Tikkun Olam Heroes: Rabbi Harold m. Schulweis and Janice Kamenir-Reznik a sermon to his congregation. Janice KamenirReznik was in the congregation and heard that sermon. Together, Janice and Rabbi Schulweis founded Jewish World Watch (JWW) to raise moral consciousness within the synagogue community. The theme of that sermon was “Never Again,” and the central idea of Jewish World Watch is “Do Not Stand Idly By.” It is a Jewish response to horrors done by human beings against others.
Rabbi Harold Schulweis Rabbi Harold Schulweis is one of the most famous rabbis in America. He is a rabbi at Valley Beth Shalom, a Conservative congregation in Encino, California. Rabbi Schulweis was born in the Bronx, New York, to parents who respected Zionism and Jewish traditions. His early Jewish education was shaped by his grandfather, Rabbi Avraham Rezak, who introduced him to the Talmud. Rabbi Schulweis is an inventor of synagogue programs. Among the things he developed are havurot (small groups of families studying and celebrating together) and programs for special needs students.
Based upon the basic lessons of the Torah, JWW works to combat and prevent genocide worldwide — beginning with the genocide in Darfur. It has also recently decided to address the ongoing conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo. JWW combats and prevents genocide through three main strategies: education to raise awareness in the community about ongoing genocide and mass atrocities, advocacy on the local, national and international levels in support of policies that will help end genocide, and refugee relief projects that provide both desperately needed aid and opportunities for development to the survivors of genocide. These three efforts together help to build a community of people in the US ready to sound the alarm on genocide wherever and whenever it occurs. Some of the strongest members of this community are young people, who have the enthusiasm and energy to make great change. Young people throughout Los Angeles have joined JWW’s ACT program — its Activist Certification and Training program. Through this program, young people create clubs and together work to educate, advocate, and raise funds for refugee relief projects. After finishing three projects (one in each theme), students earn their certification as official JWW Youth Activists — and have earned the skills they need to take action on any issue, anytime.
Jewish Foundation for the Righteous Rabbi Schulweis is also a founder of major organizations. He is the founding chairman of the Jewish Foundation for the Righteous, which fulfills the traditional Jewish value of hakarat-hatov, “the searching out and honoring of goodness.” It provides assistance to more than 1,200 aged and needy Christians who risked their lives to save Jews during the Holocaust. It also educates teachers and students about the history of the Holocaust and rescue. Jewish World Watch
Darfur
When he learned about the genocide in Darfur, Sudan, Rabbi Schulweis remembered the Holocaust and many post– Holocaust genocides. He gave
Darfur is the western region of Sudan in Africa. During the current conflict there, hundreds of thousands of people have been killed and millions more pushed out of their homes. 7
