September 10th, During Shabbat Services at Netivot Shalom
Special Guest Drasha by
Ruth Messinger,
President of American Jewish World Service
"Justice, Justice You Shall Pursue:
A Jewish imperative for famine and hunger relief"
Over the past several decades, there has been a sea change in Jewish engagement—a reimagining of what it means to be a Jew and a citizen of our planet. Whether youth leaders or active adults, Jewish voices have joined a chorus of empowered people around the world saying "no" to injustice. As hunger relief and famine now make the front page every day, it is our responsibility as Jews to do something. Join AJWS President Ruth Messinger for a dynamic presentation about AJWS's role in famine relief, food justice and the upcoming national Global Hunger Shabbat. Learn more about how you can be a part of it all.
Ruth W. Messinger
As president of American Jewish World Service (also known as "AJWS") since 1998, Ruth Messinger has built a strong international development and human rights organization that funds over 450 grassroots projects in 32 countries, and sends more than 400 skilled volunteers and young people to do hands-on service in the developing world each year. Ruth assumed this role in 1998 following a 20-year career in public service in New York City and continues her lifelong pursuit of social justice issues at AJWS. Ruth is considered a national leader in the movement to end the genocide and promote peace in Sudan. She is also a leader of faith-based efforts to secure human rights and, in recent years, served on the Obama administration's Task Force on Global Poverty and Development. Ruth has been honored for her inspirational efforts to deepen our people's commitment to tikkun olam by many national Jewish organizations and has received honorary degrees from four major rabbinical seminaries. In recognition of her work, Ruth has been named one of the Forward's "50 most influential Jews of the year" for nine years and was recently included by the Jerusalem Post in it's list of the "World's Most Influential Jews of 2011." Ruth's husband, Andrew Lachman, directs an education foundation in Connecticut. Ruth has three children, eight grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.
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Rabbi Menachem Creditor
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