Rabbi Harold M. Schulweis

Tikkun Olam Heroes: Rabbi Harold m. Schulweis and Janice Kamenir-Reznik

Rabbi Harol d Sch ul weis a sermon to his congregation. Janice KamenirRabbi Harold Schulweis is one of the most famous rabbis in America. He is a rabbi at Valley Beth Shalom, a Conservative congregation in Reznik 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. Encino, California. Based upon the basic lessons of the Torah, Rabbi Schulweis was JWW works to combat and prevent genocide born in the Bronx, worldwide—beginning with the genocide in Darfur. New York, to parents It has also recently decided to address the ongoing who respected conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo. JWW Zionism and Jewish combats and prevents genocide through three traditions. His early main strategies: education to raise awareness in Jewish education was shaped by his grandfather, the community about ongoing genocide and mass Rabbi Avraham Rezak, who introduced him to the atrocities, advocacy on the local, national and Talmud. Rabbi Schulweis is an inventor of synagogue international levels in support of policies that will programs. Among the things he developed are help end genocide, and refugee relief projects havurot (small groups of families studying and that provide both desperately needed aid and celebrating together) and programs for special opportunities for development to the survivors of needs students. genocide.

Jewish Worl d Watch

These three efforts together help to build a Jewish Foundat ion for th e Right eous community of people in the US ready to sound Rabbi Schulweis is also a founder the alarm on genocide wherever and whenever of major organizations. He is the it occurs. Some of the strongest members of founding chairman of the Jewish this community are young people, who have the Foundation for the Righteous, enthusiasm and energy to make great change. which fulfills the traditional Young people throughout Los Angeles have joined Jewish value of hakarat-hatov, JWW’s ACT program—its Activist Certification and “the searching out and honoring of goodness.” It Training program. Through this program, young provides assistance to more than 1,200 aged and people create clubs and together work to educate, needy Christians who risked their lives to save Jews advocate, and raise funds for refugee relief projects. during the Holocaust. It also educates teachers and After finishing three projects (one in each theme), students about the history of the Holocaust and students earn their certification as official JWW rescue. Youth Activists—and have earned the skills they

need to take action on any issue, anytime.

When he learned about the Darf ur genocide in Darfur, Sudan, Darfur is the western region of Sudan in Africa. Rabbi Schulweis remembered During the current conflict there, hundreds of the Holocaust and many post–thousands of people have been killed and millions Holocaust genocides. He gave more pushed out of their homes.