Engaging Teens in Activism & Tikkun Olam Presented By: Shiri Bernstein Marketing & Outreach Coordinator Areyvut

What is Activism? Intentional action to bring about social or political change. This action is in support of, or opposition to, one side of a controversial argument. Standing up for what you believe in! Activism should ALWAYS coincide with “service learning.” Before anyone begins to fight for their beliefs, they should understand what they are fighting for. Do not stand idly by when your neighbor’s life is in danger. I am God. – Leviticus 19:16

Intentional action to bring about social or political change.

This action is in support of, or opposition to, one side of a controversial argument.

Standing up for what you believe in!

Activism should ALWAYS coincide with “service learning.” Before anyone begins to fight for their beliefs, they should understand what they are fighting for.

Do not stand idly by when your neighbor’s life is in danger. I am God. – Leviticus 19:16

What is Tikkun Olam ? (Hebrew: תיקון עולם ) “ Repairing the world” or “perfecting the world.” In the Mishnah it states: mip'nei tikkun olam ("for the sake of tikkun olam ") which indicates that a practice of tikkun olam should be followed not because it is required by Biblical law, but because it helps avoid negative social consequences.

“ Repairing the world” or “perfecting the world.”

In the Mishnah it states: mip'nei tikkun olam ("for the sake of tikkun olam ") which indicates that a practice of tikkun olam should be followed not because it is required by Biblical law, but because it helps avoid negative social consequences.

What does Wiki Say? Among many, tikkun olam has taken on political, as well as religious, significance. It is often used as a synonym for social action or social justice, with the implication that we should work toward the development of a fair and equal society with the same zeal with which their ancestors may have followed Jewish religious law.

Facts About Gen Y (today's teens) They make up 26% of the population They are know as the “online” generation (always connected) Technology is in their circle of friends (their iPod is one of their extended limbs) Their attention span is limited, they get bored easily They smell a forced connection a mile away and don’t trust anyone

They make up 26% of the population

They are know as the “online” generation (always connected)

Technology is in their circle of friends (their iPod is one of their extended limbs)

Their attention span is limited, they get bored

easily

They smell a forced connection a mile away

and don’t trust anyone

10 Tips for Taking Social Action Taken from The Kid’s Guide to Social Justice By Barbara A. Lewis Choose a problem Do your research Brainstorm possible solutions & choose one Build coalitions of support Work with your opposition Advertise Raise money Carry out your solution Evaluate and reflect Don’t give up!

Choose a problem

Do your research

Brainstorm possible solutions & choose one

Build coalitions of support

Work with your opposition

Advertise

Raise money

Carry out your solution

Evaluate and reflect

Don’t give up!

Now, how exactly are you supposed to engage & motivate your teens in activism & tikkun olam ?

Motivation through the Media getting inside the mind of teenagers Cartoons Videos/Games Technology (Podcasts, Blogs Social Networks, Cell Phones…) Music We Didn’t Start the Fire By Billy Joel

Cartoons

Videos/Games

Technology

(Podcasts, Blogs

Social Networks, Cell

Phones…)

Music

We Didn’t

Start the Fire

By Billy Joel

We Didn’t Start the Fire What is this song referring to? Place teens in groups of four. Tell them that they are going to update the song. Have students individually brainstorm events and issues from 2000 – present. Have group members share. Create a group stanza. Pass out transparency and have groups write a new stanza. Each group will share / sing new stanza. Following the sharing have groups discuss rationale for events / issues included. Have groups research and investigate original song’s events and issues.

Place teens in groups of four.

Tell them that they are going to update the song.

Have students individually brainstorm events and issues from 2000 – present.

Have group members share.

Create a group stanza.

Pass out transparency and have groups write a new stanza.

Each group will share / sing new stanza.

Following the sharing have groups discuss rationale for events / issues included.

Have groups research and investigate original song’s events and issues.

