World aid charity is up for promotion
INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT charity Tzedek has stepped up its efforts on campuses with sessions introducing students to the organisation’s projects.
Tzedek’s campus worker Hannah Gaventa toured universities to discuss volunteering and vocational training schemes in Africa and Asia with students.
Hannah said: “This year students will work with local NGOS in Tamale, northern Ghana. They will be teaching English in schools, helping to teach computer literacy skills to local workers or working in the health centre.
“On the Tzedek overseas volunteering programme students have the opportunity to learn about Jewish views on pov- erty and discuss controversial topics within the international development field, such as Fairtrade and the ‘drop the debt’ campaign.”
She said participants in the tours would also visit elephant reserves, learn how to cook Ghanaian recipes and attend African dancing and drumming sessions.
As part of Hannah’s work, Tzedek has helped Jsocs prepare lunch and learn events for students, taken part in a panel debate on overseas volunteering and organised a Limmud session. In Cambridge, Hannah helped the Jsoc organise a themed Friday night dinner with dishes from Ghana and India. She will work with students in Nottingham and Birmingham t hi s t e r m b e f o r e j o i n i n g o n e o f the charity’s Ghana p r o j e c t s f o r f i v e months. Israeli Ambassador to Britain Daniel Taub spoke to 120 students at Tribe and University Jewish Chaplaincy’s joint fifth annual national Friday night dinner.
He told the gathering at Finchley United Synagogue that it was often difficult to advocate for Israel when it was associated with conflict by the general public.
But focusing on the country’s achievements could promote Israel’s contribution to the world.
Mr Taub answered students’ questions about the reaction they received on campuses when advocating for Israel and offered advice on responding to critics and attacks.
Following the dinner, he said: “I was delighted to join so many students and explore with them ways to deepen engagement and involvement with Israel. It was also a great opportunity to express appreciation for the chaplains and their wonderful work on campus.”
Tribe’s Nottingham campus ambassador David Eder said: “The dinner was a great success and a perfect opportunity to bring students and chaplains together.” Masorti student movement Marom took 18 students and young professionals to Budapest to meet Hungarian Jewish community leaders.
The group met counterparts from the city’s Moishe House and organisations working with young Jews in the country.
They visited Siraly, a pub and community space run by Marom Budapest and took part in services with the Dor Chadash minyan. A meeting was also held with a representative of Haver, an organisation tackling antisemitism in Hungary through interfaith dialogue.
Ilana Fenster, Zionist Youth Council co-chair, said: “The influence Hungarian political history has had on Jewish life creates a challenge for young people to regain their Jewish identity and create community. Even though we did not grow up under Communist rule in the UK, our youth movements are also trying to strengthen Jewish identity and build communities while combating our own set of unique challenges.” Liverpool Jsoc’s annual charity ball marked the society’s 90th anniversary and raised £380 for Langdon College.
Jsoc secretary Howard Raphael presented a cheque to Langdon principal Chris Mayho and student representative Edward Sholem and told them: “We are very proud to have raised money for you this year and hope you will benefit from it greatly.”