Our Work Changes The World

It’s been two months since we launched the new art gallery at VBS. The idea behind the space is to turn every inch of our building into an opportunity to teach Torah, beautify our experience, and engage our collective conscience.   Our first exhibit, “Faces of Homelessness” which seeks to bring the stories of the homeless into our halls so that we might learn from them, has had a great impact on the Jewish community of the San Fernando Valley.

I remember the first few days of the exhibit, even before we completed the installation. I was coming downstairs from my office and I caught the eye of a boy who was reading the biographies of the portraiture. I asked him if he was enjoying the art, and he said to me, “well, my mom is always late in picking me up from school, but today, I’m glad she’s not on time. This is really moving stuff.” From that one comment, I knew we were already accomplishing our mission.

From then on we have successfully brought hundreds of students across the valley to view the exhibit.   From the 6th grade at our very own Harold M. Schulweis Day School, to the high school students of Milken and New Jew, to the Heschel Day school. Every month cars, vans and busses pull up to our front door with kids pouring out to take a tour, learn from their teachers, and reflect on what they learn.   At both Milken and New Jew, the theme of Sukkot was focused on this issue, including materials from our educational project associated with the exhibit. I spoke to the entire assembly at New Jew two weeks ago, inspiring young minds to think differently about the homeless in our community. When I came back that afternoon, I found our halls filled with Etz Chaim Learning Center students sitting on the floor journaling about the issue of homelessness. One student wrote, “It is so sad what happens in the world, and sometimes when bad things happen to you, you can’t control them and you end up where you don’t want to be. People shouldn’t assume bad thing about homeless people if they don’t know their stories.” I’d say he is right on, and that’s because our community brought him to that moment.

The students are not the only ones affected by our work.   This month the board of the Federation Valley Alliance will be taking a tour, the Board of Rabbis will be taking a tour, and several Live A Jewish Life groups and Havurot are taking tours. Nearly everyday someone comes up to me and says that they think about the homeless differently. They see those folks who need help, and they want to act.

Speaking of action, our monthly feeding the hungry program is set to get a big boost from the Etz Chaim Learning Center, and the Homelessness Task Force began meeting and are actively researching projects and campaigns with which we can become involved.   This reminds me of the quote from Rabbi Akiva in the Talmud who was once asked, “what is more important, study or action?” He answered, “study is more important, when it leads to action.”

None of this would have been possible without those professionals and volunteers who work tirelessly to support our effort. There are too many to name here, but know that your work and passion is noticed and appreciated. We are also thankful to the HMS Institute, who funded the art exhibit, which we can all agree is an amazing tribute to Rabbi Schulweis and his continuing legacy.

Our work at Valley Beth Shalom is changing lives, both large and small.   We are more than a synagogue. We are a community of individuals and family committed to the mission to partner to create a more meaningful, sacred, and Godly life for all. A sacred community of which we should ALL be proud.