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July 2009
:: Upcoming Events
:: What's Been Happening in the Community
:: AVODAH News
:: Alumni Highlights
:: Programs
:: Jobs
:: Update Your Contact Information
Upcoming Events

Bay Area

Stern Grove Summer Picnic
Enjoy the FREE musical stylings of Sergent Garcia and Curumin on Sunday, July 19th at the Stern Grove Music Festival with friends from the AVODAH-AJWS Partnership. We'll gather for a casual shared picnic and bask in the delight of one of San Francisco's best free summer offerings. Volunteers wanted for set-up. Bring veggie potluck items and drinks to share - local, organic, and sustainable foods are encouraged, as always, as well as your own reusable plates, cups and utensils.

When: Sunday, July 19th. Picnic starting at 12 noon, 2:00 show.
Where: Sigmund Stern Grove, 19th Avenue and Sloat Blvd, SF.  http://www.sterngrove.org/location.html
RSVP: to [email protected] to receive cell phone numbers to find our group at the park.

Progressive Jewish Alliance Banquet in the Streets
Mark your calendar for an important solidarity action with our friends at the Progressive Jewish Alliance! Join us for Banquet in the Streets, an opportunity to honor courageous local workers and celebrate fair and just working conditions. While San Francisco hotel workers are the backbone of our world-class tourism industry, HEI Le Meridien and the Fisherman's Wharf Hyatt hotels have refused to honor the workers' attempts to unionize. In the eyes of Judaism's broad ethical tradition, these hotels are not "kosher." Rather than hold a banquet inside these establishments, we'll take our celebration to the streets! Stay tuned for more details in the upcoming weeks. More info: [email protected].

When: Sunday July 26th, 4:30pm
Where: Le Meridien Hotel, 333 Battery @ Clay (BARTable at Embarcadero)
Music, light food, banquet attire encouraged

Social Change Book Club
Save the date for our next Social Change Book Club meeting on Sunday, August 23. Our next selection is Baking Cakes in Kigali by Gaile Parkin, a new soon-to-be-published novel about a cake baker marking celebrations in post-genocide Rwanda.

Date: Sunday, August 23, 2009
Time: 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Place: Private home in Noe Valley
RSVP and to reserve a copy** of the book: Dana Edelman

**We a few complimentary copies of the book to give to the first few people interested. Please contact Dana Edelman to pick up your free copy, first come, first served. We will create a waiting list to share the books.


Boston

Book Club
Come read The Yacoubian Building by Alaa Al Aswany with the book club in Boston. The book, one of the best selling Arabic language novels of all time, is a portrayal of modern Eygptian life and is centered around an apartment building in which the main characters all live or work.

When: Sunday, July 12, 6pm
Where: Picnic by the Charles River, meet on the Harvard side of the Weeks Footbridge.
RSVP: To Ari Shapiro (NY 02-03)
If needed, a rain plan will be announced via email on the morning of July 12.


DC

World Refugee Day: God Grew Tired of Us
In honor of World Refugee Day, join us in partnership with HIAS Young Leaders and the Sixth & I Film Club for a film about three Sudanese refugees who leave their homeland, triumph over adversity, and move to the U.S. The film will be followed by a panel discussion highlighting refugee advocacy and resettlement on international, national, and local levels.

When: 7:30 pm on July 1st
Where: Sixth & I Synagogue
RSVP: By clicking here.

Welcome to the Alumni Community
Join us as we welcome the current Corps members to our alumni community with celebration and support. Rivka Burstein-Stern (DC 06-07) and the DC Moishe House are generously hosting us - please stay tuned for more details.

When: July 14th - Time TBD.
Where: Moishe House DC
RSVP: Please let Jessie know if you would like to help out.

Organizational Leadership for Social Change: A Board Service Training
Do you have more interests and passions than your day job alone can fulfill? Want to make a sustained impact and lasting difference? Kick your volunteer work into a higher gear. Learn how to match your interests with meaningful volunteer leadership. Do the work of social change outside of your day job by serving on a non profit board. Learn how at our intensive two day training all about board service!

Who: 20s-30s adults in the DC area serving currently or interested in future nonprofit board service
When: Two day-long sessions, 10am to 5pm on Sundays, July 19th and 26th
Where: Centrally accessible DC location to be shared upon acceptance into the course
Cost: $36 materials fee
How do I apply: Please send your resume to [email protected] to request an application. Applications accepted on a rolling basis, limited number of spaces!

