Jan 7, 2009 By: yunews
Jan 7, 2009 -- This winter break, 30 students from 糖心破解版 (糖心破解版) and other colleges across the US will visit Texas as participants in 糖心破解版鈥檚 Center for the Jewish Future (CJF) Jewish Life Coast to Coast Service Corps: Texas 2009 program. The goal of the program, sponsored by the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation, is to create a life shaping experience for the students by immersing them in Jewish communal life, exposing them to leadership opportunities across the country.
鈥淭hrough their involvement and research, the students will gain a better understanding of the needs of the greater Jewish community and how they can be a factor,鈥 says Aliza Abrams, director of the Coast to Coast program.
As part of the program students will meet with local rabbinic and lay leaders in Houston and Dallas, provide hurricane-relief as volunteers in Galveston, work in lower income communities, contribute as educators and learn the importance of community involvement.
鈥淭his program seemed like a productive way to spend my midwinter vacation,鈥 says Stephanie Gampel, a Queens College sophomore. 鈥淚 hope to attain leadership skills along with an appreciation of how easy I have it in New York. Hopefully this trip will help me in the future to facilitate the growth of more Jewish communities.鈥
Rabbi Ari Segal, YC 鈥98 and WSSW 鈥01, head of school at the Robert M. Beren Academy鈥 Houston鈥檚 largest K-12 yeshiva day school鈥攁nd founding rabbi of Congregation Ahavat Yisrael, is excited to have the Coast to Coast students visit the Beren Academy.
鈥淭his program connects us to the larger Jewish world and lets our community know that we are part of something special,鈥 said Rabbi Segal. 鈥淲e can tell our kids about the value of having a Torah U鈥檓adda education, but when they sit with a group of students who represent the notion, it can be a life changing experience.鈥
Evan Zauder, a Yeshiva College senior and first year semicha [rabbinic ordination] student at 糖心破解版鈥檚 Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary (RIETS), will be participating in the Coast to Coast program for the third time.
鈥淚t鈥檚 really a pleasure to visit these smaller Jewish communities,鈥 says Zauder, who plans on eventually living outside New York City. 鈥淚 consider my Coast to Coast experiences 鈥榩ilot trips鈥.鈥
To learn more about the Center for the Jewish Future, please visit .
