by Leah Koenig | January 10, 2012 | 0 comments
Smiling gala faces. Photo courtesy of iVolunteer.
Last year Repair the World featured an interview with Sheva Tauby, co-founder of iVolunteer – a great organization that pairs volunteers with Holocaust survivors for weekly home visits. Since then, we’ve been super enamored with their work, which engages young people of all backgrounds (Jewish and otherwise) in meaningful service, and brings comfort and companionship to the survivors.
Now, iVolunteer is getting ready to celebrate and make a toast to the people who keep the organization going strong: their volunteers. On January 26, they will host their annual volunteer gala to raise support for and awareness about their home visitation program. The gala also serves as a huge thank you to the people who take time out of their busy weeks (volunteers range from students to freelance artists to practicing doctors – and everything in between!) to make a regular commitment to volunteering.
iVolunteer’s Gala, which will be held at the historic Angel Orensanz Center on Manhattan’s Lower East Side, will feature music and dancing, nibbles and drinks, and a silent auction of travel, entertainment, and fashion items. The proceeds of the auction will support iVolunteer’s programs, and their new SuvivorStories.org project, which collects and shares invaluable footage of Holocaust survivor’s.
Click here for more details about the gala. And if you’re interested in volunteering, check out iVolunteer’s website.
by Leah Koenig | January 9, 2012 | 0 comments
Happy Monday, and welcome back from weekend-land! To get you raring to go this week, here is your regular round up of inspiring service-related stories from around the web.
- The HandsOn Blog started celebrating MLK Day a week early, with a sweet tribute to Dr. King’s tireless service and civil rights advocacy work. (Celebrate MLK this Friday night with Repair the World’s Shabbat Suppers!)
- The Forward, speaking of heroes, featured a story about Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords on the first anniversary of the shooting that left her seriously wounded.
- The Forward also published a stirring essay by Rabbi Steve Greenberg on why he recently chose, as an Orthodox rabbi, to marry a same-sex couple.
- The Worcester Telegram reported a story about a local Massachusetts bill that would enable restaurants to donate leftover food to help feed hungry people.
- GOOD is calling all college changemakers for their new GOODmaker challenge.
- Sustainablog rounds things out with a DIY project for the new year: make your own eco-friendly cleaning products! The “recipes” are fun, effective and cost less than you might think.
by Leah Koenig | January 6, 2012 | 0 comments
During his lifetime Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. worked tirelessly toward a dream of equality. He believed in a nation of freedom and justice for all, and encouraged all citizens to live up to the purpose and potential of America. The Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service (January 16) is a way to transform Dr. King’s life and teachings into community service that helps solve problems. MLK Day programs meet tangible needs, such as revitalizing schools and feeding the homeless; but also build a sense of community and mutual responsibility by spurring conversation. On this day, Americans of every age and background celebrate Dr. King through volunteering and unite to strengthen communities, empower individuals and bridge barriers.
In commemoration of Martin Luther King Day, the Hands on Network and Points of Light Foundation are rallying people across the country to organize “Sunday Suppers” – communal dinners that bring together people from diverse backgrounds to share a meal and discuss the issues that impact their community.
We at Repair the World love the idea of gathering around the table for conversation, of commemoration and, well, having a special meal. We also think it sounds a lot like Shabbat. In that spirit, we invite you to also host or organize a Shabbat Supper on Friday 1/13, and set aside some time during your dinner to remembering King’s inspirational legacy, and talking about how to bring it forward to today.
And guess what–there are even some Gift Certificates in it for you!
HOW IT WORKS:
- Register your Supper here and list Repair the World as your organization The Supper can take place anytime between now and MLK Day. After you register, you will receive the toolkit with easy instructions on how to plan your Supper.
- Let us know that you’re doing it! We’ll send you a code for a Gift Certificate* at Restaurants.com!
- Contribute a photo or post to our Repair the World Facebook page and and let us know!
OTHER OPPORTUNITIES
*while supplies last
by Leah Koenig | January 4, 2012 | 0 comments
Photo of Tatiana Grossman courtesy of Spread the Words.
When Tatiana Grossman, a book-obsessed high schooler in California, found out that thousands of young children across Africa don’t have ready access to books, and that 35 million kids in sub-Saharan Africa don’t have access to education, she decided to do something about it.
Tatiana’s inspiration led to Spread the Words, a project she started to help improve early childhood literacy in Africa by creating physical libraries, by encouraging kids to write their own books, and by developing digital teaching materials for classrooms. Pretty cool stuff for someone who simultaneously has to deal with homework, extracurricular activities and college applications!