To further enhance the impact of this training, AVODAH-AJWS will offer monthly follow-up sessions for the rest of this year starting in September. These programs will be scheduled on weeknights from 6:30pm to 9pm.


New York

Money Talks.
Join the AVODAH-AJWS Partnership to hear from Miriam Barnard of The Fortune Society and Helena Tubis of Jews for Racial and Economic Justice. Miriam and Helena are two of the Jewish activist community's top fundraisers and will speak about giving, getting, and stretching the dollars that fuel our social justice work.

Date: Tuesday, July 7th
Time: 7pm - 9pm
Place: Jewish Community Project - 146 Duane Street (Tribeca)
To Register: Click here
Cost: Free!

Reel Talk: A Film Screening and Conversation on Storytelling and Social Justice

On Sunday, July 12th, join film enthusiasts, story tellers, and fellow Jewish activists, to experience "Youth Producing Change" - a series of short films created by youth from across the globe that premiered at the Human Rights Watch International Film Festival. Following the screening, local Jewish artists and activists will enhance our movie-going experience by sharing their vantage points as they facilitate dialogue about art and activism.

When: Sunday, July 12, 2pm-5pm
Where: Congregation Beth Elohim, 274 Garfield Place, Park Slope, Brooklyn
To register: Click here.
For more information: Contact [email protected].

Classic (and kosher!) movie snacks will be served.

Reel Talk is brought to you by the AVODAH-AJWS NY City Team and is co-sponsored by Brooklyn Jews, Uri L'Tzedek, and Mima'amakim. It is made possible thanks to collaboration with the Human Rights Watch International Film Festival and Founding Presenter, Adobe Youth Voices.

Welcome to the Alumni Community!
Save the Date! Join us as we welcome the current Corps members to our alumni community in style and with celebration and support. Jenn Bloustine (NY 00-01), Sarah Novick (NY 05-06), and Leia Grossman (NY 02-03)are generously helping to plan the event. If you want to join their efforts, please be in touch. Either way, mark your calendars and 'be there or be square'!

When: July 14th, 6pm
Where: Brooklyn (precise location TBA!)
RSVP: Please let Audrey know if you would like to help out.

Poetry as Protest - Beit Midrash
Hosted by Uri L'Tzedek and Mima'amakim
Co-sponsored by the AVODAH-AJWS Partnership

Please join us as we spend an evening exploring the relationship between poetry and social justice. We will look at examples of poetic activism spanning the Romantic period, the Irish Revolution and the Civil Rights movement. We will probe these poems for what they contribute to contemporary social justice discourse, as well as raise questions and qualifications in regard to the relation between poetry and activism. The evening will include poetry readings, discussions, and Jewish text learning.

When: Wednesday, July 22nd from 7:30-9:30pm
Where: Drisha Institute (65th and Broadway)
For more info: Contact Sarah Rindner at [email protected]

Dinner will be served.

AVODAH-AJWS-Hazon Book Club
Inspired by the book club in Boston, our next selection is The Yacoubian Building by Alaa al Aswany! Discussion of the book will be facilitated by AJWS staff member Alexis Kort.

Have you spent any significant time in Cairo? Let us know at [email protected] if you are interested in sharing your experiences during this session!

Date: Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Time: 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Place: AJWS Office
RSVP: To [email protected]. The book club is open to alumni, staff, and friends of our organizations.
What's Been Happening in the Community

Bay Area

Shabbat Dinner Series
The AVODAH-AJWS Shabbat dinner series debuted on June 19th. AVODAH alum Emily Kates (NY 04-05) organized the event along with fellow City Team members and Partnership friends Maya Trabin and Roni Ben-David. The sell-out crowd enjoyed homemade potluck dishes and stimulating conversation around the concept of Shabbat in the context of our work for social justice. AVODAH alum Drew Himmelstein (DC 03-04) and her husband were among the 20 people attendees. The series plans to grow in the next months, so stay tuned for more opportunities to build community in an intimate space with renewed traditions.


