| |
On February 29th, students from Riverdale synagogues met with Areyvut for a culminating gathering in a community-wide program on hunger and poverty. Participants representing the Conservative Synagogue Adath Israel of Riverdale (CSAIR), Hebrew Institute of Riverdale, Riverdale Temple, Tehillah and Riverdale YM-YWHA united across denominational lines to join the fight against poverty. Their efforts demonstrate the communal response needed to deal with hunger and poverty in America.
 | | | Students making cards and participating in the direct service project. | | |
When students arrived at the Riverdale YM-YWHA on the morning of February 29th, they had the opportunity to expand their understanding of the issues related to hunger and poverty through text study, discussion sessions, and a video presentation provided by the Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty. Participants experienced direct service firsthand by making mishloach manot packages to deliver to local elderly who were in need of companionship during the Purim holiday.
|  | | Shira Hammerman, Special Projects Coordinator | |
Students also met face-to-face with adults who devote their lives to social justice programs, including John Hoffmann from Part of the Solution (POTS) and Barbara Deinhardt from the Jewish Fund for Justice. Participants left feeling empowered by a farewell message from Rabbi Bradley Hirschfield from CLAL-The National Jewish Center for Learning & Leadership and a member of the Areyvut Advisory Committee, that encouraged them to become actively engaged in social justice.
 | | | Rabbi Bradley Hirschfield, Vice President, CLAL-The National Jewish Center for Learning & Leadership & member of Areyvut's Advisory Committee: concluding the program.
| |
The program began several months prior to this session, when Areyvut visited each of the synagogues to introduce students to the challenges faced by those living in poverty. Student's analyzed facts and figures related to poverty in America and used traditional Jewish texts to develop a Jewish response to those in need. Participants were introduced to values such as tikkun olam (repairing the world), chessed (kindness), and tzedakah (charity) and brainstormed ways in which they can help those in need. Areyvut provided synagogue educators with resources and curriculum to stimulate additional discussion on the issues in anticipation of the community-wide culminating session, and students came to the final meeting with a diverse range of information to share with their peers.
Areyvut looks forward to continuing its relationship with each of the participating synagogues through follow-up programming over the upcoming months so that students remain engaged in the fight against hunger and poverty in America and across the world.
|
