American Jewish Society for Service
Program: American Jewish Society for Service
Organization: American Jewish Society for Service
Website: www.ajss.org
Description: Come spend 6 weeks this summer with the AJSS – we've been building and rehabilitating houses, community centers, schools and parks since 1951. Our innovative program invites teens to spend their summer putting their ideals into action and pursing the Jewish practice of tikkun olam. Our projects are very hands-on, usually involving the construction or repair of one or more buildings. We have built a school, a gymnasium, single family homes, barns, recreational facilities, a community center, installed water systems and repaired homes in such widely scattered places as New Mexico, California, South Dakota, New Hampshire, South Carolina and Kentucky. AJSS fosters a welcoming, pluralistic community of teens who are translating their Jewish values into action and, under the guidance of a skilled professional staff, try to examine these experiences as they relate to core Jewish values. We've led more than 140 projects in 46 states and boast more than 2,500 alumni, many of whom hold positions of leadership in their communities and synagogues. High school community service credit can be earned following participation in the program.
Contact: Rena Convissor
E mail: info@ajss.org
Phone: 240-205-5940
Application deadline: rolling admissions on a first come, first serve basis
Timeframe: 6 weeks, summer
Age of participants: at least 16 years of age, entering 11th or 12th grade
Location: Different locations around North America
Alexander Muss High School
Alexander Muss High School in Israel is an eight-week academic program offered five times during the year for 11th and 12th graders who use the land of Israel as their classroom. High school credit may be earned for sessions held during the school year. Sessions are held in February, April, June, September, and December. Phone: 800-327-5980 or 314-434-8535; email: amhsistl@aol.com or www.amhsi.com
BBYO
BBYO is the leading pluralistic teen movement aspiring to involve more Jewish teens in more meaningful Jewish experiences. For more than 80 years, BBYO has provided exceptional identity enrichment and leadership development experiences for hundreds of thousands of Jewish teens. In 60 communities across North America, Jewish teens connect with one another, volunteer in the community, celebrate their Jewish heritage, prepare for leadership roles, and travel the world together, all within a Jewish context. The power of the experience is proven through BBYO’s 250,000 alumni, who are among the most prominent figures in business, politics, academia, the arts, and Jewish communal life. Many claim it is BBYO to which they “owe it all,” and research shows that BBYO participation leads to powerful Jewish connections, attitudes and practices later in life.
http://bbyo.org/teens/aza_bbg/become_a_member/
BBYO High School in Israel
BBYO High School in Israel is an eight-week academic leadership program designed specifically for BBYO high school juniors and seniors. It is held in Israel every year from February through March, staffed by professionals from the Alexander Muss High School in Israel. Phone: 866-630-2296 or email bbyo4israel@bbyo.org or www.bbyo.org.
Big Brothers/Big Sisters
Program: Big Brothers/Big Sisters
Organization: Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Cincinnati
Big Brothers/Big Sisters Association of Cincinnati promotes the development of youth in the general and Jewish community through quality mentoring relationships.
We help children reach their potential by providing them with caring, adult role models who guide them in making positive choices about their future. We have been serving the children and families of Cincinnati for nearly 100 years.
Whether you’re looking for a Big Brother or a Big Sister or looking to become one, it’s an experience that will bring big magic and big smiles into your life.
To begin the process, please review our volunteer policy, please print and fill out the application and fax it to 513-761-3202.
We ask that volunteers be over 21 years of age and possess a valid drivers license.
Applications can also be mailed to:
Big Brothers/Big Sisters Association of Cincinnati
4010 Executive Drive
Suite 240
Cincinnati, OH 45241
If you have questions or want additional information, please contact us at info@bigbrobigsis.org or 761-3200.
Bonim Banim - Commission on Social Action for Reform Judaism
Program: Bonim Banim
Organization: Commission of Social Action of Reform Judaism
Website: www.urj.org
Description:Help restore the home of a poor or elderly family. There will be several adults in the group, including teachers and building experts. We will live together in a large summer home and share in the responsibilities of meals and daily life.
