Yesterday we spent at the JQSA which stands for Jewish queer straight alliance. It was very interesting and eye opening. We heard the stories of two women who struggled with being Jewish and lesbian  at the same time because in Judaism there are countless gender roles. Which has pushed them away from Judaism. So they joined the Jewish queer straight alliance where they were able to meet other people.  The really interesting part of the interaction is that we are trying to understand their struggles and how they got through coming out in a society that didn’t accept them. I think that it’s very unfortunate that the society that they were living in didn’t let them be themselves. We also learned very sad information that really was heart wrenching. Overall at the end of the day we came out with a really positive experience and I hope that the people who work with the alliance will be able to overcome societies boundaries and become fully embraced.

~ Zachary Carno-Harf is from Beachwood, Ohio and is in the 10th grade

Today, we helped out at Occupy Sandy, a group of people from all over America, to organize and assist in the distribution of food and supplies to victims of Superstorm Sandy.

Occupy Sandy was hit hard earlier this week, losing three of their tents, so it was crucial that we helped out to set up and reorganize the tents.  We did a variety of things, such as building tents, serving food, distributing and organizing supplies, and cleaning up the site.

Following our work, we toured a few streets of the local neighborhood, made our way down to the beach, and saw all the true devastate of the storm.  Overall, today’s trip was very meaningful, yet at the same time enjoyable; we all walked away with a great sense of pride, knowing we made a difference for many people.

Sam Roth, 15, Croton, NY

Ben Rosenbaum, 15, Mamaroneck, NY

~ Sam Roth is a Freshman at the University of Pennsylvania and Ben Rosenbaum is attending Young Judaea’s Year Course

I think that today provided me with more information about the LGBTQ community than I had before. I learned more in general about how they identify themselves and want to be identified. There is a lot that can be learned about this subject that I think is important to know. I also think it’s important for everyone to be welcoming to all people, regardless of what they identify them self as. Something that I really liked that Rabbi Rachel said was about how she always wears her rainbow pin when she goes out, but one day she felt more fragile and just didn’t want to be wearing it. However, she realized people of color can’t just choose to take off their skin, so she shouldn’t take off the pin. It represents part of who she is and that’s not something you should hide.

I also enjoyed the beach cleanup. Since I live in SoCal, I go to the beach fairly often. I always see trash on the beach when I go. It was nice to be with a big group of people and all clean it up together. Also, we had fun while doing it. Community service doesn’t have to be boring, it can be something you are passionate about and you can enjoy it. Overall, I think this was a fun day. I got to learn a lot and have a good time in the process too.

~ Hannah Meyer is a 12th grader from Oak Park, California and is a member of Young Judaea in Los Angeles.

Today we visited a Jewish queer organization called JQSA. After learning about what all of the letters in the acronym LGBTQA stood for, we examined the scale of hostility and acceptance of the queer community. This truly opened my eyes about my community back in New Jersey. My community is relatively accepting of the LGBTQ+ community but not nearly as accepting as a place such as Los Angeles. For example, there was a woman in my town who grew up as an orthodox Jew, but later came out as lesbian to her family and community. While the orthodox community did not embrace her, my conservative synagogue did, causing her to join my temple. During the presentation by JQSA I could not stop thinking about this woman and my community because it made me wonder how I could make it a more friendly and accepting place. No one wants to be pushed out of their Judaism due to an unchangeable thing in their lives. When I go back home I want to find a way to make my community as a whole a more embracing environment because I would never want to be put in a situation where I would have to choose between my true self and my religion.

~ Lyndsey Lipson is a 10th grader from East Brunswick, NJ. She is currently working on building a YJ club in her area.

Oxford Dictionary defines possibility as “a thing that may happen or be the case” (Possibility, oxforddictionaries.com). This definition explains an essential component of the impact of social action work. Today, I initially struggled with understanding how our work was directly benefiting and bettering our world. While learning from JQSA and cleaning the beach were enjoyable, there were no abundant immediate results. This concept baffled me. How was I as a part of Young Judaea making a difference? On top of this, what I struggled with was the vast amount of additional problems that felt insolvable. I was confused what the importance of our work was if the beach was just going to get trashed again or if no one directly acted on what they learned at JQSA. I wrestled with these ideas today as I was walking to the Santa Monica pier. I reflected on the experiences of the day with friends and contemplated how I could make a difference. Eventually, the work all started to make sense. This was a very small aspect of a big picture. Our work as illuminating the importance of progress. Our progress as Young Judaea isn’t enough to solve problems like trashed beaches and creating safe spaces for everyone in the LGBTQ+ community. Social action is broader than one organization. One organization can participate in bettering our world, but it is when everyone works together that we progress toward a more sustainable, eco-friendly, inclusive global community. Together we can see the possibility that our progress holds in its strides.

