This Is a Shared World: Sarah Tralins on Service, Judaism, and Repairing What’s Broken
From a young age, Sarah Tralins learned that living a Jewish life meant showing up for her community. For Sarah, Jewish service was part of everyday life. Her mother led her school’s PTA, and her father volunteered generously. Community engagement wasn’t framed as something extraordinary; it was simply what it meant to show up as a Jew.
“I feel very fortunate that my parents modeled for me what being an active citizen is and also that being an active member of the community is something that’s Jewish. It was never really just about giving money, so much as giving your time and showing up with compassion. That really stuck with me,” Sarah reflected.
Sarah’s professional journey spans government, healthcare, hospitality, and tech, yet her compass has always pointed toward tikkun olam, the Jewish calling to repair the world. After years in Washington, D.C., she returned to Miami searching for a volunteer opportunity that would not only make an impact, but also feel meaningful, sustaining, and Jewish.
That search led her to Repair the World Miami. She recalls her first program vividly:
“It felt like these are my people. People who understand that what we do locally has an impact on our shared lives and our experience of the city. People who understand that a Jewish value is to show up fully in both that moment and the challenging ones, bringing compassion, putting the hours in, and doing the work.”
Sarah and volunteers gardening at the Belafonte Tacolcy Center
Even with a full-time tech job, Sarah committed deeply to Jewish service. As a member of Miami Repair’s Service Corps, she contributed over 60 hours to the Belafonte Tacolcy Center’s garden project.
“I care about access to food,” Sarah explains. “In some Miami communities, you don’t see the breadth and diversity of stores needed to feed people and what is available isn’t always economically accessible.”
Over three months, Sarah rolled up her sleeves to weed, plant, and transform a community garden, creating a lasting green space that continues to nourish both the community and the environment in Miami’s Liberty City neighborhood.
Sarah’s service culminated in the unveiling of the Belafonte Tacolcy Center’s butterfly garden alongside a revitalized community garden planted with native species. This transformative Jewish service experience inspired her to step into a leadership role as Chair of Repair the World’s Miami Advisory Council.
Sarah’s journey is a powerful reminder that repairing the world begins with showing up.
“This is a shared world… Being Jewish is about being a blessing to others to build a better world.. being part of my community and trying to create more joy. That’s where I get excited.”
Thanks to leaders like Sarah, Repair the World has mobilized 12,250+ young Jews and their peers in Miami since 2017, contributing 37,700+ hours of service and learning in areas including food and housing security, environmental justice, and reproductive health.
Looking to turn your passion for tikkun olam into action? Reach out for leadership opportunities locally and nationally at [email protected].