This will be an experience in Jewish religious living. It will include, in addition to the work on the home, creative Jewish worship experiences and the study of traditional texts about tzedakah, charity and righteous living. We expect to explore the Portland area and to understand the impact of work like ours on the general community.
Contact: Rabbi Joel Soffin
E mail: BonimBanim@gmail.com
Application deadline: February 1st
Timeframe: August 17-24, 2008
Age of participants: teens entering ninth and tenth grades
Location: Naples, Maine.
Camp Yad B'Yad — Washington DC Jewish Community Center
Program: Camp Yad B'Yad
Organization: Washington DC Jewish Community Center
Website: http://washingtondcjcc.org/kids-and-parents/camp/camp-yad.html
Description: Teens entering grades 9-12 can experience direct service opportunities in the areas of hunger action, shelter repair, environmental work, friendship and advocacy. They serve low-income communities and neighborhoods in the areas with the greatest needs. Projects range from cooking and serving food for the homeless to repairing community centers and shelters to visiting with residents of a homeless shelter to planting and gardening projects.
Contact: Sarah Rabin
E mail: sarahrabin@dcjcc.org
Phone: (202)-777-3270
Timeframe:
Session I: June 18–29
Session II: July 16–27
Application deadline: contact the program
Age of participants: entering grades 9 - 12
Location: Washington, DC
Jewish Civics Initiative – PANIM
Program: Jewish Civics Initiative
Organization: Panim
Website: http://www.panim.org.
Description: The Jewish Civics Initiative (JCI) is a unique educational program teaching 10th, 11th and 12th grade high school students to apply Jewish values to public policy and social justice issues. The JCI program has three major elements: an innovative curriculum based on Jewish values, a Washington D.C. seminar and a community-based service-learning projects. Incorporating the most cutting edge teaching strategies that effectively engage young adults, PANIM’s curriculum provides a Jewish values lens through which students analyze a wide range of contemporary social and political issues.The JCI Washington, DC seminar is a four-day seminar designed to educate, energize, and inspire students to apply the knowledge they have gained from their Jewish civics course to the real world. Upon return to their home communities, students are challenged to research the needs of their community and gain some first-hand exposure to the ways in which social and political change can be effected. Students are encouraged to create their own service-learning project, putting Jewish values into action.
Contact: Rachel Meytin
E mail: rachelm@panim.org
Phone: 301-770-5070 ext. 201
Application deadline: contact the program
Timeframe: 9 Months learning, 4 day seminar
Age of participants: 10th, 11th, and 12th grades
Location: Washington DC
Junior Volunteers
Our dynamic junior volunteer program brings over 130 volunteers, ages 10-18, to the halls of Montefiore Home, a large Jewish retirement home in a suburb of Cleveland, Ohio. Junior volunteers provide many services to help Montefiore run smoothly. In addition to visiting the residents juniors will transport residents to activities and appointments, help with religious services and events, work in one of the many offices here or at our snack bar, or preform for the residents. Juniors can come once for a few hours or reguarly. We are constantly accepting new volunteers and whether you're seasonal or not, we are always glad to have you!
How to Apply:
We require all volunteers to attend an orientation (about 1 1/2 hours long) before they can start. If you're in the area, stop by Montefiore to pick up a volunteer information folder or you can call our direct line, (216) 910-2566, to set up an appointment for your orientation. As soon as you come in for your rientation you can begin volunteering!
Visit our website (currently under construction) for more information about Montefiore's services. www.montefiorecare.org
Mitzvah Corps – Union for Reform Judaism
Program: Mitzvah Corps
Organization: Union for Reform Judaism
Website: www.mitzvahcorps.org
Description: Commitment to Tikkun Olam - repairing the world - has always been a major component of the Reform Jewish experience. The Mitzvah Corps program allows you to directly impact communities that need the energy, dedication, and love that youth provide. Choose from seven summer programs that combine volunteer work with educational programming based on Jewish social and ethical issues. Prepare yourself to leave this program feeling empowered, impassioned, and ready to translate your experiences to direct social action in your community!
