Pages

Sunday, March 14, 2010

Friday March 12



Early in the morning we headed down to Wainright Park. Even though we had had a long night the night before we all got up early to make it to the park on time. We where explained that the project would eventually lead to creating a nature trail for all to enjoy seeing as a lot of native and special plants of Florida reside there including a couple of extinct wild orchids. One problem they faced was that there were several homeless people living in this fenced in forest who with them brought a lot of garbage. Our task was to pick up the garbage so that the men in charge of the park could continue on to eventually accomplish their project goals. Earlier in the day a bus came to the park offering to take the homeless people to a shelter but most of them refused to leave. The director Juan said that once the homeless people start seeing that there is more activity in the park and that they are trying to maintain the park they will leave. It was quite amazing to see the variety in the garbage we found anything from staplers to bicycles and fishing rods. There was a lot of garbage and I believe our group all together did a great job at the park and got a lot more garbage picked up than what the four men could do alone. Juan and the other guys were really appreciative of our work and were very happy to see all we did.
-Angela Serna

Saturday, March 13, 2010

Thursday March 11



Miami never fails us and still manages to be beautiful, even in the rain. Today our lovely ladies visited the Salvation Army to help prepare meals for their soup kitchen. Our help wasn’t needed initially so we had a discussion that I think spoke to a lot of people. We discussed aspects of volunteering, focusing on where volunteering actually makes its impacts and how we can build a community that feels the responsibility to give back.

In volunteering at yesterday’s organic farm we planted only one row of eggplants and peas. Initially I didn’t feel as if I had made a difference but in group discussion we saw all the many impacts that our simple planting will have. The majority of our impact will come from the awareness that we will bring back with us to Blacksburg. We learned that if the US were to close all of its borders then we would be only 9 days away from no food. We discussed the importance of buying local, which also includes buying within the US, which will keep money circulating in our country, help the farmers businesses, and enable the US to be self-sufficient. By later telling friends, we help that farmer as well as American farms in general to succeed. Our single row of plants saved the farmer and his helper one days worth of work, an immediate benefit, but our newfound awareness makes a continuous impact. Another important point was that we established that volunteering is very important to us but much frustration was felt in the task of trying to convince others to join in our efforts. Lauren Fialkow pointed out that lecturing does not work; to move people to volunteer it is first necessary is to give them an experience which in turn makes them passionate to learn and then to act. Amanda Werner made a point that volunteering in her sorority is not only required but also accessible and fun because all of her friends are also doing it. Sororities are known for their focus on philanthropy work and from this I gathered that volunteering can be cultural. We should strive to create a community where volunteering is a fun and easy everyday act and social expectation. This way the feeling of responsibility to give back will naturally be incorporated. By having the discussion first, I think that there was more awareness and appreciation for our actions as we did that days tzedakah.

At the Salvation Army’s soup kitchen, we met girls from the University of Georgia who were also on an alternative spring break and helping out at the shelter. Impressively, their group of fourteen was completely student organized and run. Very sadly, the group of people that we served food to were all HIV positive. We prepared a meal of sandwiches, French fries, salad and popsicles for them. The average life time cost of medicine for the average HIV patient is 500,000$. This Salvation Army provides a one year drug-free stay at the shelter with the price of medicine paid for. Afterwards we socialized with the salvation army residents. I am always surprised with how honest the less fortunate are. I think that because they are less burdened with daily worries they can often see the essential points of life more clearly. One man told me that, “the battle is not with the physical, it’s in your mind and how you perceive the world to be.” This relates back to our frustration with the task of trying to heal a troubled world, a task that seems overwhelming at times. His point could be interpreted that though we can’t fix everything, our perception and belief that success can come from even small acts will help us win the battle.