Tatiana took some time out of her busy schedule to tell Repair the World about how Spread the Words works, the super-lightweight digital educational projector she’s developing, and her lifelong commitment to tzedakah and tikkun olam.
Read More »
by Leah Koenig | January 3, 2012 | 0 comments
Save a life, eat cookies: it’s all in a day’s work for a blood donor.
This January, new and experienced blood donors across the country will celebrate National Blood Donor Month to raise awareness about one of the most important acts of healthcare-related service anyone can do. According to the Red Cross, 5 million American patients need blood every year. And each donation of a pint of blood can help save up to three patients’ lives.
Jewish values go hand-in-hand with blood donation. In fact, the tradition places saving a human life above virtually every other commandment. And during January, when winter weather and icy roads can lead to traumatic injuries and increase the seasonal need for blood, is a particularly good time to donate. So roll up your sleeve and donate!
Never donated before? It’s easy! Here’s how it works:
- Step 1. Find a blood donation center near you by clicking here or here. If there isn’t a blood drive or donation center near you, volunteer to host one at your school or synagogue!
- Step 2. Hydrate. The more water you drink before your donation, the better you will feel during and after. Stocking up on iron-rich foods – like dark leafy greens and lean meats – will also increase your chances of being able to give blood.
- Step 3. Once at the donation center, but before you give blood, you will meet with a nurse or health representative who will ask some basic medical questions and test your iron levels to make sure you’re in good shape to donate.
- Step 4. Take a deep breath and smile, you’re about to do something great! The blood drive representative will give you something to squeeze (to increase blood flow to the arm), clean your arm thoroughly and begin. The blood donation itself lasts about 10 minutes and is completely safe and sterile.
- Step 5. Chill and refresh. While your blood is processed and packaged to be readied for donation, you get to hang out and refresh yourself. The blood donation center typically provides juice, cookies and other snacks to help restore your blood sugar levels.
- Step 6. You’re done! Just be sure to refrain from serious strenuous activity for the next 24 hours to let your blood levels return to normal.
Did you give blood (or do you plan to this month)? Let us know by tweeting @repairtheworld.
by admin | January 3, 2012 | 0 comments
by Rebecca Slatin
We all know that New Year’s is a time that calls for self-reflection. Whether you’re planning a New Year’s resolution or simply rethinking your path in life, it’s always reassuring to hear what others are doing and learn how they got there.
That’s why we recently asked Rebecca Slatin to share her professional background and experiences as a REALITY Check Fellow. Rebecca joined Teach For America in 2008 and spent two years teaching High School Special Education. She now teaches elementary special education in Washington, DC and serves as a Seminar Instructor for DC Teaching Fellows. 
Forging New Paths
Growing up Jewish was very important to me. Although my parents and I are not religious, Judaism was important to us because it shaped the choices we made as a family. Tikkun Olam, or “mending the world,” was what being Jewish meant to me. We were (and still are) activists, we believe deeply in human rights. As a member of the global community, I believe it is my job to ensure that each generation is better off than the one that came before it.
It is fitting that I became a teacher, but it was not my original plan. In fact, as I began my senior year at Smith College, I wasn’t sure what to do at all. My gut told me that the only way to really impact the world was to become an educator. At the time, I believed that education was the only way communities could bring themselves out of poverty. But I had never taught anyone anything, so how could I possibly serve others if I had no training?
With my passion in mind, I discovered Teach For America (TFA), a national non-profit dedicated to ending educational inequity by connecting dedicated young adults to the power of education. Teach For America’s goal to create leaders who are passionate about ending a very real problem in American society struck me as an exciting challenge. Subconsciously, I think it also aligned with my values.
For my two year TFA commitment I was placed at a public high school in Washington D.C. I taught special education; five subjects, hundreds of students. I threw myself into my work. It was all I talked about. I did not sleep, I did not exercise, and I took no time for myself. By the end of my first year, I felt completely overwhelmed by the realities of our public education system. I felt alone, drowning in an insurmountable problem. I desperately needed to connect my work with something larger than myself. I hadn’t considered what it was that I needed in order to be my most powerful self. I need self-reflection. I needed support. I needed community.
Reflecting and Repairing
At the beginning of my second year of teaching, a friend recommended that I apply to go with fellow Teach For America teachers to Israel on a trip called REALITY Israel, which brings young adults to Israel to learn more about the country and its connection to Judaism. The program focuses almost exclusively on how Jewish values connect with education and tikkun olam.
