2003

The Amy Adina Fund continues to grow, to help young people discover meaning and purpose in being of service to others. The Jewish tradition teaches that we become what we do. Ignoring cynicism, fear, or anger, these young people have the determination to insist on working for a better world. This past year, the Fund awarded $16,300 in grants to 20 such individuals. These grantees dedicated part of their year to learning and/or teaching about social responsibility, and to provide services for those who are vulnerable. Since the Fund's inception, 286 grants have been awarded totaling $168,800. As the capital base increases, it has now become possible to give larger grants.

Your continuing financial support is a positive affirmation of values of idealism and resiliency that our daughter embodied, and which you encourage in youth during this incredibly challenging time. Every dollar is fully tax deductible and goes directly into the capital base to earn interest that is awarded each year; the Schulman family covers all administrative costs. With your support we work together in partnership to ensure continuing grants to dynamic and dedicated young grantees.

Donations in memory of loved ones or in honor of special occasions are promptly acknowledged to those families and individuals. Special thanks to you who have given gifts of stock, or have named the Fund in your estate.

ELEXIS S. and RACHEL R. are Rutgers undergraduates, leaders in Hillel and the Jewish Community Service Organization on campus; both spent their college spring “breaks” in community service programs, one in Israel and one in El Salvador.

Elexis researched the Alternative Spring Break program. “… I began to solicit interest, seek funding and communicate with other schools that run social justice programs… As a Jew, I have been taught to participate in community service and help those less fortunate than myself. I am committed to teaching others how important social justice work is, for `if we build, we shall be built' (Jeremiah 1.)” … The Alternative Spring Break both educates students regarding community service, and empowers them…” Students worked on an existing American Jewish World Service development project in El Salvador, in the Southern Usulatan Region, working with La Coordinadora, a non-profit organization committed to sustainable development.

In addition to the strenuous physical labor there was an intense educational program where participants explore their religious connections and obligations to social justice work, in-depth discussions about Judaism and how it relates to community service work and social responsibility…returning home I will lead debriefing sessions… centered on harnessing our energy and emotions to implement an effective follow up program - ways in which we can reach out to students who have not contributed to community service projects.

Rachel, during her year at college, visited patients in the hospital on Fridays bringing them flowers, and on Sundays visited a nursing home. Over her winter break, she went to Israel and worked with “Livnot U'Lehibanot, a program which caters to helping people who are terror victims or traumatized, or just need help because they are poor.” She spent most of her time doing physical work such as painting and renovating a half way house for people with mental problems, and interacting and assisting the residents.

I really felt happy to be able to contribute (to help Israel).” Elexis: “Thank you so much for making the Alternative Spring Break program possible… an intense week of service and education. After reading about Amy Adina's inspiring work at Rutgers, I hope our service reflects the ideals she demonstrated.

AVI R. and JOSEPH B., both graduated from Northwestern University in Evanston, IL and received grants to attend the International Student Symposium on Mediation and Conflict Resolution (IMCR) at The Hague.

Avi was a student intern two years ago with AIPAC, the American-Israel Public Affairs Committee. At AIPAC he was appointed to the executive committee's policy-making body, authored articles on Middle East politics for the “Near East Report,” and organized and led an editorial writing seminar for 150 student activists. Last year Avi was a founding member of Northwestern's first Jewish-Arab dialogue group called “Shut Up and Listen,” offering programs on the Arab-Israeli conflict. As a Jewish student leader he presented the Palestinian position to 100 students and faculty. Avi stated...

Through the IMCR program I plan to develop practical skills in negotiation and learn to manage and utilize resources to resolve and prevent violent international conflict. This is a momentous opportunity for my career… I believe we must build bridges to bring fresh perspectives and innovative solutions to century-old conflicts…this endeavor directly relates to those criteria the Amy Adina Fund seeks to honor…

At Northwestern, Joseph served as the President of SHOAH - Students Helping to Organize Awareness of the Holocaust; he set up a program on Jewish-Catholic Dialogue since the Holocaust. He participated in an internship at the Chicago Council on Foreign Relations, worked part-time as a legal assistant specializing in Social Security disability benefits. He also served as youth coordinator at a summer day camp for low-income kids in Los Angeles for the Americorps VISTA program.

Joseph and Avi received grants to attend the symposium bringing together students, young professionals, and renowned experts for an intensive four weeks of lectures, training exercises and mediation simulations.

The faculty is composed of current and former diplomats, scholars, negotiation experts and conflict resolution specialists, and is run in conjunction with Erasmus University in Rotterdam…

Both Joseph and Avi plan to return to Northwestern Fall 2003 “to conduct mini-workshops (for students) on the salient issues of international affairs and what can be done to peacefully resolve today's greatest conflicts.”

Thank you so much for the very generous grant. I am greatly appreciative of having had the chance to participate in the Symposium, and your generosity is truly a blessing for me as I help to organize a new symposium in Cape Town, South Africa in January…May the new year bring you health.

DENA D. graduated from the U. of Michigan and wanted to combine her “…love of science, people, and social welfare…” by working with the Magen David Adom (Israel's equivalent of the Red Cross.)

I cannot describe how incredible this experience was for me! I was trained as an `emergency first responder' and later studied additional hours to be trained as a medic. I worked the morning shift which began at 6:45 am and went until 3 pm… after a month I began to work evenings (3 to 11 pm) or nights (11 pm-7 am)…”

On calls, I went into all areas and neighborhoods of Jerusalem, both Jewish and Arab. I spoke to everyone who entered the ambulance and saw all kinds of medical cases. I helped with a birth and the transport of a terrorist to a hospital prison… I was able to explore on my own and really forge a bond with the land and the people; it has made me a richer and better person. Thank you for helping to make this experience possible.

ALISA L., 17 years old, volunteered with Tekiah, a Boston alliance of progressive Jewish activists mobilizing the Jewish community to work for human rights and economic justice. Alisa had volunteered...

in social justice activism for almost five years, primarily in the area of women's rights…for the National Organization for Women, for the Boston Women's Fund…and also educating members of my community about girls' schools in Afghanistan as part of the Feminist Majority Foundation's Back to School campaign…I work with Tekiah because it is an opportunity to combine activism with Judaism…and bring my feminist/activist perspective to the Jewish community.

The dividends of my grant continue to pay off. This year I've been in Israel…continuing my research with undocumented pregnant migrant workers in Tel Aviv. I've come to know the Filipino and West African communities very well; my fieldwork has been tremendously successful…. Next year while writing my dissertation I may begin work towards an MPH (Masters in Public Health), to strengthen my academic credentials as a medical anthropologist or to allow me to duck out of the academic rat race and pursue a more real-world career, probably focusing on issues of migrant health. Thank you, once again, for the support of the Amy Adina Fund in helping me proceed along this fascinating path.