28 | FEBRUARY 29 • 2024
H
ow can I make a dif-
ference? I’m just one
person so how can I
hope to change anything? Is it
possible to create more justice
in our world?
Imagine you are a teenager;
you care about our country
but have no idea how your one
voice could possibly have an
impact. But then you attend the
L’Taken Social Justice Seminar
at the Religious Action Center
of Reform Judaism (RAC) and
you begin to realize that you do
have a voice and you can make
a difference. L
’taken in Hebrew
means to correct or repair.
That’s what happened to
high school students from
Temple Beth El in Bloomfield
Township when they attended
L’Taken this winter. At the
seminar, hundreds of teens
from Reform congregations all
over the country came togeth-
er to learn, share, explore
the capitol and find their
voices. They had opportuni-
ties to learn how the Reform
Movement applies Jewish per-
spectives to mobilize around a
wide variety of issues.
Following lots of interactive,
engaging programming created
by the RAC, our students got
to choose a topic that really
matters to them and prepare
a speech. Our students chose
to write about antisemitism,
environmental justice, the min-
imum wage and mental health.
Each speech included that top-
ic’s importance to our country,
what Jewish tradition teaches
us about it and a legislative
ask (please vote for this bill, or
against that bill). The students’
writing reflected both their
wisdom and their passion.
The highlight of the trip was
when we went to Capitol Hill
to lobby. Our Temple Beth
El students got to meet with
a representative from Sen.
Gary Peter’s office and with
Rep. Haley Stevens herself.
They shared their voices and
engaged in conversation with
their elected officials, and it
was empowering. Their Jewish
voices spoke up and were
heard.
These young adults from
Temple Beth El demonstrated
that they possess the power to
contribute meaningfully to the
pursuit of justice.
Debbie Morosohk, RJE, is director of
education at Temple Beth El.
TBE Teens with their chaperones, Rabbi Mark Miller and Debbie Morosohk, represented the Religious
Action Center on Capitol Hill.
OUR COMMUNITY
Temple Beth El teens
speak up for justice.
L
’Taken
DEBBIE MOROSOHK SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS
TBE students in conversation with
Rep. Haley Stevens in her office.
The TBE delegation poses
with Rep. Haley Stevens.