I Never Really Left Or Tzedek

By Sydney Bakal
2016 Or Tzedek Summer Participant

REGISTRATION FOR OR TZEDEK SUMMER 2017 IS OPEN!
Sign up before Jan. 15, 2017 to receive the Early Bird Discount.
Let Sydney, one of last year’s teens, tell you why you should.

This summer I participated in JCUA’s Or Tzedek summer institute, a program for teenagers in high school who want to explore Chicago and social justice work through a Jewish lens. In 12 days, Or Tzedek taught me so much, and encouraged me to keep learning and questioning. I want to paint a picture of just one of our evenings together this session, because it really reflects the intentional community Or Tzedek seeks to build…

One evening sitting down at the dinner table with our homemade stir-fry, we began discussing theatre. I’m not exactly sure how we ended up on the topic, but I shared that my school had done a production of The Wiz, and none of the lead characters were people of color. I was uncomfortable because the show is a re-imagining of The Wizard of Oz, reclaiming the American dream for people of color. Others shared that they too were uncomfortable; however, one individual said it would only be inappropriate if people of color were turned down for roles because the show was intended to create more lead characters who were people of color. Another individual said it would be a waste for such an amazing show to not be put on more often and that the music is for everyone. We debated and threw out many arguments, even talking about Fiddler on the Roof and The Diary of Anne Frank performed by non-Jews. We discussed the nuances, complexities, similarities, and differences. Even after dinner, our conversations followed us to the car and to bed.

Experiences like this one were so interesting because we got to speak our minds and hear others’ opinions judgement-free. I now have more tools and a better understanding of issues that I had never really gotten to talk about in the past.

I loved all of the different workshops we did throughout program. We expanded our understandings of privilege, oppression, police accountability, restorative justice, gun-violence prevention, community organizing and more. Most of all, I learned how to listen and how to have conversations about complex issues. Coming home I wanted to continue these conversations. I am currently planning a legislative activism program for my youth group, events to explore and learn about Englewood, and a workshop using theatre games to teach about power and community.

I feel that difficult issues are often put on the back-burner to maintain the comfort of the privileged. However, those who are oppressed must live the difficulties every day. We can only break down systems of oppression if we recognize that they exist. I never really left Or Tzedek; I try to question normative values and existing systems. I’m still having awkward and disquieting conversations, and I hope I can improve the systems of which I’m a part.

Or Tzedek is for You

By Abby 
Or Tzedek Alumni – Summer 2016

As someone who has had her fair share of experiences with programs targeted at Jewish teens, I can confidently say that Or Tzedek was one of the most meaningful experiences that I’ve ever had–Jewish or not. Or Tzedek is unlike any other program in that it combines politics, identity, activism, independence, community organizing, urban exploration, group living and Judaism all in one.

Or Tzedek is unique because it is open to all denominations of Judaism and therefore attracts a wide variety of Jewish backgrounds and experiences. This gives an added layer of sophistication and wisdom to all activities and conversations within the program. Despite our differences, everyone in Or Tzedek – the staff, campers, and community partners – has a passion for making the world a better place. Whether sitting around the dinner table, walking around Chicago, or listening to a workshop, everyone’s devotion to being the change they want to see in the world permeates everything we do.

The itinerary for Or Tzedek caters to all interests and sections of social justice work. Whether your thing is direct service or community organizing, Or Tzedek has it all. This past summer we did some of everything: registering people to vote, handing out lunches to those in need, tours through the city, workshops on identity and privilege, picnicking in Millennium Park.

Another really fantastic thing about Or Tzedek is the Kehillah, or community. You really get a chance to get to know everyone, and the program is designed to build one community, not split off into small groups. Even if you don’t know anyone going in, everyone is extremely open and welcoming. If I had to choose one thing that I took away from Or Tzedek it would be the people.

The staff are some of the loveliest people you will ever meet. They have so much love, empathy, grit and integrity, and it shows. The group of teens that Or Tzedek attracts cannot be replicated anywhere else. Every single person has a shared goal: to be kind, smart and respectful. I challenge you to find a group of people anywhere else that can provide the same support and kindness that the people in Or Tzedek have.

