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.

