Recently, I spent three weeks in Jerusalem living, learning and volunteering. I spent the mornings studying Talmud at the Conservative Yeshiva. Three afternoons a week I worked on helping plan a fundraising exhibition with Shutaf, an organization with a mission to . The other two I spent working at Mercaz KLASS, helping a teenager with her conversational English skills.
Three weeks… Such a short time.
Do I really think I accomplished anything of substance in that brief period?
I like to think so. I had the opportunity to work with Shutaf, whose mission is to provide informal-education programs for children and teens with special needs in an inclusive model that welcomes all children, with and without disabilities.
I strongly believe in Shutaf’s mission, and worked with the Shutaf staff to establish the basic planning structure for a fundraiser next Spring. This experience gave me a strong sense of helping to sustain a vitally important organization.
Would I have felt I could have accomplished more with more time? Of course!
But with the time I did have, I did achieve a lot. As the singer David Broza so aptly puts it, ‘This is better than nothing.’ I think it’s far better!
Kate Jennes Kahn Rockville, MD Volunteer & Study 2014