Meet Shira Berman - Trip Leader AWB New Orleans
Shira with a future AWBer at CJ

My name is  Shira Berman and I'm the trip leader for the AWB trip in New Orleans this year. I've lived in New Orleans for over four years now and I'm currently working on my master's in public health at Tulane University. 

All of our chanichim have arrived and we are excited to get this trip started! Today we'll be heading out to our three main volunteer sites:  Green Light New OrleansSt. Bernard Project, and  Recirculating Farms. After the work day is done, we'll be checking out the place where Mardi Gras is made at  Mardi Gras World. It already seems like we have some great chanichim who are looking forward to making a difference and getting to know the city so it should be a fantastic week!

Meet the AWB NOLA Staff
YJ AWB Staff in the Quiet Before the Teens!

We have gathered an incredible group of young people to guide your teens while they are in New Orleans of this amazing project.

From left:
Shira Berman, our trip leader, is from Atlanta, Georgia and is studying for her Master's in Public Health at Tulane University. She is a former staff member of Camp Judaean and was on Year Course '10-'11.

Aviva Weinstein  is from Washington, DC and is a student at Tufts University.  She has worked at Camp Tel Yehudah and was on Year Course in '12-'13.

Yael David is from Livingston, NJ, and is a student at Binghamton University. She is a staff member at Sprout Lake and was on Year Course in '12-'13.  Yael's younger brother Adi is joining her this year for his first AWB.

Matthew Kaplan is from Atlanta, GA and is a student at the University of Georgia. He is a staff member at Camp Judaea.

Ariel Glueck is from Highland Park, NJ, is a student at Hunter College  and is a staff member at Sprout Lake. Ariel's young brother is also on AWB for the first time.

Mac Lindner is in his first few weeks as Tel Yehudah's new assistant director. Mac first worked with YJ in 2012. He is originally from Galt California and went to San Diego State University.

Adam Bershad is from West Windsor, NJ, is a student at Temple University and works at Sprout Lake.

Alysha Erez (not pictured) is Young Judaea's representative in South Florida.  She grew up in Young Judaea. Her children are now attending YJ events in South Florida.

Fern Kachuk (not pictured) is currently the program director of Canadian Young Judaea and grew up in the Movement. 
A Note from Young Judaea's Executive Director
Simon Klarfeld

"Justice, justice shall you pursue."

One of the great teachings within the Jewish tradition lies in the biblical quote:

"Tzedek tzedek tirdof" or "Justice, justice shall you pursue." (Deuteronomy, 16:20)

The question we pose is:  Why is the word "tzedek" (justice) repeated here. The Rabbis teach us that there is no such thing as redundancy in the Torah, therefore any word or concept that is repeated, particularly as clearly as in this instance - has to be for a reason:

Are there two types of justice? A divine and a human? Does justice play out on two different scales? On the macro and the micro? Or two different arenas? The local and the global?

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Messages from AWB Grads

We reached out to some of our AWB graduates to send messages to those heading out this week for their own memorable experiences.  Read what they have to say:

Hey yo AWB 2015! I hope you are all really excited for the next week because you're about to participate in a program that used to be what I looked forward to all year.

Read Adina's Message and others HERE 
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YOU KNOW WHAT TO DO!
AWB TEENS WILL SUSTAIN THE CHANGE
 
Join YJ's teen leadership at National Convention

WHERE: Sprout Lake
WHEN: February 12-15th, 2016
WHY: 'Cause we believe!
WHO: Teens grades 9-12th

Email HERE
for information about flights, subsidies and more.