Tzedek, justice in Hebrew, is Hillel's Community Service and Advocacy group on Campus. Framed by the Jewish imperatives of tzedakah (righteousness), gemilut chasadim (acts of loving--kindness), and tikkun olam (repairing the world), tzedek is committed to engaging and empowering students in meaningful public service both on and off campus and encouraging creative Jewish thinking about social justice issues.
How can I get involved?
3 easy ways...
1. email Penn Tzedek to join our listserv
2. keep your ears open for one of our information sessions
3. simply join Tzedek for one of its community service projects...
Fore more information contact: Rachel Weinblatt
Join us for one or ALL of our projects -
regularly
or JUST once...
If you are interested in any one of the projects below,
e-mail PennTzedek for more information.
Current Tzedek Projects:
Alternative Spring Breaks
Au Bon Pain Food Collection
Bikkur Cholim
Blood Drives
Darfur Awareness and Advocacy
Drives and Service Days
Jewish Genetic Disease Screening
Park Clean-Ups and Habitat for Humanity
Project Sunshine
Ronald McDonald House
Soup Kitchen Current Project Descriptions:
ALTERNATIVE SPRING BREAKS
This is a Jewish ASB program that has taken students to El Salvador, Mexico, and Honduras in the past. Penn students work alongside Jewish students from other schools to help improve local communities around the world.
Please contact: Elise Miller
AU BON PAIN FOOD COLLECTION
From Sunday to Thursday nights, leftover food from Au Bon Pain is collected by students and is distributed to guests at the weekly Hillel Soup Kitchen.
Please contact: Jenny Guttman
BIKKUR CHOLIM (Visiting the Sick)
This group sends a team of volunteers on regular visits to patients in Penn's hospitals, both during the week and on Shabbat to talk, to comfort, and to distribute challah. In addition Bikur Cholim works with other Philadelphia aid organizations to provide kosher meals to those in need.
Please contact: Penina Braffman
BLOOD DRIVES
Students organize one Red Cross Blood Drive a semester that takes place in Steinhardt Hall. A great way for the entire community to get involved!
Please contact: Avital Falk
DARFUR AWARENESS AND ADVOCACY
This group is comprised of dedicated and energetic students concerned with raising awareness, fundraising, and advocacy for the genocide and humanitarian issues in Darfur. They hope to help improve the impact students across the globe can make on government policy, the situation on the ground in Sudan, and the permanent prevention of genocide in the world.
Please contact: Elizabeth Slavitt
DRIVES AND SERVICE DAYS
Tzedek works with many different institutions throughout the year to both organize drives on Penn's campus and plan service programs on campus and in the neighboring communities.
Please contact: Liora Pollick
JEWISH GENETIC DISEASE SCREENING
Dr. Adele Schneider began a program to screen college students and newly-weds for dangerous Jewish genetic diseases. There are now yearly screenings on Penn's campus. This group helps fundraise and organize these screenings.
Please contact: Rachel Weinblatt
PARK CLEAN-UPS and HABITAT FOR HUMANITY
Penn students travel to neighboring parks to help clean up and beautify the area and to lower income communities to work with Habitat for Humanity rebuilding and refurbishing homes.
Please contact: Rachel Weinblatt
PROJECT SUNSHINE
Penn students work under the supervision of Project Sunshine to visit patients at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and to organize art projects and activities for them.
Please contact: Becky Haendel or Leila Glass
RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE
The Ronald McDonald House serves as a temporary residence for families of children receiving treatments at the hospital. Students make monthly trips to the local House and bake cookies with the families.
Please contact: Elana Wilf or Alana Weiner
SOUP KITCHEN
Every Sunday evening from 5:30-7:00, students serve food to guests at the Soup Kitchen held at Steinhardt Hall. Aside from providing a warm meal, the Soup Kitchen is also a warm and welcoming environment for the guests.
Please contact: Ahuva Kranzler
What's the next step?
want a leadership role?
apply to be a . . .
tzedek fellow!
Tzedek Fellows, selected at the beginning of each semester, create a culture of community service by organizing the Tzedek projects and initiatives. Tzedek Fellows also plan service days, hunger advocacy events, drives, and an annual campus-wide Mitzvah Day. Please contact: Rachel Weinblatt |