Chicago

Welcoming the Corps Members
Hollen Reischer (CHI 06-07) and Ilana Zafran (CHI 06-07) played host as Chicago area AVODAH alumni formally welcomed the current Corps members into the alumni community. Julia Leis (CHI 07-08),Caren Minkoff (NY 04-05), Lisa Pearl (DC 06-07), Naomi Richman (DC 02-03), Emma Rubin (CHI 07-08), Nadia Underhill (NY 99-00), Orit Vardi (CHI 07-08) and Shira Vardi (NY 02-03) all joined in making the evening a great success.
 

DC

Pray the Devil Back to Hell
On June 4th, over 40 alumni and partnership friends gathered for a screening of the film Pray the Devil Back to Hell. Roberta Brown, the President of Marylanders for Progress (Liberia), Inc, spoke to the assembled group about the organization's work with Liberian refugees in the U.S.


New York

AVODAH-AJWS-Hazon Book Club
On Thursday, June 11, 15 people gathered to discuss Baking Cakes in Kigali by Gaile Parkin.  The evening's conversation brought to light questions and opinions about the authenticity of the story, the author's literary style, and the use of the novel as a teaching tool. Susan Rosenberg, AJWS' Director of Communications, facilitated the discussion and AVODAH staff member Ari Shapiro was in attendance.

Love, Hate, and the Jewish State
On Thursday, June 18th, AVODAH was one of many co-sponsors of "Love, Hate, and the Jewish State: A Conversation on Israel and Social Justice." The event - which was convened by the New Israel Fund and Makom / Jewish Agency - brought together close to 120 people from a wide range of backgrounds to discuss how the social justice and Israel worldviews conflict, how the issue impacts Jewish communities, and the possibilities for a healthier conversation in the Jewish community. The event was emceed by comedian Yisrael Campbell and featured a reception with JDub's DJ Joro Boro. You can see pictures here.
AVODAH News

AVODAH Partner in Justice Events
AVODAH Chicago celebrated its second annual event on Wednesday, June 3. Our Partners in Justice honorees were Lorie Chaiten, Esq., Director of the Reproductive Rights Project for the Roger Baldwin Foundation of the ACLU of Illinois, and Rabbi Brant Rosen, spiritual leader of the Jewish Reconstructionist Congregation (JRC) in Evanston, Illinois. AVODAH Corps member Lucy Witt was the keynote speaker at the event.

AVODAH New York celebrated its sixth annual event on Thursday, June 4. Partners in Justice honorees were life partners Alan Cohen, Senior Director for Strategic Planning at UJA-Federation of New York, and Robert Bank, Executive Vice President at American Jewish World Service. AVODAH Alum Ayala Abramovici Livny (NY 98-99) - from AVODAH's first Corps member group - spoke at the event about her experiences in AVODAH and where they've led her in her life and career.

AVODAH DC celebrated its sixth annual event on Tuesday, June 16, honoring Partners in Justice Heather Booth, Founder and President of Midwest Academy and a veteran activist in the civil rights, women's rights, and antiwar movements, and Rabbi Fred N. Reiner, Senior Rabbi, Temple Sinai of Washington, DC. Corps member Jennie Netburn gave the keynote speech, describing her success at obtaining Social Security Disability benefits for one of her clients at her very first administrative hearing and the impact that AVODAH has had on her professionally, socially, and Jewishly.

Together the events raised over $200,000 for AVODAH and brought together more than 500 people to celebrate our work and our Partners in Justice.
Alumni Highlights

Aaron Devine's (DC 04-05) book Wonder/Wander, which tells the story of the people and places Aaron encountered while living and working in communities off the tourist trail in Latin America, is now available for purchase at Orinoco Kitchen in Brookline, MA. Two dollars from each purchase ($15) will be donated to The Home for Little Wanderers' programs to help at-risk children and their families in Boston. If you're out of town and would like to order a copy of Wonder/Wander, please contact Aaron directly.

Do you have news that you want to share with the AVODAH alumni community? Do you want to see your name in e-print? Please tell us about all the great stuff you are up to so we can feature you in our alumni highlights.
Programs

Jeremiah Fellowship (Los Angeles)
The Jeremiah Fellowship educates a select cohort of young Jewish adults about the Progressive Jewish Alliance's (PJA) unique vision of Jewish social justice and engages them in meaningful activism. Launched in 2005 as a new model of Jewish leadership development, the Fellowship connects young people to the city in which they live, the issues facing their community and helps them become effective and informed progressive community leaders and activists. Applications are now being accepted for the next round of the Fellowship in Los Angeles. For more information or to apply, please click here. The application deadline is August 4, 2009.