“Possibility.” Oxford Dictionaries. Oxford Dictionaries, n.d. Web. 27 Dec. 2016.

~Adina Ornstein-Luks is an 11th grader from Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Coming from Sprout Lake and working with Offarim (the youngest age group), I am used to having 5 six year olds hanging off of my arms and legs. So naturally, going into this trip I was nervous about working with teenagers. But once the chanichim arrived, I was pleasantly surprised by their level of maturity, concern about the world that they live in and the passion that they express about social action and Tikkun Olam (repairing the world). Being half way into the trip, I can tell you that the education provided on this trip has provoked passion, thoughtful questions, and meaningful connections to Young Judaea and Los Angeles.

Today was a very informative day for the chanichim, and also the staff. We spent our morning at the JQSA (Jewish Queer Straight Alliance), learning about the importance of inclusion and acceptance of the LQBT community. It was interesting to listen to the chanichim’s questions, which were all thought provoking and meaningful.

After that, we headed to Santa Monica to help clean up the beach that LA Young Judaea adopted this year. The teens had fun hanging out, soaking up the ((finally warm)) California sun, and helping the environment. I know the staff also enjoyed the much needed Vitamin D.

I am enjoying working with the amazing teenagers on this trip, and I look forward to the rest of the trip. The future of Young Judaea is in great hands. This generation is filled with leadership, passion, connection and understanding. May we continue to support the YJ teens as they continue to grow into young adults and beyond.

~ Sydney Bluman is a junior at Buffalo State  and a veteran staff member of Camp Young Judaea Sprout Lake.

They say it’s a small world and it truly is.  Who would have guessed that we would have had the chance to hear a Holocaust survivor’s story at the Hebrew Home after two hours of mingling with the residents this Christmas?!  We spent our day spreading cheery optimism at Hebrew Home with upbeat conversation and even some dancing.  We then moved on to Aventura Hospital, wishing ‘Happy Holidays’ to the patients through songs and cards.

What made the day an unforgettable one for me was when I was able to pass on an anecdote to a patient that I’d saved from a fortune cookie at last night’s Chinese dinnner: “G-d will give you anything that you want.”  For the patient, I’m sure she wishes for good health.  For myself, I would like a fabulous next four days.

Yesterday, my group of 7 participants and I worked on finishing Cathy’s house. This included tediously scrubbing the windows with toothbrushes in order to make sure they’d pass the lead inspection as well as laying mulch around the yard and paths to the house. Finishing up the house really put into perspective how much time and effort really goes into making a house habitable. During my group’s Sikkum Yom, everyone reflected on how they were surprised by all these necessary finishing touches. When I was a freshman in high school, I attended AWB New Orleans trip and also worked with the Saint Bernard Project. Our house needed much more work, including measuring and cutting drywall, unwrapping new windows, and looking for beams. This house had a long journey ahead of it requiring many many volunteers to come. When we entered Cathy’s house this year, it was a much different experience yet equally as rewarding. I couldn’t be happier to be staffing this trip. As much as I have wanted to return to New Orleans, it wouldn’t be the same without giving back to their amazing and warm community. I’m so happy to be able to share this experience with new high schoolers and watch them enjoy helping with these many organizations.

~ Hillary Borker is from Livingston, NJ and is a Sophomore at SUNY Binghamton. She attended AWB all four years in high school.

 

 

Yesterday we volunteered at the St. Bernard project. We were divided into two groups, and mine helped build a house from scratch. There used to be a house there but when the hurricane hit, it was completely destroyed. Then the project began. What they do is that they buy houses for the low and sell it for the amount of money that it cost to build it. What I did in the house was place the tiles. My friend Jared and I worked as a team to achieve this goal and it was a lot of fun. During this task that I was given I realized how much work was required. I was shocked about the amount of work and effort everyone put in for just one house. After volunteering with the project I learned to appreciate everything I have in my life.

~ David Ioffe is a 10th grader from Brooklyn, NY

Today was day 2 of AWB. Today we worked with the St. Bernard Project which is a non profit organization responsible for restoring homes affected by natural disasters. Today I worked in Toro house. I cleaned windows, painted the roof (and my shirt), and mulched the perimeter of the house. It was an incredibly rewarding experience that will stay with me forever. Later that same day we had the opportunity to go to Jackson Square in the French Quarter, which is always insanely fun and lively and in my opinion the very epitome of what the New Orleans experience should be. It was so amazing to see some people eating their first beignets. I had so much fun.  

~ Rebecca Stetzer is an 11th grader from Houston, Texas