Over the course of the last year and a half, Young Judaea has begun to revolutionize its definition of "tikkun olam" (social action). Young Judaea has taken on the movement wide mission of helping to improve the lives of Darfuri refugees currently in Israel. The 40 or so volunteers on Year Course who have chosen to dedicate our work time and free time to this cause, hailing from all 3 sections of the program, are collectively part of the group we call Garin Tzedek. The following is an excerpt from a description of our work written on the Garin Tzedek blog (http://www.seedtheplow.blogspot.com/):
GARIN TZEDEK is an unofficial group of participants in Young Judaea's Year Course program...dedicated to enhancing their experience throughout the year by dedicating themselves to committing cognitively and physically to volunteering around the country with refugees from Southern and Western Sudan (Darfur). We hope that by being ever aware of how we can best contribute to the country and the cause of these refugees we will make a real difference for the better in the country and in our own lives...The key to happiness is finding something more important than oneself and dedicating oneself to it. This is our chance to do so. Far too many participants of our program and people in general are willing to float through opportunities taking the path of least resistance, however we wish to consciously do what might be slightly harder, but certainly more rewarding. We hope to improve the self-sufficiency of the South Sudanese and Darfurian communities in Israel and to bring awareness to the entire Jewish world of their existence to begin a vigorous debate of the role of the Jewish People and the Jewish State in their rescue from genocide.
The issue of Darfurian and Sudanese refugees in Israel, a highly controversial one, is what we are focusing on during our year in Israel, but we hope that our members continue to take the lessons and experiences we gain this year and apply them for the rest of our lives whether in Israel, the United States or elsewhere.
Unfortunately, there is only so far good intentions can take you without the necessary financial support. At the moment, the Garin participants in my section hold daily bake sales outside our classrooms where our fellow participants can buy baked goods in between courses. The small profits we've made from this have allowed us to buy paint for the walls and supplies for posters and such for the day care room.
The following post is a formal letter that we have written asking for funds to allow us to purchase necessary items as basic as school supplies and toys which are desperately need in this community. I ask that regardless of whether you personally choose to give, you take a few moments to forward the letter and help spread the word about this cause.
GARIN TZEDEK is an unofficial group of participants in Young Judaea's Year Course program...dedicated to enhancing their experience throughout the year by dedicating themselves to committing cognitively and physically to volunteering around the country with refugees from Southern and Western Sudan (Darfur). We hope that by being ever aware of how we can best contribute to the country and the cause of these refugees we will make a real difference for the better in the country and in our own lives...The key to happiness is finding something more important than oneself and dedicating oneself to it. This is our chance to do so. Far too many participants of our program and people in general are willing to float through opportunities taking the path of least resistance, however we wish to consciously do what might be slightly harder, but certainly more rewarding. We hope to improve the self-sufficiency of the South Sudanese and Darfurian communities in Israel and to bring awareness to the entire Jewish world of their existence to begin a vigorous debate of the role of the Jewish People and the Jewish State in their rescue from genocide.
The issue of Darfurian and Sudanese refugees in Israel, a highly controversial one, is what we are focusing on during our year in Israel, but we hope that our members continue to take the lessons and experiences we gain this year and apply them for the rest of our lives whether in Israel, the United States or elsewhere.
Unfortunately, there is only so far good intentions can take you without the necessary financial support. At the moment, the Garin participants in my section hold daily bake sales outside our classrooms where our fellow participants can buy baked goods in between courses. The small profits we've made from this have allowed us to buy paint for the walls and supplies for posters and such for the day care room.
The following post is a formal letter that we have written asking for funds to allow us to purchase necessary items as basic as school supplies and toys which are desperately need in this community. I ask that regardless of whether you personally choose to give, you take a few moments to forward the letter and help spread the word about this cause.
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