So to anyone considering signing up for Or Tzedek: Do it. Whether you’re a seasoned social justice warrior or just getting started, Or Tzedek is for you. No matter how prevalent your Jewish identity is in your life, Or Tzedek is for you. If you’re looking for an awesome group of people Or Tzedek is for you. If you love the city and urban living Or Tzedek is for you. If you just want something productive to do with your summer, Or Tzedek is for you.

Making an Impact and Having a Blast!

By Hannah Arwe
JCUA Teen Programming Coordinator

Hello from Teen Programming! I just finished leading my first Or Tzedek Summer Social Justice Institute and it was an absolute blast! I felt like both a leader and a learner, developing young folks’ capacity for change while also continuing to learn for myself the crucial components of organizing, agitation, and justice.

I really enjoyed getting to work with people and organizations all over the city to create meaningful experiences for our teens. Not only was it a reminder of the incredible work being done in the city of Chicago, but also it was amazing to see how, across the board, organizers and educators came out to support JCUA youth and their desire to act. Interspersed with foundation-laying workshops on root-cause analysis, systems of privilege and oppression, and community organizing, we participated in several actions around Chicago, in order to learn about and support the work already being done. Two of the teens’ favorite activities were registering voters with Chicago Votes and distributing lunches to those in need with Forward Humanity. These actions gave Or Tzedek participants the opportunity to immerse themselves in Chicago’s culture, build their communication skills, and critically analyze the structures of power that govern society. We were also able to volunteer with Growing Home, Inc., Chicago’s only USDA certified organic urban farm in the city limits. While harvesting potatoes, we learned about the important work Growing Home is doing to provide healthy, affordable food and jobs to the South Side communities of Chicago.

Growing Jewish Social Justice Identities

Hannah, bottom right, at her first action as a JCUA staff member.

By Hannah Arwe
JCUA Teen Programs Coordinator

Greetings!  My name is Hannah Arwe and I am the new Coordinator of Teen Programs at JCUA.  I am super excited to be here – for the second time!  I was a staff member for Or Tzedek’s 2014 summer program, and just had to return.  I am thrilled to be able to lead the Or Tzedek program and to work to bring even more opportunities for teens to engage with social justice from a Jewish perspective.

I come from a background in youth development, having served as a Chicago Public School teacher, a private tutor, and an after-school coordinator since 2011.  My experiences with young folks continue to show me how energetic and motivated they can be. Often I find them to be even more motivated than adults!  In my previous position at the Howard Area Community Center in Rogers Park, I taught young people the language of social justice and worked with them to identify and learn about issues they wanted to address in their community.  We were lucky enough to be able to travel to various events in the city where our youth could educate, advocate, and participate in social action.  It was an amazing experience and I am grateful for the opportunity to continue inspiring young people to be agents of change here at JCUA.

My own journey as an agent of change began at a young age, and over the last several years has focused on anti-violence work and education reform.  I have always been passionate about ending violence for women and young folks, and have served in several roles doing direct service work for those in need.  These experiences caused me me to start asking larger questions about the systems that govern our society and led me to pursue a graduate degree in Women’s & Gender Studies at DePaul University. There I studied and participated in community organizing and advocacy efforts surrounding racism, sexual and gender-based violence, and restorative justice.  Since graduating, I have continued to seek out opportunities where I can help build people power and create lasting change.

Hannah during the 2014 Or Tzedek Summer Program

As a young woman raised in a reform Jewish community, navigating Jewish identity and practice after leaving home can be challenging.  At different moments I have struggled with what being Jewish means to me and my daily life.  However, I have always known that my values of justice, compassion, and peace are inherently Jewish.  The sense of urgency I have felt to help repair and transform the world comes from a deep bond between Judaism and social justice that has been taught to me since I was very young.  This bond was reinforced when I came to JCUA in 2014 and it is what brings me back today.  I am looking forward to supporting our teens as they grow their Jewish and social justice identities just as I am continuing to grow mine.

