Are you passionate about social justice?

The Tzedek Social Justice Fellowship meets during the fall and winter to learn about Social Justice. The cornerstone of this program is the L’Taken Social Justice Seminar, a four day trip to Washington DC that brings together hundreds of Jewish teens from across the country. The program concludes with the a family shabbat and oneg. Due to the cohort nature of this program, teens that participate in this program are expected to attend all programs, unless school activities preclude attendance. Click here to learn more about the Tzedek Social Justice Fellowship and all it entails. 

Are you ready to change the world?

EVERY YEAR over 2000 high-school aged students participate in the Religious Action Center’s L’Taken Seminar in Washington, D.C.

L’Taken is designed to expose students to public policy issues, explore Jewish values surrounding these issues, and teach the skills of an effective advocate. Throughout the weekend, students are given the tools to write a persuasive and passionate speech on a topic of their choice, to be presented to our senators and representatives.

Lobbying a member of congress is a deeply meaningful experience, and one that can have a significant impact on the course of legislation.

Students also visit the National Holocaust Memorial Museum and the Smithsonian National Mall, and celebrate Havdallah at the Jefferson Memorial. They have the chance to meet and mingle with hundreds of Reform Jews from across the United States, all of whom are in Washington D.C. for the same reason—to pursue tikkun olam. 

Link to register HERE. Space is limited. Registration Closes July 28th.

“In a word, the L’taken social justice seminar was a singularly unique experience for me. I was, admittedly, more excited at first to be traveling across the country for the first time in my life than to be taught about Jewish values and politics. And though we were given time to explore Washington D.C., and I greatly enjoyed that time, it doesn’t stand out as the highlight of the trip for me when I look backwards.

The lecturing portion of program, I came to find, was actually quite fun. There was not a single activity which failed to keep me engaged after its introductory period, and Jewish lessons as well as political ones were ingrained in those activities in ways that prompted further discussions rather than simple acceptance. Because it is taught in a manner which guides those in attendance through their own thought processes, the program facilitates young interest in politics and Judaic reasoning alike through each attendee’s own unique lens.

Capitol hill was truly larger than life, and being in Washington was an experience which I will not forget, but to my own surprise, the things I learned at L’taken were the most powerful portion of my experience.”

-Cole Levy, L’taken participant, 2016