In Israel, we were asked many times to quietly sit and reflect on our work. We read Jewish texts and tried to identify with our ancestry. I was introduced to a community of Teach For America teachers and Alumni who were also struggling to connect their work with their value system. Before this program, I had never consciously connected my work as a teacher with the Jewish idea of mending the world through service. Even more importantly, I had never acknowledged that the thing I loved most about teaching was the community I created in the classroom. Impactful change happens in community- one must find support from within oneself and from the love of others, peers, coaches and mentors.
By working without stopping, without seeing what I was doing, I was cutting myself off from enjoying the change I was making in my students’ lives. In Israel, I learned that if I took time to ground myself in my belief system and acknowledged the fear I had of not living up to the expectations of others my power would be limitless.
Valuing the Connections
Returning to Washington D.C., I wanted to continue to reflect and connect my work in education with my Jewish roots. I applied and was accepted into REALITY Check, a fellowship created for REALITY Israel Community Members to build impassioned leaders who work to serve others. REALITY Check has transformed my thinking about who I can be as a leader, helping me connect my passion for community development to my profession as a teacher. I have truly learned to value the connections between people.
I was once told that true leadership is unseen and that a true leader helps others shine. I believe that to truly impact education, we need leaders who care about creating the best environment to keep teachers happy, fulfilled, and allow them to be proud of what they do. As a REALITY Check fellow I have begun a dialogue with teachers, learning what they value and want the most, not only for their students, but also for themselves. REALITY Check has helped me find my passion—ensuring that teachers love what they do and want to do it as best they can.
As you begin to think about your place in the world, I encourage you to think about how your professional passions connect with your Jewish identity. Ask yourself, “How am I making the world a better place?” Don’t be afraid to identify talents and interests that are unique since we are all able to contribute something special to the world. In the beginning of the New Year, find a mentor, coach or peer, who you know will encourage you to grow and serve the world. Align your passions to your value system and you will find fulfillment in the choices you make.
Rebecca Slatin is originally from Cambridge, Massachusetts. She attended Smith College and majored in American Studies, studied abroad in Chile and spent a semester researching folk music for Smithsonian Folkways Records. Rebecca joined Teach For America upon graduation from Smith College in 2008. She spent two years teaching High School Special Education and now teaches elementary special education in Washington, DC. Rebecca also serves as a Seminar Instructor for DC Teaching Fellows. In her free time she is an avid Yogi and world traveler. She has visited Iran, Chile, South Africa, and Peru, to name a few!
by Leah Koenig | December 29, 2011 | 1 comment
It’s hard to believe it’s been just about 365 days since we welcomed 2011. And wow, has it been a year to remember. In this time of major change, of natural disasters, of not-so-natural economic woes, of major world-events, and of occupied this and that, volunteers and those working to support others in need have made a huge difference in helping make the world a better place. They’ve helped keep the time-honored tradition of giving back – and we at Repair the World thank them (and you!) for all you’ve done.
To celebrate the new year, we’ve rounded up some of our favorite Repair blog posts of the year. These are the stories that made us cry, lifted our spirits, and charged us up to make the world a better place. Read on!
Top Interviews
- Butch Brandes and Peter Archer: These two Jewish firefighters were among the first responders at 9/11. The stories they shared for the 10th anniversary are both heartbreaking and inspirational.
- Ami Dar: The founder of Idealist.org – the hugely successful networking, volunteering, and jobs resource website – made us get a little teary when he talked about his mom’s commitment to social justice.
- Erin Schrode: This interview revealed the power teenagers have to change the world, and reminded us to take a closer look at what goes into our cosmetics!
- Andrew Cohen: We love how this alum of Repair the World grantee-partner JOI uses his rock band, Hot Molasses, to spread the word about housing rights and social justice.
- Sarah Cohen: What happens when a former fashion industry maven gets inspired by an organization (charity: water) bringing fresh, safe water to developing countries? Sounds like a great story to us!
Top Stories
- Volunteering and Values: Repair the World’s study on values and volunteering trends amongst young Jewish adults made big waves within the Jewish community.
- Help Japan Now: 2011 witnessed a huge number of natural disasters all across the world. We think this post, about the earthquakes and tsunamis in Japan, offers a good example of how Repair the World engaged readers around disaster relief work.
- Amy Winehouse: The story of the pop singer’s sad and untimely death prompted a post about helping those we love fight drug and alcohol addiction.
- Celebrate Fair Trade with Chocolate: As if we needed more reasons to eat chocolate.
- Why This Night is Different: Readers seemed to love our round up of service and social-justice haggadahs for Passover. Check them out again – after all, Passover is only a winter away!
- J-Teen and J-Serve: One of our favorite Jewish teen service organizations pairs up with one of our favorite National Day of Jewish service to help promote literacy. Win, win!