I am very excited to get to know JCUA and its members in the coming weeks and months, and am making it my job to be as connected as possible to people around the city.  Please feel free to reach out to say hi!  I love to chat.  You can contact me at hannaharwe@jcua.org or by calling the office at 312-663-0960 ext 124.

Or Emet: Advocacy in Action

By Deborah Goldberg
JCUA’s Teen Programs Coordinator

Yesterday, Or Emet teens put their advocacy skills into action.  We met with State Senator Daniel Biss, the chief of staff in Senator Julie Morrison’s office, and State Representative Julie Fine to talk about state licensing of gun dealers in order to reduce gun violence in Illinois.  Our meetings were the culmination of several months of learning about gun violence, listening to community partners engaging with this issue, researching legislation, and preparing remarks for our meetings.

JCUA knows that teens’ voices and power are an important part of building a more just Chicago and world.  Each of the legislators’ offices we visited shared how much they appreciated hearing from informed, passionate young people.

Last weekend, many of us participated in a Passover seder.  The seder is full of social justice themes, but as someone who has the privilege of working with youth as a part of my professional life, I am always struck by the section on the four children.  Tradition tells us that there are four children: the wise child, the wicked child, the simple child, and the child who doesn’t know how to ask.  They ask different questions and we respond to them differently.  I think each of us has a bit of each child within us at all times, and I think our work as social justice activists cycles through each of the four children.  The wise child asks, “What can we do together to make the world a more just place?”  The wicked child asks, “Why should I care when nothing we do makes a difference?”  The simple child asks, “What is injustice?”  And the one who doesn’t know how to ask doesn’t know where to begin.  On any given day, I can feel myself, and I see our teens, embody each of the four children.

During the Passover seder, we specifically encourage our young people to ask questions—to understand our own history as a Jewish people, our individual family’s history, and the issues that plague our cities and world today.  Throughout this year, the teens participating in Or Emet have asked thoughtful questions about injustice and inequality in our city; they have also asked questions about how we begin to undo structures that preserve and protect injustice and inequality.  Meeting with legislators to ask them to enact legislation that would reduce and prevent gun violence feels especially powerful on Passover.

Even though yesterday was a culmination of our Or Emet Year of Action program, I also hope that tomorrow is just the beginning of our teens’ involvement in advocacy, activism, and community organizing.  Be sure to click on the photos below to see our teens in action in our meetings with Senator Biss, Senator Morrison’s chief of staff, and Representative Fine!

If you or an 8^th-11^th grader you know would like to be involved in Or Tzedek, register for our immersive summer session!  Spend 12 amazing days in the city of Chicago building your leadership skills, creating change, and making friends from around Chicago and the country.  For more info and to register, visit http://www.jcua.org/ortzedeksummer 

Before our first meeting with State Sen. Daniel Biss.

Students sharing their remarks with State Sen. Biss.

Group photo!

Leah, Max, and Gracie delivering remarks to State Senator Julie Morrison’s chief of staff.

Group photo with Joe, Senator Morrison’s chief of staff.

Before our meeting State Rep. Laura Fine.

Ilan and Camey sharing their thoughts with State Rep. Fine.

Group photo!

 

Meet the Summer 2016 Or Tzedek Staff

Or Tzedek Summer 2016 is right around the corner (88 days and counting until our first session begins!), and we are so excited for another amazing summer of activism, advocacy, and community organizing.

My name is Deborah Goldberg, and I am the Or Tzedek program coordinator.  My work at JCUA combines three things I’m passionate about–working with young people, engaging in social justice work, and exploring what Judaism has to say about our imperative to pursue justice.  I grew up in the suburbs of Chicago and spent my summers as a camper and staff member at URJ Camp Olin-Sang-Ruby Union Institute.  Before working for JCUA, I worked as an Eisendrath Legislative Assistant at the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism in Washington, D.C.  I am so excited to spend another summer with an amazing group of teens committed to making the world a more just and equitable place!

