Let the

Global Servant

JDC volunteer has worldwide impact.

JUDY GREENWALD I CONTRIBUTING WRITER

p

erry Teicher is a
young man with a
definite mission.
The 30-year-
old, who hails from West
Bloomfield and attends Adat
Shalom Synagogue, was named
steering committee co-chair
of the American Jewish Joint
Distribution Committee's (JDC)
Entwine Program in 2014 and,
under his lay leadership, the
program continues to expand
and educate young Jewish
professionals on the importance
An Entwine program in former-Soviet Georgia
of global service to both Jewish
and non-Jewish communities.
He is a recent graduate of
Teicher.
the University of Michigan's Law School
"I traveled with 20 other students
and Ross School of Business, holding a
from across the U.S., and we spent
J.D. and M.B.A., respectively. He received
time with a group of Bulgarian high
his bachelor's degree in organizational
schoolers. That was my first experience
studies and political science from U-M in
being in another Jewish community in
2007. He said his education has prepared the diaspora, and it was a pivotal one
him for the challenges of working within
— seeing how vibrant Jewish life can be
the JDC, the largest Jewish humanitarian
everywhere around the world.
aid organization in
"Then, in 2005, I participated in a
the world.
JDC-Hillel trip to the Ukraine and worked
"My organizational with the Jewish community in a small
studies major was
village. I also served as a Peace Corps
an outstanding
volunteer in Kazakhstan from 2007
program," Teicher
to 2009 and learned about a Jewish
said. "It's an
community there. I knew about the aid
interdisciplinary
work the 'Joint' was doing, got in touch
mix of psychology,
Perry Teicher
and JDC helped me connect with that
sociology, political
community."
science and business, looking at how
After the Peace Corps, Teicher was
organizations operate. This fits well
invited to join the National Steering
with my career goal of mission-driven
Committee for Entwine by the program's
investing — that is, working with
executive director Sarah Eisenman and
companies that are striving for positive
managing director Naomi Sage. Then,
social and environmental impact along
in 2014, he was selected as one of the
with strong financial performance."
committee's two co-chairmen, serving
Positive social impact is also at the
with Martin Storrow of Los Angeles. They
forefront of Teicher's involvement with
both work with the professional staff in
Entwine, a one-of-a-kind movement for
a variety of roles, assisting with Entwine
young Jewish leaders seeking to make
operations.
meaningful impact on global Jewish
"Young professionals are the heart
needs and international humanitarian
of Entwine, which works in some 70
issues. It was longtime JDC leader
countries worldwide, specializing in
Ralph Goldman, Teicher explained, who
disaster response, relief and recovery,
envisioned the creation of Entwine.
and Jewish community renewal and
"Goldman said, 'We live in one
revitalization," he said.
Jewish world that's interconnected.' The
Entwine is focused on three initiatives,
concept for Entwine came from this idea:
Teicher explained: the 10-day or multi-
that we all have responsibility for each
week trips to worldwide locations
other."
for volunteer service, an educational
It was a BBYO trip to Bulgaria in 1999
component of nationwide learning
that truly brought this idea home for
networks, and the Global Jewish Service

i s Corps (JSC), which matches young

adults with opportunities in such
diverse areas as Argentina, China,
Ethiopia, Haiti, Israel, India, Russia,
Rwanda and Turkey.
"There are study trips to learn
about volunteer work and the actual
volunteer trips, to work alongside
the local population and get a
better understanding of the needs
of different communities, no matter
their religious affiliations."
Participants do pay for their
own travel for the different-length
programs; however, he said, funding
also comes from Jewish federations
and from individual donors.
Teicher noted that not everyone
who cares about what's going on
in the world is able to go on the trips,
so Entwine has created locally based
learning networks throughout the
country, where young activists plan
social events such as fundraisers and
Shabbat gatherings, both of which have
included bringing guest speakers from
around the world to address global
Jewish issues.
Last year, he said, Entwine held a
successful event in Detroit, showcasing a
Polish-Jewish designer who has her own
clothing company and a line featuring
garments emblazoned with Jewish
symbols.
The chance to make a difference in
the international arena is the focus of
the JSC, Teicher explained. In response
to Jewish and humanitarian needs,
JSC fellows embark on a yearlong
commitment to live, work and be part
of an overseas community as paid
professionals, using their talents to create
innovative programs to address these
needs.
And why does Teicher feel a program
with important and varied components
like Entwine is necessary to cope with
global issues?
"There's so much good work the
Jewish community does around the world
— not just JDC, but other organizations
as well — and for young people to bring
that international experience back home
and impart that knowledge is really
important. In thinking about the future
of the Jewish people, it's this common
value of tikkun olam, of sharing across
borders, of helping and supporting each
other to make the world a more just and
responsible place that is vital."

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August 13 • 2015

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