Selah Leadership Program (Boston)
The Selah Leadership Program trains a cross-section of leaders in Jewish and secular organizations to be effective, sustainable and collaborative agents for change. Selah provides unparalleled personal leadership development, skills to facilitate organizational change, and opportunities for social networking. Selah is currently accepting applications for the Boston City Cohort, due July 7, 2009. You must be a resident of and do work in Boston to be eligible. Click here to apply or contact the Selah Leadership Team at 212-213-2113 x47.
Jobs

AJWS (Multiple Locations)
AJWS is now hiring for positions in its service, education, program, and development departments.  For a complete listing of available jobs, please click here.

AVODAH (NYC)
AVODAH is seeking a Program Director who will plan and implement the educational, work-related, and community-building aspects of AVODAH's year-long program in New York City. The Program Director will be the primary resource for Corps members and serve as liaison to NYC-area worksites. He or she will also play a key role in AVODAH's national network of program staff.
 
This is an excellent opportunity for someone whose own work and life is defined by a commitment to connecting work for social change and Jewish life. Qualifications include: 4-5 years work experience in the field of social change, experience with team-building and skills-training, familiarity with and respect for a wide range of expressions of Jewish life, interest in leadership development for people in their early 20s, ability to prioritize and multi-task. Established connections to local activists and Jewish leaders preferred but not required.

Competitive salary and benefits. E-mail resume and cover letter only to Jevera Temsky at [email protected]. Please indicate NY Program Director in the subject line. For a more detailed job description, please click here.

AVODAH (NYC)
AVODAH is seeking a Program Associate to be a vital member of AVODAH's growing administrative team, providing support to AVODAH's two programs: the Year-long program and the partnership with AJWS. The ideal candidate will manage administrative duties while taking on greater roles in meeting coordination, program planning, and technology support. For the complete job description, please click here. The position is available starting July 29th.

BBYO (DC)
BBYO currently serves more than 25,000 teens throughout North America and seeks to offer creative opportunities for today's teenagers to ultimately fulfill its mission of reaching "more Jewish teens, more meaningful Jewish experiences." BBYO is looking for innovative, energetic, and motivated individuals who will think "outside of the box" to help BBYO reach its goal. Available opportunities include a Mid-Atlantic Area Executive Director (Washington, DC) and a Development Director (Washington, DC). BBYO offers mentor relationships, funding for professional development, and opportunities for world travel; all in a professional setting that takes seriously collaboration and the pursuit of new ideas.  For professional opportunities with BBYO, please contact [email protected] or visit www.bbyo.org/careers.

CODEPINK: Women for Peace (Los Angeles)
CODEPINK is a women-initiated grassroots peace and social justice movement working to end the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, stop new wars, and redirect our resources into healthcare, education, green jobs and other life-affirming activities. CODEPINK is looking to hire an administrative assistant/organizer in the Los Angeles area starting immediately, to handle day-to-day administrative tasks and assist the LA office and co-Founder with projects. For the complete job description, please click here.

Diller Teen Fellows (Bay Area)
The Diller Teen Fellows (DTF) program is a year-long international Jewish leadership program for high school students focusing on Leadership, Judaism, Community Service, and Israel. The Diller Teen Fellows seeks an Education & Program Director to provide curriculum support and coordination for all the regional Diller Coordinators, plan the professional development conferences, oversee the local programs to ensure quality standards, and help new communities launch the program. For the complete job description, please click here.

Hazon (Bay Area and New York)
Hazon works to create a healthy and sustainable Jewish community and a healthy and sustainable world for all. Since Hazon's founding in 2000, Hazon has created innovative and powerful programs built on outdoor adventures, particularly through bike rides. Since 2004 Hazon has focused on the relationship between Jews, food and contemporary life. Hazon is seeking to hire an Assistant to the Executive Director and a Bay Area Ride Director, please click here for complete job descriptions.

