Going into the Or Tzedek winter retreat, I was a little hesitant. I am very passionate about social action and I had a great experience on the summer program, but, in reality, I didn’t really know what to expect from the retreat I had helped plan. I wasn’t sure exactly what the experience would contain or who would be participating in the retreat. I was also very nervous about leading a workshop for the first time. However, within the first hour or two I knew the retreat was going to be a great experience.

Leading my workshop, called “What is Or Tzedek?” was nerve racking, but a great experience overall. I felt like the group really hit on what I was trying to get at about the involvement of the Jewish community in social issues. I also got great feedback and support from my peers. I was very interested by the discussion on power and where it is placed justly or unjustly; I think that is something that is very important to understand if you intend to make change. When we reached the topic of “one-on-ones,” I was fascinated because I had actually never heard of the concept before, but making personal connections in order to serve a cause made a lot of sense to me. I think one-on-ones will be a very valuable skill for me in the future.  

As I usually do, I loved phone-banking with SOUL. I think I love things like phone-banking and canvassing so much partly because I am a big people person. I also like taking part in such activities because they can bring awareness of important issues and events to people who might have otherwise missed out on a really amazing opportunity- and all with just a simple phone call.

The visit to the Immigrant Youth Justice League seemed a little redundant to me, as we worked with IYJL over the summer. I really enjoyed the podcast activity and the incorporation of modern media into the program, but I think that using another, newer topic with this activity might have served the program and its participants better.

I loved getting to know my fellow participants and spending time with them. Going ice-skating on Wednesday night was so much fun, as was all the other bonding time, including, believe it or not, getting woken up at 1 am by the hostel’s fire alarm. I had an amazing time helping plan and participating in the Or Tzedek winter retreat and in the end there is only one thing I would change. I would make the retreat longer.

If you are interested in taking a leadership role in Or Tzedek, please contact Rebecca, Teen Programs Coordinator: rebecca@jcua.org or 312-663-0960, ext.124.