1990-2001 Lyrics Written By Shiri Bernstein Fiber Optics, Bill Clinton, Storm Andrew, OJ Simpson Gulf War, Cold War, World Wide Internet Mid East, Trade Towers, Waco Texas, Collin Powell Oklahoma, LA Quake, Lorena Bobbitt Playstation, Rodney King, The 60’s are back again Columbine, Mark McGuire, Monica, John Glen “ We didn’t start the terror, it was always present though we tried to fight it, we didn’t start the terror, it is always near, despite our fear” Broadband, Boy bands, Palm Pilot, DVD Austin Powers, Unabomber, Reality TV Halley’s Comet, Y2K, Living in the info age 9-11, Anthrax, Barry Bonds, the X-box “ We didn’t start the terror, it was always present though we tried to fight it, we didn’t start the terror, it is always near, despite our fear”

1990-2001

Lyrics Written By Shiri Bernstein

Fiber Optics, Bill Clinton, Storm Andrew, OJ Simpson

Gulf War, Cold War, World Wide Internet

Mid East, Trade Towers, Waco Texas, Collin Powell

Oklahoma, LA Quake, Lorena Bobbitt

Playstation, Rodney King, The 60’s are back again

Columbine, Mark McGuire, Monica, John Glen

“ We didn’t start the terror, it was always present though we tried to fight it, we didn’t start the terror, it is always near, despite our fear”

Broadband, Boy bands, Palm Pilot, DVD

Austin Powers, Unabomber, Reality TV

Halley’s Comet, Y2K, Living in the info age

9-11, Anthrax, Barry Bonds, the X-box

“ We didn’t start the terror, it was always present though we tried to fight it, we didn’t start the terror, it is always near, despite our fear”

With Passion…

With Needs… Maslow’s Hierarchy

By Solving Problems Israel Animals Hunger Disabilities The Environment

Passions + Needs + Problems = A lifelong commitment to… Chesed (kindness) Tzedakah (charity) Tikkun Olam (well, you know what this means…) Because the teens have made the decisions on their own, they will be more likely to take a greater interest in the acts of kindness they are performing.

A lifelong commitment to…

Chesed (kindness)

Tzedakah (charity)

Tikkun Olam (well, you know what this means…)

Because the teens have made the decisions on their own, they will be more likely to take a greater interest in the acts of kindness they are performing.

So, now that we know what our teens are interested in, where do we go from here?

Exposure Role Models Ask older students, teachers and celebrities who have done cool, innovative projects to speak with your teens and discuss their experiences. Community Service Fairs Arrange a personalized fair for students. This exposition is a wonderful opportunity for students to begin the process of choosing a meaningful mitzvah project.

Role Models

Ask older students, teachers and celebrities who have done cool,

innovative projects to speak with your teens and discuss their

experiences.

Community Service Fairs

Arrange a personalized fair for students. This exposition is a

wonderful opportunity for students to begin the process of choosing

a meaningful mitzvah project.

Model A: Volunteer Fair Representatives from various community organizations introduce students and their families to a variety of hands on mitzvah projects. Staff should offer guidance on how to plan and execute mitzvah projects that best meet each students needs.

Representatives from various community

organizations introduce students and their

families to a variety of hands on mitzvah

projects. Staff should offer

guidance on how to plan

and execute mitzvah

projects that best meet

each students needs.

Model B: Hands-On Fair Students are introduced to a variety of mitzvah projects through participating in Hands-on activities that will help them decide what project best fits their needs and interests. Both models can also be combined into one fair.

Students are introduced to a variety of

mitzvah projects through participating in

Hands-on activities that will help them decide

what project best fits their needs and interests.

Both models can also be

combined into one fair.

Experiential Learning Let teens see first hand how fortunate they really are. Taking teens to a soup kitchen, lets them see who will benefit from their good deeds. This is often enough reward to motivate students to continue doing tikkun olam .

Let teens see first hand how fortunate they

really are. Taking teens to a soup kitchen,

lets them see who will benefit from their

good deeds. This is often enough

reward to motivate students to

continue doing tikkun olam .

Encourage teens to stand up for their beliefs . Encourage teens to do projects that interest them . Encourage teens to be creative and start a project on their own if they can’t find one that fits their needs. Encourage teens by participating in projects with them. Encourage teens to do projects with their friends . (VERY IMPORTANT!!) Encourage teens with rewards and incentives (i.e. community service hours). Encourage

Encourage teens to stand up for their beliefs .

Encourage teens to do projects that interest them .

Encourage teens to be creative and start a project on their own if they can’t find one that fits their needs.

Encourage teens by participating in projects with them.

Encourage teens to do projects with their friends .

(VERY IMPORTANT!!)

Encourage teens with rewards and incentives (i.e. community service hours).

