2011 Or Ami Award Winning Program
CONTENTS: 1/11/2012
Featuring the 2011 WRJ Or Ami "Light of My People" Award for Excellence in Sisterhood Programming
At each assembly, Women of Reform Judaism honors sisterhoods and districts that undertake innovative and significant social justice programs, community services, or educational projects with the Or Ami "Light of My People" Award for Excellence in Sisterhood Programming. Today we begin a series of Social Justice e-mails on WRJ's 48th Assembly Or Ami Award recipients.
By responding to domestic and global needs, the sisterhood and district members working on such programs and projects fulfill WRJ resolutions and our constitutional mandate to respond to domestic and humanitarian needs. The programs described can be useful to your sisterhood as resources for program and community service ideas which can be replicated, adapted, or taken in new directions.
Although only a few submissions can receive the award, WRJ applauds the achievements of the many sisterhoods that submit applications for the Or Ami Awards. All submitted projects can serve as models for fine sisterhood programming. Accordingly, we will feature the gold, silver, and bronze award winning programs over the next few months, and will follow up with brief descriptions of all programs that were submitted. The following two submissions were among those receiving gold Or Ami awards.
Bet David Sisterhood Social Justice Programs: Twin Alexandra Township Feeding Schemes, Mandela Day, Mitzvah Day
Bet David Sisterhood, Sandton, South Africa
The sisterhood Twin Alexandra Township Feeding Schemes program feeds 250 destitute pupils at Zenzeleni Primary School as well as 250 indigent adults and children at Leamogetswe (All are Welcome) daily. The sisterhood also provides other family assistance for the impoverished residents of these communities as needed. Mandela Day was an interactive program, coordinated by the sisterhood, for 218 children from Alexandra Township. The children came from the Look and Love Shelter as well as the Alexandra Orphanage and Child Care Centre in the spirit of the national Mandela Day’s sixty-seven minutes of service to less fortunate members of the community. For Mitzvah Day, the sisterhood honored the elderly with a concert and tea.
Combating Human Trafficking
Sisterhood of Temple Sholom, WRJ, Vancouver, BC, Canada
Inspired by a presentation in 2008 on the evils of human trafficking and the need for strong legislation to combat it, a sisterhood leader urged the board to launch a campaign to raise awareness on the issue. With support from the sisterhood board, she brought together a coalition of many community agencies and organizations interested in urging Parliament to pass Bill C-268, which would provide mandatory minimum sentencing for offences against minors who were victims of human trafficking. A forum on the issue, letter writing campaign, petition, and other advocacy efforts were organized and succeeded in generating public support for Bill C-268. The bill was passed in June of 2010, thanks in part to the efforts of the sisterhood and the work of its leader in collaboration with various partner groups and individuals.
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