Twelve mitzvah projects in 15 days. That’s an accomplishment to be proud of for the 26 teens who spent the first two weeks of July on Hebrew High’s 15th annual summer Care-a-van.
“I have gained so much perspective about the less fortunate. Because of my Care-a-van experience, I have learned to be grateful and to give back as much as I can,” says Bebe Katsenes. “I have made so many new and incredible friends on this trip that I wouldn’t have met otherwise.”
“Hebrew High Care-a-van brings together teens from across the greater Phoenix Jewish community for an experiential Jewish learning program like no other,” says Myra Shindler, Hebrew High principal and executive director of the Bureau of Jewish Education of Greater Phoenix. “Care-a-van integrates four characteristics that make for a quality Jewish learning experience: context, content, community and common values. The context is the summer travel to new cities and settings; content is the opportunity to engage teens with Jewish texts in ways that open up their minds and hearts while learning about themselves; community is what happens along the trip as teens bond into a close knit havurah (community of friends); and common values is when teens search for ways Judaism acts as a source for values. Add together the recreational activities, the socialization and the challenges of stretching oneself to grow and contribute to tikkun olam (making the world a better place)… this year’s group hit the mark!”
Mira was one of five staff members who accompanied the group on their journey along the California coast, through Nevada and Utah. Along the way, they prepared and served food for the poor and homeless, picked up trash, sang to seniors, met with young adults recovering from addiction, played and read with kids, helped out at Habitat for Humanity, cleaned up national park trails and so much more.
“Care-a-van has steered me religiously toward Judaism and made me want to do more mitzvahs,” says Sam Banen.
But the trip wasn’t all work and no play. Teens also enjoyed river rafting, beach time, hiking, the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Six Flags Magic Mountain, San Francisco’s Pier 39 and Golden Gate Bridge, Zion National Park and a Las Vegas comedy show.
Interested in joining Care-a-van 2017? School year enrollment in Hebrew High is not required. Contact Myra at myras@bjephoenix.org or 480-634-8050 for details.