- Inside the Classroom: We loved this personal essay by Eli Klein, a Teach for America corps member working in Miami.
- Finding Service in the Garden: We also loved Sam Plotkin’s essay about his alternative spring break with Repair the World grantee-partner Jewish Farm School, and how it inspired him to bring sustainable values and organic farming to his university.
- Three Voices, One Goal: What does Jewish service look like? The three participants who share their stories in this post help to show how diverse and meaningful helping others can really be.
We hope you can be as inspired as we are to give some of your time and talent to repairing the world, everyday.
Did we miss your favorite Repair the World story from 2011? Let us know what it is below or tweet us @repairtheworld.
by Leah Koenig | December 28, 2011 | 0 comments
Welcome to Repair the World’s 8 Nights of Service: awesome volunteer projects, donation opportunities and tikkun olam ideas to bring service to the center of your Hanukkah celebration!
Last night, our menorahs were ablaze with all 8 candles, making today the last day of Hannukah (sniff!) and bringing Repair the World’s 2011 8 Nights of Service tips to an end–for now. But as the last lights of this year’s Hanukkah celebration burn low, we want to keep the spirit aglow by making a commitment to take service straight into the coming year. Are you in?
There is sooooooo much to look forward to on the service and volunteering front in 2012 — and sooo much to do to make the world just a little bit better everyday. (And yes, we’ll be sure to continue to share them with you – and hope you’ll do so with us, too!)
Here are just a few upcoming events and opportunities that you can get involved with — just to start the new year! (Stay tuned for more…)
- Martin Luther King Day of Service On January 16 the Corporation for National & Community Service is hosting a national day of service in honor of the civil rights hero. This year, make MLK Day a day ON, not a day off!
- Tu Bishvat The Jewish “holiday of the trees” begins on February 7. Check out Hazon’s great resources on how to infuse the holiday with meaning and sustainability.
- J-Serve! The annual day of action that celebrates Jewish teens serving the world is coming up on April 22 (so happens to be Earth Day, too!) Find out how you can get involved with this awesome day.
If you haven’t yet dreideled, and latked, and doughnut-ed — you’ve still got time! You’ve also got time to make sure that you’ve done at least one of our 8 Nights of Service suggestions and make your contributions last for way more than 8 days.
What was your favorite night of the 8 Nights of Service? Let us know by tweeting @repairtheworld and #8Nights
by Leah Koenig | December 27, 2011 | 0 comments
Welcome to Repair the World’s 8 Nights of Service: awesome volunteer projects, donation opportunities and tikkun olam ideas to bring service to the center of your Hanukkah celebration!
The holidays are a festive time of year, but they can be difficult for seniors without strong support networks or family members. This Hanukkah, reach out to the elders in your life and brighten their days. Some ideas to get you started:
- Grandparents Gone Wired: Join Dosomething.org’s campaign and help your grandmother, grandfather, or someone else you love access the digital age (they offer tips for setting them up on Facebook, Gmail, and Skype)
- Visit a Veterans Affairs Hospital: Search by zip code to find a VA hospital or facility near you – contact them directly about volunteer and visiting opportunities.
- Veteran Crisis Hotline: Help spread the word about the Veteran Crisis Line, which connects veterans in crisis and their families and friends with qualified responders.
- Visit Holocaust Survivors: Apply to be a regular visitor for a survivor of the Holocaust through iVolunteer (Read more about this wonderful organization on Repair the World’s blog, here.)
- Deliver Meals and a Smile: Volunteer with Meals on Wheels to bring a meal to an elderly or housebound person. You can search by zip code to find volunteer opportunities in your area.
Jewish tradition emphasizes the importance of respecting our elders, visiting them, and seeking out their wisdom. How are you planning to honor your elders this holiday season – and beyond? Let us know by tweeting @repairtheworld and #8Nights
by Leah Koenig | December 27, 2011 | 0 comments
Happy Tuesday! Thanks to the holiday season, the web is especially alight with stories of service, volunteerism, and giving. Here’s your weekly round up of our faves:
- TED and The Huffington Post recently teamed up to share 18 ideas that could change the world in 2012. Today, they honor children’s impact on shaping our world.
- The Huffington Post also posted about the NYC-based interfaith organization, Faith House and their work to build stronger communities within and across all faiths.
- JSpot published a compelling year-end fundraising appeal by Repair the World grantee-partner Jewish Funds for Justice and the Progressive Jewish Alliance.
- GOOD offers their roundup list of “The Year in Green Innovation.”
- Echoing Green ends today’s list with a call for further reading: more than a dozen inspiring books to read in the New Year.
