Last year, this confirmation class from Temple Shalom in Aberdeen participated in the L’Taken Social Justice Seminar in Washington, DC. In December, the 2008-09 confirmation class will take part in the annual program.
Photo courtesy Temple Shalom
November 18, 2008
Eleven confirmation students from Temple Shalom in Aberdeen will take part in an intensive four-day study program in Washington that focuses on Jewish values and social justice.
The students will join more than 300 youth from throughout the country at the annual Bernard and Audre Rapoport L’Taken Social Justice Seminar, which will begin on Dec. 5.
The event is organized by the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, which is the lobbying arm of the Union for Reform Judaism.
High school students from more than 100 congregations throughout the United States participate in the seminar, which emphasizes the responsibility of Reform Jews to practice tikun olam — activism on behalf of a better world.
Rabbi Laurence Malinger, religious leader at Temple Shalom, along with Elisa Juros, the temple’s education director, will accompany the 2008-09 confirmation class to the nation’s capital.
“The concept of citizens affecting change in the world is new to many confirmation students,” Malinger said. “This trip helps kids grow as Jews and as congregants in general.”
Rabbi Laurence Malinger, religious leader at Temple Shalom in Aberdeen, will accompany the confirmation class to the L’Taken Social Justice Seminar.
Photo by Jill Huber
Throughout the trip, the students will participate in the three pillars of Jewish life: Torah (Jewish learning), avoda (prayer), and gemilut hasadim (acts of loving-kindness). Avoda will begin with Shabbat services on Friday and will end with Havdala, the ceremony marking the end of the Sabbath, at one of the city’s national memorials.
During the L’Taken seminar, RAC representatives will discuss at least 10 different issues in a variety of interactive formats. These issues will range from global HIV/AIDS, women’s rights, support for Israel, and environmental and economic justice. The topics are chosen based on the current legislative agenda.
The student attendees will learn about URJ’s position on these issues, but also will be encouraged to express their own views if they differ from those of the URJ.
“I’m very interested in seeing how government works and how we can be a part of that government,” said seminar participant Asher Wasserman of Aberdeen.
At the conclusion of the discussions, the teens will choose four subjects for their lobbying efforts and will form groups to prepare speeches about them. Each presentation will be based on the Reform position and will reflect Jewish traditions, values, texts, and teachings. The speeches will be presented to the legislative staffs of the New Jersey congressional delegation.
“I’m most looking forward to the day that we get to lobby,” said Michael Terebush of Old Bridge, who plans to take part in the conference. “I’ve been to Washington, DC, before, but I never have been on the ‘inside’ at Capitol Hill. I think it will be an experience I will never forget.
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