4 minute read
Jewish Values in Action: Temple Beth El Teens Advocate in D.C.
April 2024
By Rabbi Beth Nichols
“As Jews, it is our duty to ensure the wellbeing of all people.”
“Jewish texts and traditions teach us to, first and foremost, be good caretakers of the earth.”
“As Jewish people, we hold community and caring for it as a priority and necessity.”
These powerful words were spoken by Temple Beth El high school students in the halls of Congress. In February, 11 members of the Temple Beth El Confirmation Class traveled to Washington, D.C., on the David Silverman Memorial Confirmation Trip, accompanied by Rabbi Beth Nichols and Jessica Auslander. Our group joined hundreds of other Jewish teenagers for the Bernard and Audre Rapoport L’Taken Social Justice Seminars run by the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism (RAC).
Following lively Shabbat services and dinner, the teens got to work learning about how they can effect change in our society. The RAC’s program introduced participants to a variety of public policy issues and explored related Jewish values. Throughout the weekend, teens participated in simulations and seminars, assembling valuable advocacy tools to help them share their voices. Of course, being in Washington, D.C., we visited the National Holocaust Memorial Museum, the Smithsonian, and Georgetown, and celebrated Havdalah at the base of the Jefferson Memorial.
On Sunday night, while much of the country was watching the Super Bowl, the Temple Beth El teens divided into groups to write speeches on the public policy issues that concerned them most: access to mental health resources in schools, gun violence prevention, and climate change. The teens wrote powerful and persuasive speeches that included researched facts, quoted Jewish texts, and shared personal experiences.
On Monday morning, our group got off the bus in front of the Capitol building dressed in business attire and eager to present their speeches. Over the course of the day, the group visited the offices of Senator Thom Tillis, Senator Ted Budd, Representative Jeff Jackson, and Representative Dan Bishop. At each office, they presented their speeches to congressional staff members, ending with specific legislative asks of their elected officials.
As a rabbi, my job on Capitol Hill that day was to step back and let our teens shine. Over the course of the weekend, the L’Taken Seminar prepared them to passionately express their beliefs, represent our community’s values, and engage in the work of repairing our world. I have no doubt that this trip will not be the last time that our teens’ voices will be heard in the halls of government.
In commemorating the legacy of David Silverman, Temple Beth El has named our annual confirmation trip in memory of this remarkable individual whose young life was a beacon of community and compassion. David, the cherished son of Marc and Mattye Silverman, was a vibrant soul who, despite his youth, left an indelible mark on those around him through his actions and ideals when he died of a brain tumor in 1995. The naming of the David Silverman Memorial Confirmation Trip pays homage to David's spirit and aspirations, reflecting his innate ability to bring people together and a belief in the power of youth to drive change and embody the core Jewish values of kindness and tikkun olam.
Through this trip, David’s memory will continue to inspire future generations within our congregation, bringing Jewish teens together and encouraging them to live purposefully to contribute positively to our community and beyond. Temple Beth El is deeply grateful to Marc and Mattye Silverman and The Marc and Mattye Silverman Family Foundation for their generosity in making this possible.