Jewish Family & Children's Service of Greater Mercer County (New Jersey)
Jewish Family & Children's Service of Greater Mercer County, Office of Support and Prevention seeks a part-time qualified candidate to provide Jewish leadership consulting for the Jewish Community Youth Foundation, a Youth Philanthropy Program in Princeton, NJ. The Jewish Community Youth Foundation is a Jewish youth philanthropy program for teens in grades 8-12. To apply or for more information, please contact Celeste Albert at [email protected] or 609-987-8100.

Jewish Funds for Justice (NY)
The Jewish Funds for Justice is a national public foundation guided by Jewish history and tradition. JFSJ helps people in the United States achieve social and economic security and opportunity by investing in healthy neighborhoods, vibrant Jewish communities, and skillful leaders. JFSJ's holistic approach to social change includes grantmaking and loans, service learning, leadership development, organizing, education, and advocacy. JFSJ is now hiring for positions in its service learning and development departments. For a complete listing of available jobs, please click here.

Jewish Women International (DC)
JWI is the leading Jewish organization empowering women and girls through economic literacy, community training, healthy relationships education and the proliferation of women's leadership. JWI is currently seeking an associate to assist in the development and maintenance of its programmatic work. The Program Department is responsible for JWI's mission-based work and develops and implements national and community-based training, programs and resources as well as advocacy engagement tools. For the complete job description, please click here.

Public Architecture (Bay Area)
Public Architecture, a nonprofit organization based in San Francisco, is seeking an Operations Associate with 1-3 years of experience to join its growing fulltime staff of five. Public Architecture, the leading national advocate for pro bono and public-interest design, mobilizes architects and designers to strengthen their communities through design. The Operations Associate will support this important work by developing and maintaining Public Architecture's office systems during a period of dynamic organizational growth. For the complete job description, please click here.

Rainforest Action Network (Bay Area)
Rainforest Action Network (RAN) campaigns for the forests, their inhabitants and the natural systems that sustain life by transforming the global marketplace through education, grassroots organizing, and non-violent direct action. RAN seeks a Grassroots Actions Manager will help coordinate online and offline actions on RAN's campaigns and issues, mobilize participants for them, and train and organize activists towards this end. This position aims to further RAN's mission and legacy of using cutting edge creative and direct action and organizing to challenge abuses of power and to advance environmental and social justice. For the complete job description, please click here.

Repair the World (NYC)
Repair the World is a new national nonprofit organization dedicated to building the field of Jewish service learning, and to inspiring a movement to make service to others a defining element of American Jewish life, learning and leadership. Two positions are available: Director of Development, to take a lead role in building a new organization and meeting its ambitious fundraising goals, and Vice President of Programs, who will have primary responsibility for Repair the World's work in building the field of Jewish service learning. For the complete job descriptions, please click here (Director of Development) and here (Vice President of Programs).

Spiritual Youth for Reproductive Freedom (DC)
Spiritual Youth for Reproductive Freedom (SYRF) educates, organizes and empowers youth and young adults (ages 16-30) to put their faith into action and advocate for pro-choice social justice. SYRF seeks a Program Coordinator who will be involved in all aspects of youth and young adult outreach. The Program Coordinator will cultivate relationships with youth interested in the SYRF program, develop resources used to train youth activists, represent the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice (RCRC) and SYRF at events and conferences around the country, update the SYRF website and assist with the development of a new SYRF online community. For the complete job description, please click here.

UpStart Bay Area (Bay Area)
UpStart Bay Area is a new nonprofit that provides education, coaching and consultation to nonprofit startups offering innovative opportunities for engaging Jews in Jewish life. Upstart is looking for someone who understands how critical the Office Manager / Administrative support member is to any organization and especially to a startup. The Office Manager is responsible for coordinating all administrative and support activities for UpStart Bay Area and assuring that UpStart functions efficiently. For the complete job description, please click here.
Update Your Contact Information

Have you moved? Or changed your email address, mailing address, or phone number recently? Please let us know so we can update our records. Please email Ari Shapiro with your new information.

If you would like to be added to a regional listserve please email the following people:
Bay Area - Jocelyn Berger
DC - Jessie Posilkin
New York - Audrey Sasson
Chicago, Boston, or Israel - Ari Shapiro
Rachel Chertok, National Director for Alumni and Leadership Development
AVODAH: The Jewish Service Corps
phone: 212-545-7759 ext 307