Contact: Miriam Fink
E mail: mfink@urj.org
Phone: 212-650-4071
Application deadline: April 1st
Timeframe: 9 days-6 weeks (depending on location)
Age of participants: entering grades 10, 11 and 12
Location: Costa Rica, Israel, New Orleans, New Jersey, New York, San Francisco, URJ Kutz Campus for Reform Jewish Life
NFTY
We, the members of the North American Federation of Temple Youth, the Reform Jewish youth movement of North America, in order to secure and perpetuate a strong, meaningful and enjoyable Reform Jewish youth experience based on the principles of TORAH, THE JEWISH PEOPLE, THE STATE OF ISRAEL, HISTORY, CHOICE THROUGH KNOWLEDGE, PLURALISM SELF, COMMUNITY, REPAIRING THE WORLD, PARTNERSHIP and FUN AND SPIRIT, and do hereby ordain and establish the Constitution of the North American Federation of Temple Youth.
http://www.nfty.org/about/join/
Or Tzedek Teen Summer Institute -JCUA
Program: Or Tzedek a 8 Days of Social Action - JCUA
Organization: Jewish Council on Urban Affairs
Website: www.ortzedek.org
Description:
Or Tzedek is the summer program for Jewish teens interested in real-life social justice work! We offer a unique 8-day experience for high school students who want to address urban issues such as poverty, racism, inadequate housing, healthcare and environmental justice through hands-on service and high level learning.
TAKE ACTION in Chicago’s underserved communities
* EXPLORE Jewish approaches to social justice
* DEVELOP leadership skills and meet amazing activists, speakers and organizers
* EXAMINE urban issues and their impact
* LIVE in the city
* ENJOY Chicago in the summer!
Watch Video our: http://blip.tv/file/1591592/
Contact: Asaf Bar-Tura
E mail:asaf@jcua.org
Phone: 312-663-0960 ext. 110
Application deadline: Applications will be processed on a rolling basis (early-bird discount before March 15, 2009).
Time frame: Participants can choose one of two 8-day sessions (Sunday to Sunday): July 5-12, 2009 and July 26 - August 2, 2009.
Age of participants: Students who have completed grade 9 through grade 12
Location: Chicago, IL.
Ramp it Up – Yachad
Program: Ramp it Up
Organization: Yachad
Website: www.yachad-dc.org
Description: Yachad offers teens an opportunity to work hard, learn carpentry skills, meet new friends and help a neighbor in need, while learning about affordable housing, living with disabilities, and exploring their Jewish roots. Ramp it Up is “Jewish Service Learning” at its best. It is service to the community with an opportunity for students to learn how community activism and social justice are mandated by the Torah while reflecting on and building their own Jewish identities. The students will spend the week building an access ramp for a low income person with disabilities in the Washington, D.C. area. By week’s end, the client will have new-found independence and the students will be rewarded with new carpentry skills, a sense of accomplishment and pride in a job well done, a deeper understanding of the need for affordable, accessible housing, a new vision of their place in the Jewish community and the importance of participating in that community’s tikkun olam initiatives. Students will work under the supervision of an experienced carpenter, who will instruct the students in tool safety and use and direct the work to be completed each day. Also on site will be a counselor, who will assist the carpenter with supervision and will conduct the educational sessions. Students can earn up to 32 hours of community service credit.
Contact: Kendra Rubinfeld
E mail: RampItUp@yachad-dc.org
Phone: 202-296-8563
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Timeframe: One Week, Monday-Friday in the summer
Age of participants: 15 and up
Location: Montgomery or Prince George's County in Maryland, or in Washington, D.C.
Social Action Opportunities
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