Below, you can read more about the staff members who will be joining us this summer.  They are experienced and talented educators and counselors, and all of them are excited to be connecting (and reconnecting) to Or Tzedek this summer.

We will be joined all summer by Aryeh Bernstein, Or Tzedek’s lead Jewish educator:

Aryeh Bernstein returns for his second summer as Or Tzedek’s lead Jewish educator. He is also the Founding Director of the Hyde Park Teen Beit Midrash, the Program Coordinator for the Avodah Chicago Fellows program, and a resident Jewish educator for Farm Forward’s Jewish Initiative for Animals, is a Senior Editor of Jewschool.com, and teaches Torah for Mishkan Chicago, the University of Chicago Hillel, and elsewhere. He is a 5th-generation South Sider, who lives in Hyde Park, previously lived in Israel for 14 years, and has taught Torah in many settings, including Mechon Hadar, Drisha, the TAKUM social justice beit midrash, Camp Ramah in Wisconsin, the National Havurah Institute, and synagogues and campus groups across the denominational spectrum. He has studied at Columbia University, JTS, YU, YCT, and Yeshivat Maale Gilboa.

SESSION 1 STAFF

Talia Barzel:“I cannot wait to return to staff Or Tzedek this June.  As a second-generation Chinese American Jew and a former Hebrew School teacher, I have lots of experience discussing race, ethnicity, and immigration within Jewish circles and the United States as a whole.  I love how Or Tzedek is a respectful, supportive community where teens can explore many kinds of social justice and discover which causes most inspire them to take action.   I also enjoy exploring different Chicago neighborhoods through Or Tzedek and weaving Torah discussion into our advocacy.

I have a bachelor’s degree in linguistics from the University of Chicago and I am currently studying for a Master’s in Social Work at Columbia University in New York.  My favorite Or Tzedek activity is the Neo-Futurists show and one of my Jewish social justice heroes is Rose Schneiderman.”

Emma Epstein: “I am so excited to return to Or Tzedek this summer!  I am looking forward to continuing to learn about how awesome Chicago is and how much incredible work is happening in this city.  I will be graduating with a Masters in Social Work 3 days before the beginning of Or Tzedek, and I am looking forward to building relationships and continuing learning.

A particularly memorable experience from last year was when we visited the KAM Isaiah Israel Congregation in Hyde Park.  They showed us their massive volunteer-run garden that they built on the front lawn of the synagogue (right next to Obama’s house!). In just a few years, they have been able to grow enough produce to deliver 1000s of pounds of fresh produce to soup kitchens and food banks. Incredible!”

SESSION 2 STAFF

Emily Isaacson: “I am so excited to be staffing the second session of Or Tzedek this summer!  I was a participant in the program in 2011-2013, and last summer I was a programming intern at JCUA.  As a participant, Or Tzedek was such a formative experience in developing a relationship between my Jewish and Social Justice values, and I care deeply about the work JCUA is doing.  I’m excited to help make this summer an amazing experience for a new group of teens.

I’m looking forward to getting to know the city of Chicago better with a new group of people from a variety of Jewish backgrounds, learning about systems of oppression and community organizing models, and doing it all through a Jewish lens!”

Lili Gecker: “I am so excited to join Or Tzedek this summer! After graduating Brandeis University, I did a year of service with AVODAH: The Jewish Service Corps. It was through AVODAH that I first began connecting my value for social justice with my Jewish identity. Since then I have worked in political and labor organizing, and I am currently an active member of JCUA’s organizing campaigns. I believe that young people have the power to make real social and political change, and Or Tzedek gives young people the tools to begin. In my free time I enjoy seeing contemporary art and taking improv class at iO. This fall I will begin graduate school at University of Chicago pursuing my master’s in social work.”

Explore Social Responsibility In Your Own Backyard

Hannah (second from right) interned with the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR) during Or Tzedek’s Advanced Activism summer program in 2013.

