6 Jewish Communal Service Students Attend Winter Seminar in Israel

During January, six students from Wurzweiler's Jewish Communal Certificate program attended a 12 day Graduate Study Seminar in Israel, along with six students from other NY universities. The seminar, organized by the UJA Federation of New York for graduate students interested in working in the Jewish community, afforded participants an insider's perspective on Israeli society and its social services. One subject of study was the recent war in Lebanon, its impact on Israeli communities, and the response of government and not-for-profit agencies to the needs of the civilian population.

Seminar participants visited social service agencies in Jerusalem and northern Israel and met with professionals and volunteers. The critical challenges on Israeli's social agenda included rebuilding the physical and social service infrastructures in the aftermath of the war with Lebanon, aiding evacuees from Gush Katif, combatting poverty and hunger, understanding the challenges facing Arabs in Israel, and helping the recent wave of immigration. Special focus was also given to understanding the evolving relationships between diaspora communities and Israel.

Students returned with a wealth of new knowledge, new friends and colleagues from other universities, and a reinforced commitment to pursuing careers in the Jewish community.
(Thanks to Saul Andron, Director of the Certificate in Jewish Communal Service program, and Rachie Jacobson, a student in that program, for reporting this event.)