RAD:D Sarita Rosenstock, of Princeton, NJ co-founded an independent, student-run organization called Raising Awareness Destination: Darfur dedicated to raising awareness about the ongoing genocide in the Darfur region of Sudan, and helping to stop it. Since RAD:D’s launch in 2005, it has spoken to youth groups, synagogues and schools, organized a number of fundraising and educational events regarding the crisis and is currently working on future events. The genocide in Darfur has been going on for years and not enough has been done to help the three million people awaiting relief. To learn more about the situation, get involved and help, contact RAD:D to find out how you can help make a difference and start a program in your community. Contact: Sarita Rosenstock Phone: 609-497-1149 E-mail: srpupp@princeton.edu

Sarita Rosenstock, of Princeton, NJ co-founded an independent, student-run

organization called Raising Awareness Destination: Darfur dedicated to raising

awareness about the ongoing genocide in the Darfur region of Sudan, and helping to stop it.

Since RAD:D’s launch in 2005, it has spoken to youth groups, synagogues and schools,

organized a number of fundraising and educational events regarding the crisis and is

currently working on future events.

The genocide in Darfur has been going on for years and not enough has been done to help

the three million people awaiting relief. To learn more

about the situation, get involved and help, contact

RAD:D to find out how you can help make a

difference and start a program in your community.

Contact: Sarita Rosenstock

Phone: 609-497-1149

E-mail: srpupp@princeton.edu

Operation Noah Operation Noah is an organization created by Dennis Fries, a teenager from Chandler, Arizona, when he was only 13 years-old. While undergoing medical tests, Dennis discovered how a soft, cuddly stuffed animal could comfort young hospital patients. With this in mind, Operation Noah set out to collect and deliver stuffed animals to cheer up children in local hospitals. In just over two years, Operation Noah has collected and donated over 20,000 stuffed animals, visited 50 hospitals and has expanded beyond Arizona to 10 states. Operation Noah's goal is to set up chapters in every state so that children in hospitals everywhere can be comforted. Get Involved: If you would like to participate or request that your community or organization be part of this project, please visit http://operationnoah.info for information on starting your own collection drive.

Operation Noah is an organization created by Dennis Fries, a

teenager from Chandler, Arizona, when he was only 13 years-old. While undergoing

medical tests, Dennis discovered how a soft, cuddly stuffed animal could comfort

young hospital patients. With this in mind, Operation Noah set out to collect and

deliver stuffed animals to cheer up children in local hospitals.

In just over two years, Operation Noah has collected and donated over 20,000

stuffed animals, visited 50 hospitals and has expanded beyond Arizona to 10 states.

Operation Noah's goal is to set up chapters in every state so that children in

hospitals everywhere can be comforted.

Get Involved: If you would like to participate or request that your community or

organization be part of this project, please visit http://operationnoah.info for

information on starting your own collection drive.

Helen’s Bike-a-thon Helen Berman of Westchester County, NY, held a bike-a-thon to raise money to buy food for victims of terror in Israel. The bike-a-thon was held at the Westchester County Center in White Plains. Despite the rain, over 50 people came out to show their support and partake in the activities. Some riders did the 3 mile route, while others did the full 14 mile “super advanced” trail. But no matter how far they rode, all participants received t-shirts and refreshments. After a full day of fun, Helen raised over $15,000.

Helen Berman of Westchester County, NY, held

a bike-a-thon to raise money to buy food for victims of

terror in Israel. The bike-a-thon was held at the

Westchester County Center in White Plains. Despite the

rain, over 50 people came out to show their support and

partake in the activities. Some riders did the 3 mile route,

while others did the full 14 mile “super

advanced” trail. But no matter how far

they rode, all participants received t-shirts

and refreshments. After a full day of fun,

Helen raised over $15,000.

Evaluate Mitzvah Project Planning Journal Mitzvah Essay Contest Log Community Service Hours Discussions & Reflections Be Creative! Photography/Videos Writing (poetry, drama, music, etc) Skits/Performances Visual Arts (murals, crafts, etc) Technology (blogs, etc)

Mitzvah Project Planning Journal

Mitzvah Essay Contest

Log Community Service Hours

Discussions & Reflections

Be Creative!

Photography/Videos

Writing (poetry, drama, music, etc)

Skits/Performances

Visual Arts (murals, crafts, etc)

Technology (blogs, etc)

Results Giving your teen proper guidance, leads to successfully participation in activism & tikkun olam . More than that, they will want to do chesed, tzedakah & tikkun olam.

Giving your teen proper guidance, leads to

successfully participation in activism &

tikkun olam .

More than that, they will want to do

chesed, tzedakah & tikkun olam.

More Information Shiri Bernstein (201) 244-6702 [email_address] Check it out! www.areyvut.org

Shiri Bernstein

(201) 244-6702

[email_address]

Check it out!

www.areyvut.org