By Karen Thirman
Or Tzedek Parent

My daughter Hannah was fortunate to be able to participate in Or Tzedek for two summers.  Not only did she have a great time and make new friends, her experience had a transformative impact on her understanding of social justice issues and her role and responsibility as a Jew in trying to help make the world a better place.

Growing up in the suburbs, our kids tend to interact with others of similar socioeconomic backgrounds.  Opportunities to meet and interact with a more diverse group of people is limited. As a result, the issues that face others are often abstract.  The Or Tzedek experience presents them with the chance to meet people in other communities and to better understand the issues that they face.  They then learn social advocacy skills through hands-on activities and these issues become real and concrete.

Many of Hannah’s friends have participated in international volunteer summer programs.  While those programs are great, the opportunities to explore social responsibility and volunteer in the City of Chicago are tremendous and right in our own backyard.  The Or Tzedek program provides a wonderful framework to take advantage of this opportunity.

Hannah’s experience sparked her interest in issues of social justice and volunteering.  She has continued to be involved is social action groups in college.  I really feel that her participation in the Or Tzedek program provided her with the interest and the skills in her continued involvement in social justice.

Hannah (top row, second from right) and her Or Tzedek Advanced Actiivism group in 2013.

 

 

Make Social Justice Your Valentine

By Deborah Goldberg
JCUA Teen Programming Coordinator

It’s been six months since last summer ended, and we have been busy with year-round programs and planning for the summer.  In October, we kicked off our partnership with Beth Emet Synagogue – Or Emet: Year of Action.  We spent October, November, & December exploring and understanding identity & privilege, root causes of social justice, and the principles of community organizing.  In January, we came together for a weekend retreat in downtown Chicago.  We heard from people working on current campaigns and began to think strategically about how we can take action throughout the rest of the year,which will culminate in a day of advocacy in Springfield in April.  Also in October, we started working with the machonikim (teachers’ aids) at Anshe Emet Synagogue to explore community organizing from a Jewish perspective.  We will continue meeting once a month until May.  In November, we spent three days with the junior class of Rochelle Zell Jewish High School.  This past Monday, Or Tzedek finished up a three-part workshop with 10th graders at Congregation Beth Am, Congregation Beth Judea, and Temple Chai, where we examined community organizing and the Domestic Workers Bill of Rights campaign. 

I’m tired just typing all the things we’ve been up to this past school year! 

One of the best parts of Or Tzedek is the diverse groups of teens who come together to learn about and take action on issues they care about.  This week’s parsha, T’rumah, details the building of the Miskhan, the Tabernacle.  The parsha begins: “‘Tell the Israelite people to bring Me gifts; you shall accept gifts for Me from every person whose heart is so moved’” (Exodus 25:2).  Or Tzedek teens come across the Jewish community–Conservative, Orthodox, Reconstructionist, Reform, Unaffiliated; freshmen through seniors; suburban and city teens; those who know that social justice is their passion and those who are discovering their love of social justice for the first time.  Just as the Israelites brought their own gifts to the building of the Tabernacle, Or Tzedek teens each bring their own gifts to build our holy and intentional communities.

I’ve been dreaming about summer 2016–not just because the single-digit temperatures when I leave my apartment in the morning make we want to move to Hawaii, but because I am so excited about Or Tzedek’s summer plans!

This summer, teens from across the country will come to Chicago to be a part of the Or Tzedek community.  Our two sessions will offer teens the opportunity to learn from leaders on the forefront of activism in Chicago, take action on current social justice campaigns, meet other teens who are passionate about social justice, and find their voice and power as Jewish leaders.  Perhaps most importantly, teens have fun together (we’re anxiously awaiting the release of the schedule of movies in Millennium Park!) and get to be a part of a community unlike any other.  (We hope you’ll join us for a session this summer!  2016 marks our 10th summer of Or Tzedek programming and we have big celebrations on the horizon!)

