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J-Serve is the annual day of service for Jewish youth throughout the world. It is a day on which Jewish teens join their counterparts in other faith communities, other cities and other countries in giving of their time to serve the communities in which they live.

 

Press

Media Inquires Press Release FAQ/Fact Sheet


Media Inquiries to:

Rafi Glazer
PANIM: The Institute for Jewish Leadership and Values
p: (301) 770-5070 ext. 223
Rafig@panim.org

Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

10,000 JEWISH TEENS NATIONWIDE AIM TO IMPROVE THE WORLD DURING DAY OF SERVICE, SUNDAY, APRIL 26th

Ten thousand Jewish teens from across the United States, Canada, and Israel will participate in a day of community service and improvement projects as they take part in J Serve, a national day of volunteerism and engagement on April 26.

With over sixty communities registered, teens will be participating in a variety of different projects on this year’s day of Jewish youth service. Included in this year’s projects are a carnival for children with developmental disabilities in Houston; a food stamps simulation project in Kansas City; a beach cleanup in Miami; and renovation of an historic downtown synagogue in Detroit. Most of the projects were conceived of and orchestrated entirely by teens in each of the communities who are committed to influencing change and making a difference.

“We are very excited to once again participate in J-Serve.” said J-Serve Kansas City coordinator Debi Tozer. “The project the teens have created is innovative and really showcases their goal to take on service learning initiatives. For this year’s project, the teens hope to raise awareness, experience, and take action in helping the thousands of people living on food stamps in the Kansas City area.”

This year marks the fifth in which thousands of Jewish youth from coast to coast will turn out in force for J Serve, designed to encourage Jewish service, community building and creation of connections across religious and societal lines.

J Serve 2009 is a collaboration of PANIM: The Institute for Jewish Leadership and Values and the Jewish Coalition for Service, with additional support by partner agencies and foundations.
“What makes J Serve so powerful is that it enables the entire Jewish community to act in a unified fashion, transcending denominational and institutional lines,” said Rabbi Sid Schwarz, president and founder of PANIM. “J Serve empowers teens by making them aware that through service they can become positive change agents--fulfilling the Jewish mandates to bring tzedek, justice, to the world. The fact that thousands of teens participate in J Serve annually shows both the commitment of the Jewish people to service as well as the strength of the unified Jewish community.”
J Serve 2009 is the Jewish service component of the annual Global Youth Service Day of Youth Service America. J Serve 2008 generated 62 community service projects across the country and attracted 10,000 teen volunteers.

Those interested in participating in a J Serve project can find additional information on the J Serve website, www.jserve.org.

J Serve is a collaboration of PANIM: The Institute for Jewish Leadership and Values and the Jewish Coalition for Service, with additional support by partner agencies. The initiative is generously underwritten by the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation and the Joseph and Rebecca Meyerhoff Award Committee.

PANIM: The Institute for Jewish Leadership and Values educates, inspires and empowers Jewish youth to a lifetime of leadership, service and advocacy on behalf of the Jewish people and society at large. PANIM’s unique approach to Jewish education – integrating Jewish learning, values and social responsibility – reinforces Jewish identity and inspires a commitment to become agents for positive social change in the world. Since 1988, its flagship programs, Panim el Panim and the Jewish Civics Initiative, have reached more than 15,000 Jewish teens from more than 200 communities across the United States. PANIM programs allow students to explore public policy issues, activism and social justice through a Jewish lens.

The Jewish Coalition for Service aims to inspire Jewish community members to dedicate a part of their lives to full-time, hands-on volunteer service. The Coalition acts as a clearinghouse and central resource for volunteers and project organizers for numerous programs in North America, Israel, and elsewhere around the world. Participants, age 15 through retirement, work, study and volunteer together and collectively underscore Jewish community solidarity and concern for those in crisis around the world.

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FAQ/Fact Sheet

Click here for the 2009 J-Serve fact sheet. J-Serve 2010 Coming Soon.

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J-Serve has been generously underwritten by the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation and the Joseph and Rebecca Meyerhoff Awards Committee.