishArtNow.com.
bac
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issue thirteen 2011 49
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