This weekend, we celebrate the last of the winter holidays–Valentine’s Day.  Normally, I look forward to the day AFTER Valentine’s Day for the half-priced candy and being one day closer to less frigid temperatures.  This year, though,  I’m thinking about the number of teens this past year, and the past ten years, who have made a commitment to social justice, to making Chicago a more just city for us all.

Make social justice your valentine and sign up to have fun, change the world, and pursue justice with Or Tzedek this summer! Sign up this week and get a $100 Valentine’s Day discount!

 

More Like Moses

By Hannah Coffey
Or Tzedek Alum

When Moses saw the burning bush, he had three qualities that made him into the leader he was: an allergy to oppression, a willingness to respond, and a radical curiosity.

It was a Shabbat morning text study, at the beginning of the Or Tzedek program this past summer.  Over the course of the next week or so, all 11 of us would become increasingly like Moses.  Learning about different social issues, we discovered and developed our own allergies to oppression.  Seeing inequality in Chicago made us angry.  We were angry when we saw countless burning bushes buried deep inside the city.  We were mad when we learned about how domestic workers didn’t have many rights that we considered to be fundamental. When we learned about immigration and saw families waiting in line at the deportation center, we cried.

It was a week full of anger, and frustration, but also one filled with action and hope. We turned our thoughts and our frustrations into actions and prayers.  We organized our own prayer vigil for a trauma center on the South Side. We wrote a speech about workers rights and talked with the chief of staff of an Illinois state senator.  From the JCUA staff, we learned how to organize people into action and how to be allies.  

Most of all, we were radically curious.  We never stopped asking questions. Why is Chicago so segregated? Why are the most segregated neighborhoods the ones with the most poverty? Why do these neighborhoods have less access to fresh, healthy, food? Why did the most schools close in the neighborhoods with the highest poverty rates?  Why are the areas of the city with the most shooting deaths also the areas where there is little or no access to trauma centers? Why, why why? What does Judaism say about this?  As Jews, are we obligated to help? If so, what do we do?

Finding A Social Justice Home in Or Tzedek

By Emily Isaacson
JCUA Intern

This summer I had the amazing opportunity to intern for JCUA and the Or Tzedek program. This program has become a home to me over the years: I first participated in Or Tzedek in the winter of 2011 and continued my involvement throughout high school, both during Or Tzedek summer programming and year long activities.  It’s where I learned that my commitment to social justice and my Judaism were deeply connected. I learned all about Chicago, the deeply rooted injustice in the city, as well as the amazing organizing and activism taking place.  My understanding of concepts like allyship, privilege, one-on-ones, and systemic oppression are thanks to Or Tzedek.

As a summer intern, I got to see how this program has grown over the years. I got to know the JCUA staff and learned all about the day to day work JCUA does, organizing around campaigns for a fair Illinois budget and a solution to the trauma care desert on the South Side of Chicago. And, I realized the full magnitude of the behind-the-scenes work necessary to make Or Tzedek a success: from Costco runs and meal planning to the effort it takes to create meaningful programs and discussions around topics like root causes of oppression or introduction to community organizing. I thank the program for my own grounding in social justice, and so I have loved every minute of helping teach these same concepts to current high schoolers. In fact, being with the program and helping teens navigate complex issues of race, class, and oppression has been an opportunity for me to continue to explore these issues and how they play out in Chicago.

Spending time with the Or Tzedek participants this summer has been a real reminder of how much Or Tzedek taught me and how lucky I am to have been a part of the program. As I’m returning to school this week, I’m thinking about how I take these community organizing skills and social justice concepts that we talk about during Or Tzedek  back to Oberlin College with me, and integrate them into everyday life. I’m thinking about the Or Tzedek Jewish community as I’m returning to my Jewish community at school, and about how to make it a more meaningful space that connects Judaism with social justice.

Or Tzedek is a space to create a meaningful Jewish community. It has reminded me how hard, and at the same time rewarding, a thoughtful, pluralistic Jewish space can be. This program was and is such an important part of my life, and to continue to participate as an intern was truly a meaningful experience.