JCUA's  Action Reconciliation Service for Peace (ARSP) intern from Germany photographed and put together this beautiful photo essay about JCUA's Sukkot Housing Action on Oct. 11, 2011.  Shot with color film, our ARSP intern chose these photographs out of over a hundred negatives to tell a narrative about the protest. She scanned the photos and then used Photoshop to transform them into black and white.

If you are interested in learning how to create your own photo essay about a JCUA or Or Tzedek action, your Or tzedek summer program experience or an action in your home coummunity, "shoot" Rebecca (get it? like you shoot film...puns are hysterical) an email.

Think you can make a better leadership retreat video? (And, let's be honest, you definitely can...) Send your videos to rebecca@jcua.org and we will post them on the blog! Just make sure to include: the date (Dec. 28-30, 2011), the name (Or Tzedek Winter Leadership Retreat) and how to register (www.jcua.org/retreat). 

Over a year had passed since I was last at Lathrop Homes when I went back there for Tashlich this fall. The day was beautiful (it was Sunday) and Rebecca, another student activist and I were meeting with a Lathrop Homes resident, Sandra, before taking part in the traditional Tashlich ceremony and planning our future actions. Sandra shared poetry with us and voiced her opinion regarding the precarious status of Lathrop Homes, the affordable housing community where she lives and raised her family.

Currently the future of Lathrop Homes is up in the air as steps are being taken to transform much of the property into market-priced homes. This poses a huge problem for the many families and individuals who live and have lived in the community for decades. It was shocking to realize how unpredictable the residents’ futures are. However, it was also inspiring to see Sandra’s passion and love for her community.

I met Sandra in the summer of 2010 when I attended Or Tzedek and it was wonderful to see her again. During the brief time we met with her, I was reminded of her enthusiasm and the vivacity of the Lathrop Homes community. Oftentimes the only image of affordable housing people have is of a dangerous, dilapidated place, but Lathrop Homes looked nothing like what people expect. Later during the Tashlich ceremony we discussed the changes we would like to make this year and committed ourselves to continuing social action, specifically with Lathrop Homes in mind.

- Lauren Bergelson, Or Tzedek Participant, Summer 2010