Youth Empowerment is one of LJY-Netzer's 4 ideological pillars, and we always try to make the voices of everyone on our events heard.
TOTY (Theme of the year) and TOOTY (Tikkun Olam of the year) were democratically voted for by our 16+ members
Check out our Kinus & Veidah autumn events if you want to help change our movement for the better!
TOTY (Theme of the Year)
This year it’s Tradition and Renewal! We’ve been hard at work researching for this and will be running sessions on the topic throughout the year.
This theme is a great way for us all to reflect on our Jewish faith and practices, thinking about what it means to be a Liberal or Progressive Jew, an LJYnik and what binds our community together.
Some questions we asked to get us started:
- Do you find comfort in tradition?
- Why do we sometimes abandon traditions?
- Why are traditions important to us? what role do traditions play in your Jewish identity?
- What makes traditions meaningful?
- What can renewal mean for traditions that we consider out-of-date?
- Are tradition and change really opposites?
Tradition
The passing down of customs or beliefs from generation to generation. This could mean the passing down of family customs, artistic heritages, Religious traditions, national customs, etc. to others.
Renewal
To change, replace or repair something to make it newer or better
“We have inherited a houseful of furniture from the Jewish past. We must decide what goes into the living room, and what goes into the attic.” This quote from Amos Oz encapsulates some of the big questions and themes we will be exploring as we examine our own Jewish experiences, and Jewish history more broadly as a story of traditions and renewals. This theme provides a great opportunity to connect with our Liberal Judaism pillar, learning about the origins and meanings behind our traditions and how they have been adapted over time."
TOOTY (Tikkun Olam of the Year)
This year, our TOOTY is Welcoming the Stranger.
Each year, on Veidah (our annual democratic conference), we vote on a new tikkun olam project of the year (TOOTY). This years theme is ‘welcoming the stranger’. The most commanded statement in the Torah, demonstrating love for, and inclusivity of the stranger, is essential to our progressive Jewish values. Interpreting this, throughout the year we have been participating in social action campaigns that show solidarity with refugees and asylum seekers. Where migration is deeply entrenched in many of our pasts, it is now our duty to advocate for, those seeking asylum today
Each week, we have been volunteering at an asylum seeker drop in centre, the ‘Home from Home’ club at Finchley Progressive Synagogue. Throughout the year, the three of us have built relationships with the kids and families staying in local hotels.
In times of polarisation, cross communal work is essential. LJY helped to host an Iftar, for many of the families that we have built relationships with at the Home from Home club. This was a truly memorable event, with a diverse presence, and a sense of communal hope, action and solidarity.
These local actions are part of a wider project - Citizens UK, are campaigning to grant free bus travel to asylum seekers in London. Through building relationships with families, we are able to listen to, understand and advocate for the various struggles that asylum seekers are facing.
LJY, in collaboration with Screenshare UK, has organised a tech collection of laptops and phones to be redistributed amongst local asylum seekers. Screenshare UK is an incredible organisation, based in London, that seems to tackle the digital exclusion of refugees by providing laptops and phones. So far, they have donated 625 devices.
Collecting items on Shamayim and from our Bogrimot, we donated 4 laptops and 8 phones to the charity. The tech has already started to be distributed, and we will be updated on its uses, and the impact that this will have on different people’s lives. Screenshare are always collecting technology, so do reach out if you have any spare laptops or phones that you would be happy to donate.