On October 22, 3,000 participants across 90 programs in 75 locations took part in Repair the World’s nationwide National Day of Jewish Service (NJDS). This was part of a series of events, hosted by the Jewish Service Alliance, designed to help young adults engage in, strengthen and celebrate meaningful Jewish service.
“Service learning is a powerful mode of social change that not only meets immediate needs of the community, but also inclusively unites all different types of folks together in common cause,” Michael Auerbach, city director, Repair the World Los Angeles, told the Journal. “Such solidarity is more important than ever in today’s divided world.”
In Los Angeles, 61 participants from Repair the World LA, Adamah, USC Hillel and the Federation gathered at Our Big Kitchen Los Angeles (OBKLA), 8657 W. Pico Blvd., to prepare 370 meals for those in need.
“We are delighted to have partnered with Repair the world to bring volunteers together to spread light and love, one meal at a time” Chaya Segelman, co-founder and program & volunteer director at OBKLA, told the Journal.
At OBKLA, volunteers from all walks of life come together to prepare meals under chef instruction for distribution to families in need across Los Angeles. OBKLA co-founder Yossi Segelman kicked off the event, sharing more info about the organization.
“We believe in the power of food,” Chaya said. “To build connections within and across communities, to provide nutrition and dignity to those in need and provide meaning for those who want to make a difference.”
Spencer Kaseff, senior program associate at Repair the World Los Angeles, talked about his organization, and was followed by Marissa Fink, L.A. coordinator at Adamah. Adamah’s Jewish Youth Climate Movement’s mission is to connect people and the planet through climate action, youth empowerment and Jewish environmental learning. Fink also placed flyers around the room with questions and quotes, related to Judaism, food security and climate.
USC Hillel’s Assistant Director Rachael Cohen and Emma Chickman, tzedek leadership, also spoke about what brought them and their leadership out.
During the two-hour OBKLA program, the volunteers prepared foods and packaging containers, and then packaged the aforementioned 370 meals.
At the mid-program break, participants were encouraged to get to know one another, and to get deeper in the weeds on food justice.
Every OBKLA program ends with the packaging, and taste-testing, of cookies. Everyone is sent away with a pack of cookies to “OBK-it-foward.”
“OBKLA is such a great organization,” volunteer Becky Woolf told the Journal. “Especially in times like these, joining together in community is a really meaningful way to spend an afternoon.”
Woolf is a member of Repair the World’s Service Corps Fall 2023 Cohort, where 18- to-29-year-olds are matched with local nonprofits and help out at least five hours a week. Becky is matched with the Volunteer Collective and was one of the many corps members that came out on Sunday.
“In our mission to mobilize folks here in L.A. toa serve their community, we have the amazing opportunity to partner with Our Big Kitchen Los Angeles.” -Spencer Kaseff
“In our mission to mobilize folks here in L.A. to serve their community, we have the amazing opportunity to partner with Our Big Kitchen Los Angeles,” Kaseff said. “My hopes going into this event were that folks would gain a sense of calm, comfort and control in an otherwise exhausting and tumultuous time.”
He added, “It was beyond meaningful to see such a wide and varied group of folks show up on a Sunday to make a direct impact in Los Angeles, and I, personally, found it to be calming, comforting and a reminder that I can make a difference here at home.”
Repair the World Los Angeles Fellow Annie Herz said that transforming Jewish values into action with and for our local communities is what National Day of Jewish Service is all about.
“I’m so grateful to see what our communities could do together and look forward to doing it again next year,” she said.