Angela and one of her friends who lives in Miami are part of Salsa Tech, the competitive salsa team at school. At night we joined them at a salsa club where we talked with their University of Miami friends, learned some salsa moves and watched Angela and her partner’s talented dancing.
Erin Wolpert

Thursday, March 11, 2010

Thank you students for all you teach me

Never thought so much about how staffing alternative breaks impact me. So often it is 20 people and one staff and so a big part of the break is spent with logistics, planning and jumping from one urgent need to another. This break with 10 female students, 3 of the students part of the leadership team and another staff person, my husband Jeff, who is good with logistics allows the freedom to reflect and delve into the meaning of social justice, Judaism, and my responsibility to myself and as an educator.

When I was young, I wanted to change the world. I tried, but the world did
not change. Then I tried to change my town, but the town did not change.
Then I tried to change my family, but my family did not change.
Then I knew: first I must change myself.
R. Israel Salanter from "To Heal a Fractured World"

How can I develop initiatives, conversations and opportunities for others if I am not passionate and impacted myself? I don’t believe one can. That is why I am listening deeply to informal conversations and feeling within my heart a core belief that there is hope for this world, our country, our state, our university, our Hillel, and our family to change the world for the better.

Working at the Women’s Shelter, a safe place, where we could send off positive feelings of hope. We shared stories, smiled, brought happiness to the women. We made a job that would take 2 days get done in a few hours. When we were done, the ladies smiled. We felt great. “Come back any time,” they said. We were able to give them a new agenda for the day, to bring them something. We showed them people cared; we cared and we wanted them to have freedom and dignity to go out in the world and take control.

I thought of Cupcake Brown and her autobiography that so affected me when I read it. It thought of others who had insufferable situations, but kept their optimism. Anne Frank did not survive her fate, but her optimism continues to ebb into our culture and create a way of thinking that no one else could have evoked. Can I contribute to that strong of an impact and change within our world?

If not me, would someone that had an opportunity to grow, reflect, develop as an individual because of my influence be the catalyst to positive change. I am already seeing it………….. It’s strange, but I am doing community service to help others; to give them a better life and make a difference, but I am reaping so much. I say to every one of the people who allow us to come into their places and work. Thank you so much. They seemed surprised that I am thanking them. They say thank you for all your work and for taking time to come here, but it is me who must thank them.
It is me who must thank the students.

Wednesday, March 10,






Today we went and worked on an organic farm with Dan. The drive there was little long, it took us a little over two hours to get the farm. But once we got there it was gorgeous. It was in a very different location than where the Lotus House was yesterday. We were in Homestead and it was much more open, with vegetation all around us. While at the farm we planted basil, snow peas, and eggplant. Dan only works with a few people on the farm and the farm is pretty big. The worker that we worked with only spoke Spanish, so we had to get Angela to come a talk to him. What was interesting about this service work was that farming and planting is not something that you see immediate results with; you have to wait to see the full benefits. Dan was very knowledgeable and spoke with us about the importance and difficulties with organic farming. Organic farming is an important part of our world today and it was great to see how it is actually done and understand the significance first hand. After the farm we went to lunch in a park at an all-organic place (of course!). It was quite tasty. We met a couple ladies from an agriculture advocacy group. We discussed with them different ways to promote organic farms/farming. After that we made a pit stop on the way to South Beach for some milkshakes, which were also delicious. We arrived in South Beach, walked around the beach, had some dinner, saw the sights, and then called it a night after a very long day. Today was a very long, but educational day. One thing that I will take from today is that community service does not always come with immediate results and though you may feel that you are not doing any good, the fact that you are doing something to “repair the world” (t’koon olam) and that it is definitely worth while.
Rachel Lamanna

