Diller Teens: Spreading the Light!
Posted on 12/17/2021 @ 07:00 AM
The Cohort 9 Diller Teen Fellows embraced the spirit of Hanukkah at their “Spreading the Light” volunteering event.
Joining Diller communities from around the world, the Miami Diller teens studied about Tikkun Olam (repairing the world), one of the core values of the Diller Teen Fellows program.
The Fellows also had the unique opportunity to impact the community with a visiting group, the Machon Madrich Fellows, a teen leadership group focused on the development of experiential Jewish educators within the Russian-speaking community, from New York.
All participants completed a scavenger hunt to find appropriate Kosher Food at Publix to be donated to the Jewish Community Services Kosher Food Bank.
The JCS Kosher Food Bank is the only kosher food bank in Miami-Dade County and provides food to more than 380 families and nearly 100 Holocaust survivors.
The teens gathered the donations and headed to the Food Bank to stock the shelves, taking time to see the incredible space that is setup to prioritize the clients’ privacy and provide a space to serve them with dignity and compassion. There both groups learned more about the work of the Greater Miami Jewish Federation, JCS, and the Kosher Food Bank.
Miami Diller Teen Fellows has many opportunities to do Tikkun Olam, as a group and as individuals, through Impact Projects that Fellows and Alumni undertake.
Impact projects are teen-created and teen-led initiatives that fill a community need the teens have identified and feel passionate to address. The teens have the opportunity to apply for micro-grant funding from the Diller International Foundation to support and grow their projects.
To hone in on how they can connect their passions and skills with needs in the community, the teens spoke with Tobi Ash, who not only started the Kosher Food Bank in Miami, but has also dedicated endless time and energy to serving the communities around her. Tobi’s commitment to helping others was inspiring to the participants, who are eager to make an impact on the world as emerging Jewish leaders.
“Volunteering at the Kosher Food Bank was a truly moving experience. Listening to the effort that goes into preserving as much dignity as possible for the clients of the bank was inspiring. After speaking with Tobi, I feel inspired to delve into the problems in my community and devise a project to solve one that aligns with my morals.”
-Sofia Bronstein, Diller Miami Cohort 9 Fellow
The closing question of the experience is an important one:
Is there a way for you to repair the world
that only you can do?
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