Generation Of Promise
FJA students share Jewish life and customs with local teens.
Talia Schechet
Teen2Teen Staff Writer
A
Christian, a Muslim and a Jew
dance the hora together. Sounds
like the sendup of a joke, doesn't
it? Think again. On Nov. 9, students partic-
ipating in Generations of Promise (GOP)
visited Frankel Jewish Academy (FJA) in
West Bloomfield for a day of learning.
GOP was founded in Detroit in 1987 to
help foster cross-cultural communication
between teens from various racial com-
munities. A yearlong experience for high
school juniors who have demonstrated
leadership potential, GOP gives Metro
Detroit students sustained interaction
with teens from different backgrounds
and takes them on trips to learn about
the various communities present in
Metropolitan Detroit. Each field trip has
its own theme, including cultural diversity,
critical issues and community service.
GOP coordinators chose FJA to learn
lunch, we talked and grew
about Judaism and Jewish life. Abbie Ginis, more comfortable around one
Jonathan Pachter and I presented short
another.
lessons on selected Jewish topics. I taught
Educating others about
about Shabbat and Jewish values; Abbie
my faith was enriching, but,
and Jonathan presented kashrut and
for me, the best part of the
Jewish holidays, respectively.
day was the Jewish dancing
I prepared my lesson and waited in anx- we did together. Cheesy as it
FJA students Talia Schechet and Jonathan
ious anticipation. However, when the GOP
may sound, linking arms with
Pachter dance the hora with Mahmuda Ahmeda, a
teens arrived, their faces open and eager,
complete strangers with whom Generation of Promise student.
any doubts I had about the day's success
I had previously shared nothing
were immediately dispelled. After giving
in common served as a social
know that I projected a positive image of
a tour of the school, Jonathan, Abbie and I
bridge. Barriers were knocked down as we
my faith, but I also have discovered that all
taught our lessons on Judaism. A teacher
enthusiastically — albeit awkwardly —
it takes to build a more promising future
discussed Jewish texts.
tried to step in unison, usually resulting
are a few optimistic kids and an open
Throughout the course of the day, we
in peals of laughter. By the end of the day,
mindset.
visited a synagogue and examined Torah
differences were forgotten as we chatted
scrolls, were lectured on topics such
and exchanged contact information. We
Talia Schechet is a sophomore at Frankel
as denominational differences and the
were no longer people uniting because of
Jewish Academy. To learn more about
Israeli-Palestinian conflict. We played a
our diversity. We were just ... people.
Generation of Promise, go to www.
customized Jeopardy game as a fun way to
In reflection, it is no surprise that I
generationofpromise.org.
reinforce what the GOP students had been gained as much as I gave during my GOP
learning throughout the day. Over a pizza
experience. Not only is it satisfying to
Nktoti.tv: oNwov
FriencL
Student enjoys cultural exchange.
Christopher Carter
Generation of Promise Participant
I
n the Generation of Promise
Program, we choose cultural groups
we want to explore and learn more
about. I chose to learn about the Hispanic
culture but was given the Jewish culture,
my second choice.
Now, I'm a kid who has been watch-
ing the Simpsons since I was little, and I
never quite understood the local come-
dian Krusty the Clown. His character is
Jewish and had a different way of life. I
watched Schindler's List and learned the
story of Anne Frank, but I never had a full
connection to what Judaism and Jewish
life meant. However, by engaging on this
Learniinai
BBYO's Panim Institute teaches teens
to reach for a better world.
Lauren Yellen and
Lexie Sittsamer
Teen2Teen Staff Writers
B
BYO's Panim Institute Summit
On Equality program was held in
Boston in mid-November. Panim
focuses on training and inspiring teens
committed to service, advocacy and phi-
lanthropy in hopes of improving the world
and the well-being of humans.
The Panim Institute has been named
one of the nation's 50 most innovative
Jewish nonprofits in Slingshot 2011-2012,
a resource guide for Jewish innovation.
After being blown away by incredibly
motivational speakers the first night, we
60
December 15 ' 2011
didn't think the program could get any
better. We were wrong.
Our first program was presented by
Gateways, Boston's central agency for
Jewish special education, where they
believe every Jewish child deserves a
Jewish education. Two women came into
the breakfast room and handed us a paper,
boxes and laminated cards. Our instruc-
tions were to walk around the room, meet
new people and gather names listed on
the cards. The cards had names of notable
figures with disabilities. For example, did
you know that George Washington had
learning disabilities?
After a shift in rooms, we sat in pairs at
different stations to evaluate disabilities
spectacular trip of awareness and under-
standing, I have learned many things.
I learned about the four types of Jews:
Reform, Conservative, Orthodox and
Reconstructionist. I visited a Reform
temple and was able to get a vivid idea of
what kinds of services are held and com-
pare them to the life I live. I learned about
kashrut, which means "proper." I learned
about many Jewish holidays, such as
Passover, and about Shabbat, which is cele-
brated every Friday 18 minutes before sun-
down until an hour after sunset Saturday.
I also learned about kosher foods and
and how they really affect people who
might do things with a little help. Some
of us were blindfolded to walk around
the room with someone guiding us by the
elbow. Others tried to draw a star by only
looking in a mirror and not the paper in
front of us. We all were able to make our
way through the stations with help from
friends. Through the course of the hour, all
84 teens got firsthand experience of what
people with disabilities go through.
At the hotel, we discussed how we can
affect the lives of the people around us,
even if we don't have someone watching
over our shoulders. During free time, some
kids helped homeless men and women
around the city. Some kids chose to donate
their money rather than spending it on
themselves.
While touring the Freedom Trail, there
was extra food from lunch. As a group, we
consolidated what we had left and asked
people who looked hungry if they'd like an
orange or a cookie.
what can and cannot be eaten. At lunch-
time, I sat back and enjoyed some of the
best cheese pizza ever. I was able to see a
Torah and took some cool photographs.
At the end of the day, I was thrilled to
have been so lucky to learn some great
traditional dances that are performed at
a Jewish wedding. I truly enjoyed myself,
and I look forward to returning to Frankel
Jewish Academy to learn more and to
catch up with new friends.
Christopher Carter is a junior at Cass
Technical High School in Detroit.
Lauren Yellen, 15, and Lexie Sittsamer,
17, at BBYO's Panim Institute in Boston
Later, we discussed what we can do to
change the things we see around us and
make the world a happier place.
BBYO's Panim summit was very inspir-
ing. We were so excited to be able to have
had this opportunity, and now we can
impact our communities. I
Lauren Yellen, 15, and Lexie Sittsamer, 17,
live in Farmington Hills.