Tuesday - March 9,

After waking up much earlier than anyone should have to on spring break, we headed first to the Jewish Museum of Florida. We learned a lot about the history of Jews in Florida and how they had such a great impact on shaping Florida’s history and making Miami one of the most populated Jewish areas in the world. After touring the museum we met with a local Jewish woman who, along with her husband, founded a Kosher food bank that has grown to feed hundreds of families in the area. Her speech about how just one person can make such a huge difference was really inspiring and made us all really excited to start our community service. For the rest of the afternoon we volunteered with Lotus, a woman’s shelter. The shelter places an emphasis on teaching the women to be independent once they leave the shelter by helping them with their resumes, helping them to find job interviews, and teaching them basic skills such as cooking. Just seeing how much of an impact the shelter had on these women, many of them with young children, and hearing about the 2 month waiting list just to be able to live there, really made us appreciate our own homes as well as all the opportunities that we have that these woman may never get to experience. After dinner we went to the Jewish Federation of Greater Miami where we met Hillel groups from other universities that are in Miami doing community service over spring break. A panel of exceptional leaders talked to us about the importance of community service and how what we are doing has such an impact. One woman just got back from volunteering in Haiti two weeks ago and her stories of hope in such a devastated country were really touching. Today was just the beginning of our weeklong act of community service and already we can see the impact we are going to have on people’s lives.
Liana Farb
Amy Prager

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

Monday - March 8, 2010

WE’RE IN MIAMI! But…it took us ALL day to get here! After a short wait in the tiniest airport on Earth, we boarded the Allegiant plane to Orlando for a rocky flight that lasted just over an hour. We claimed our bags and got our rental vans/car. Inexperienced Florida drivers braved the unfamiliar highways (and countless tolls), all the while being harassed by hungry girls, craving nothing but Wendy’s. Four hours and a million wrong turns later (and after hitting a couple posts in the middle of the road- thank goodness they were rubber), we finally reached our destination and checked into our hotel. Pleasantly surprised by the balconies, personal kitchens, and beds for each girl, we explored the hotel and enjoyed the 70 degree weather before making lunch and going to bed! We’re excited to begin our work tomorrow and experience the culture of Miami! We hope to gain a better appreciation for our own environment, in addition to opening our perspectives to other lifestyles and needs.
Amanda Werner
Rachael Kester

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

Hillel at Virginia Tech’s Women’s Alternative Spring Break to Miami


This Spring Break beginning March 8 through March 15, ten women will be traveling to Miami to participate in an Alternative Break doing community service; “Hokies in Miami, Serving to Make a Difference”. We have Jewish and non-Jewish participants.
While we are there we will be meeting and learning from highly influential women. We hope the outcome will allow the students to have an action plan when returning to campus. We have a fledgling Rosh Chodesh Women’s Group beginning within Hillel. We are anxious to see how this trip impacts the group. We encourage questions like what does it mean for me to be a point of change; can I be? What did I learn about myself and was I only here to help others? How will/does that impact me –affectively, behaviorally, and cognitively? We have our long itinerary on our website at www.vthillel.org and we will have an ongoing blog where women will write about the experience that day that most impacted them.
We believe have many ideas that we will work on to highlight issues that impact the lives of women. Below are the top 16 (in honor of the Women’s Center at Virginia Tech’s 16th anniversary) things we will do to increase awareness of women's and gender issues, to educate others, and to make a difference for women and girls, locally and globally!

Discussions on women’s gender intertwined in 5 planned conversations and many informal discussions throughout our ASB.
1. Making a Difference
2. Jewish Memory (after Holocaust Museum)
3. Hope and Responsibility
4. Myself as a Point of Change
5. Integrating Our Experience
6. Readings from “ A Jewish Woman’s Prayer Book” by Aliza Lavie
7. Work in a Women’s Center (Lotus House)
8. Begin the tradition of an orange on the Seder Plate for Passover – signifying lesbian, gay, women awareness
9. Meeting with Lori Drutz, Director of Greater Miami Jewish Federation Volunteer Center
10. Meeting with Toby Ash, founder of Kosher Food Bank
11. Panel discussion with Donna Shalala, President of University of Miami
12. Hands on work on Organic Farm, tour and discussion with farmers
13. Service work at Wainwright Park in Brickell
14. Museum visits, Portraits of 48 Jews Exhibit, History of Jews in Florida
15. Service work at Salvation Army in thrift store and facility
16. Women lead Shabbat Service and Havdallah