Jews for Judaism's first collaborative agencies meeting to begin implementation of its Commuity Mobilization Against Proselytizing Program funded by The Foundation. Participants include (L-R): Bill Cohen, LA Hebrew High; Shoshana Hirsh, Jewish Student Union; Eitan Ginsburg, LA Hillel Council; Rabbi Bentzion and Zalman Kravitz, Jews for Judaism; and Joel Chernick, JCA Shalom Institute. |
Program's Mission:
Strengthen Jewish identity and respond to proselytizing efforts that target Jews for conversion.
Grant:
$175,000 Cutting Edge Grant received in 2007 for their Community Mobilization and Empowerment Against Proselytizing initiative.
About the Program:
According to Rabbi Bentzion Kravitz, Executive Director of the Los Angeles branch of Jews for Judaism International, aggressive peer-to-peer outreach is quickly becoming a popular way for missionary organizations to proselytize. The Jewish community must counteract this new type of proselytizing by directly addressing the questions, concerns and fears Jewish kids face when missionary organizations target them.
In August 2007, The Foundation presented Jews for Judaism with a Cutting Edge Grant to support their new "Community Mobilization and Empowerment against Proselytizing" initiative. Jews for Judaism will work closely with such agencies as Hillel, Jewish Student Union, L.A. Hebrew High and JCA Shalom Institute to train young Jews and Jewish professionals on how to resist the lure of missionaries, cults and peer pressure.
This program will train student liaisons to serve as peer-to-peer representatives on their campuses and host an annual student leadership training retreat and concert. It will develop a student-oriented website, and produce a student prep kit and interactive DVD to empower students with information to deal effectively with proselytizing. The program will also offer specialized training for Jewish professionals so they can provide guidance to young Jews who come to them with questions.
"We are delighted that our Cutting Edge Grant will help counter the aggressive and sophisticated efforts aimed at Jews by missionary organizations," said Marvin Schotland, president and CEO of The Foundation. "Most importantly, through Jews for Judaism, multiple Jewish organizations and professionals are coming together for the common goal of protecting vulnerable Jewish youth who are often targeted by missionaries."
This is not the first grant that The Foundation has given to Jews for Judaism International. In fact, Rabbi Kravitz says The Foundation's support over the years has given the organization credibility in the eyes of the community and enabled them to take risks and start new programs.
"The Jewish Community Foundation has been one of our greatest supporters," said Kravitz. "They share in the great work that we're doing and I don't believe the growth that we've had would have been possible without their help."