June 2021 Tikkun Olam Newsletter

As we come off the seemingly unending winter of our pandemic with the sense that we just couldn’t tolerate any more assaults on our well-being, we’ve faced an alarming rise in antisemitic acts against Jews and Jewish institutions. Many of you have expressed your concerns and you are in good company; Jewish institutions throughout the world are logging an uptick. Having said that, we have to place things in context and moderate our reactions. For the most part, the antisemitism is not “state sponsored”—it reflects the actions of individuals. So given the situation, how might we respond?

Of course, many Jewish institutions have spoken out, lobbied legislatures and political leaders to denounce antisemitic actions and prosecute those responsible. We know that our state and federal governments are taking these steps. On an individual level—person to person—we can also act to combat antisemitism. Wise’s wide array of tikkun olam projects include some of the most important actions we can take as a community. The hundreds of young Wise Readers to Leaders scholars who receive free literacy camp for the summer, the dozens of veterans whose homes are supplied necessities by Homes for Heroes, the children in Los Angeles who need your help as a  Court Appointed Special Advocate, the residents of LA Family Housing properties, and the refugees around the world who benefit from the generosity of our community—helping all of them is our response. When Jews are reaching out and improving the quality of the lives of many, we are simultaneously pushing back against the antisemites who seek to slander us and prove the lies behind their hatred. Our selfless commitment to the well-being of those beyond the boundaries of our community affirms that the Jewish community cares about all communities.

As we gear up for a (hopefully) COVID-free year and step out into the world again, we encourage you to read our tikkun olam updates and recognize that our actions not only make the lives of others better, but they might even help to make our Jewish community more secure in a powerfully proactive manner. And, most importantly, you can feel a sense of agency as you do your part to increase the numbers of those who will stand beside us when we are in need of support.

Make a difference in a child’s life—Wise is seeking Court Appointed Special Advocates
Interest Meeting: Thursday, June 24 at 7 p.m. | REGISTER
Help a child meet their true potential. Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) for Children of Los Angeles improves the lives of children in the dependency system by pairing them with trained volunteer advocates. Nowhere in the nation is the problem greater than in Los Angeles County, where 30,000 children who have been abused or neglected are under the jurisdiction of the Dependency Court. CASA alleviates the feelings of abandonment and alienation that scar these young lives by harnessing the compassion and generosity of caring adults who can and do have an enormous impact on the development of the child at all ages.

Testimonials from Wise members about working with CASA/LA:

We have been involved with CASA/LA since 2012. We were looking for an opportunity to help enhance education opportunities in our community, seeking to make change, one child at a time. Ed became a member of the Board of Trustees and chaired the Finance Committee. As an entirely donor supported organization strong financials are a key to growing the organization’s impact in the community. Deena helped recruit CASA volunteers. Most recently we completed our CASA training, which left us with even a greater understanding of the challenges foster children face in a system that screams for one-on-one support of the child.
— Deena and Ed Nahmias

I was assigned to a one-year-old baby girl who was living in foster care. Her mother, Lisa, had been in jail for a year and was recently released when I came into the picture. I spent time with Lisa and her child for a few years advocating for Lisa to have her child rightfully returned to her. After many court dates, Lisa and her baby were successfully reunited. Ordinarily this would be the job of a social worker, but the system is so overwhelmed that there are just too few social workers for so many foster kids. Most often these kids don’t ever meet their assigned social workers until they appear in court for the first time. As a CASA you work alongside the social worker and report to the judge, since it is the CASA who knows the child best and it is the CASA that the judge looks to more than the social worker! To this day I am in touch with Lisa and have seen her thrive along with her growing family. I loved being a CASA and can attest to getting so much out of the experience. I would recommend it to anyone wanting to make a difference in a child’s life.
— Jodie Fishman

“Writing Essential History Reports and being part of this program has allowed me to make a difference in the lives of children in the foster care system, while also giving me flexibility as a wife, mom of two teenagers, and part-time substitute teacher. Becoming a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) is by far one of the most rewarding experiences I have had as a volunteer. I know that each and every hour I put into working on a report, I have the ability to positively impact a child’s life!”
— Julie Weinstein

Wise School Tikkun Olam Committee brings carloads of donations to partners at LA Family Housing

Earlier this week, the Wise School Social Action / Tikkun Olam Committee visited LA Family Housing to drop off donated and assembled baskets of necessities for the residents. Committee co-chair Leila Javaheri wrote about the experience touring the facility and meeting Wise’s partners there: 
Today really was a very awe inspiring and rewarding day as members of Wise School’s Social Action / Tikkun Olam Committee came together to deliver 34 baskets filled with home necessities for LA Family Housing. Co-chair Rebecca Cohen and I would like to further our connection with them and create a deeper understanding of their work with the Wise community and students next year. We want to thank Mrs. Malka Clement and Rabbi Ron Stern for helping us make the connection to such a worthy cause. We are grateful to members of the committee Shanna Veiseh, Jasmin Javid, and Farnaz Hayavy and also to Wise School’s 3rd grade teachers for partnering with us to put the baskets all together.

Teens can change the world by joining Jewish World Watch’s Teen Ambassador Program (TAP)

Jewish World Watch is seeking dedicated, passionate, compassionate, and curious teens who want to learn about how to become leaders, advocates, and world-changers. The Teen Ambassador Program (TAP) is perfect for high school students who want to be better leaders and public speakers; who are interested in learning about the consequences of genocide—hunger, displacement, lack of education, poverty, violence against women; who need to acquire more community service hours for school; and who want to have fun and make new friends from all over the country while acquiring community organizing and advocacy skills to encourage peers and community members to take action for change. “TAP is an incredible, extremely eye-opening, and rewarding program,” says Palisades Charter High School student Eliana Makhani, “being empowered as a voice of change and positivity has impacted my outlook on the world and given me a deeper understanding for the person I want to be.”

Wise Readers to Leaders set to kick off Summer 2021!

Through a combination of on-campus and online activities, Wise Readers to Leaders is about to launch another spectacular summer of literacy, learning, confidence-building, and of course plenty of fun and games! Watch our tikkun olam news updates for ways you can support our incredible young scholars and the staff and teachers who work so hard to make their experiences special.

Red Cross Blood Drive on July 1

Did you know that you can also be swabbed to join the bone marrow registry when you give blood? Make an appointment to learn more!
Wise’s Red Cross blood drives have helped over 500 people in need since March of 2020 and it’s time to do our part again. Giving blood saves lives and hospitals are still in need. Mark your calendar for our next Wise Red Cross Blood Drive on July 1. The Red Cross team follows strict guidelines to ensure that giving blood is safe and effective. Appointments are required, no walk-ins will be allowed, and social distancing and safe hygiene practices will be in place.