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Jewish Community News
News: May 2004
Beth David Hebrew High students learn tikkun olam in hands-on class
by Emily Isaacs
Emily Isaacs is a Beth David Hebrew High Student. She recounts a class she took last semester titled “Changing the World One Sandwich at a Time” taught by Bonnie Slavitt Moore and Marilyn Schilling.
During the course of the nine-week semester my classmates, Becky Pressman, Abigail Gavens, Talia Salzman, Stacey Newman, Lisa Parrish, Sarah Raider and I volunteered for such organizations as Career Closet, Casa Say, Canine Companions, Hatikvah House, the Lucille Packard Child Center, and the Bill Wilson Center. The two-hour class was structured so that we would learn about a particular mitzvah first hour and actually perform that mitzvah for a specific organization the second hour.
The highlight of the class for Stacey Newman was ironing for Career Closet, an organization that supplies women with appropriate clothes for job interviews. After learning about the mitzvah of helping people find work, we ironed blouses and skirts and polished shoes.
We also enjoyed learning about Canine Companions, an organization that helps disabled children regain mobility with the aid of dogs. We met Diane Rampelberg, a dog trainer, and Dustin II, a facility dog who helps with dog therapy. We then made “dress-up” packages for patients to use with Dustin to help them improve their mobility.
We did several activities to help the homeless. Talia Salzman’s favorite was cooking for the Bill Wilson Center because, “I love cooking!” Our class, together with the cooking class, made a gourmet Christmas meal for 15 homeless teens in San Jose. We made salad, chicken, potatoes, and cupcakes, and the dinner was a big success. Another evening the residents of Hatikvah House, who have mental disabilities, talked with our class. Together, we filled bags of necessities for the homeless, an experience which Abigail Gavens described as “interesting and fun.”
“Changing the World One Sandwich at a Time” was a great experience. Bonnie and Marilyn were wonderful teachers who planned interesting, educational activities. Becky Pressman spoke for all the students when she concluded, “it was really interesting to learn about all the organizations and be able to give back to the community.” I hope Bonnie and Marilyn will consider teaching the class again so that other students can benefit from the experience as I did. My only disappointment was that I didn’t get to make a sandwich...
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