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Invest in Diverse Jewish Leadership

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My dear friends and family,

You know about my journey to Judaism and you were part of my bar mitzvah experience last October. I love being Jewish and want to continue learning. I know that my next step involves more in depth study. I began researching learning opportunities. I looked at Jewish Institutions of higher learning here in the USA and in Israel. And I found the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies in Jerusalem!

I applied and was accepted into the Pardes Institute and not only was I accepted into Pardes, I was selected as the 2016-2017 Social Justice Fellow. I am so excited about this next step in my journey! I leave for Israel July 25!


Pardes is an open, co-ed and non-denominational Jewish learning community, based in Jerusalem and with programs worldwide. Students encounter and grapple with classic texts and traditions of Judaism, while exploring their relevance to today’s most pressing issues. Pardes empowers students with the knowledge and tools to take ownership of their Jewish experience. Pardes’ mission is to help cultivate in its students a lifelong love of Jewish learning, the Jewish people and Israel, inspiring them to engage in Jewish life, as communal leaders, educators, and spiritual leaders.
For more information about the Pardes Institute visit
http://www.pardes.org.il/

I truly feel called to serve our Jewish community and the greater community in holy and meaningful ways. Do I want to become a rabbi? Or a cantor? Or a Jewish Communal Leader? I’m not sure, but  I am dedicated to serving my community, passionate about education, and social justice. I need to expand my knowledge and studying at Pardes will give me the tools and the textual background I need.

As you might imagine, to study at Pardes cost more than a few shekels. The total cost of the program and housing is $21,500. I have $5,500  in savings. I received $4,500 through a MASA Israel grant ( MASA is a public-service organization founded by the Prime Minister’s Office of the Government of Israel in partnership with the Jewish Agency for Israel). As the Pardes Social Justice Fellow, I received a $2,000 stipend for the year. I still need $8,500.

I am now turning to you to ask  to invest in me or lend me money to cover tuition and the simplest living expenses.

Donate here through my GoFundMe page to invest in me. If you lend me money, I will  pay you back when I return to the states and get a job. 

Your love and support mean the world to me. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for considering this request.

In love and friendship,


Tony


P.S.

I will email you the first of the month to tell you what I’m learning, about the work I’m doing as the Social Justice Fellow, and share my Israel experience with you!
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Donations 

  • Jan and Richard Baron
    • $50 (Offline)
    • 8 yrs
  • Social Action Committee
    • $150 (Offline)
    • 8 yrs
  • Rita and Ed Balk
    • $500 (Offline)
    • 8 yrs
  • Anonymous
    • $72 (Offline)
    • 8 yrs
  • Rabbi Susan Talve
    • $1,000 (Offline)
    • 8 yrs
Donate

Organizer

Tony Julian Westbrook Jr.
Organizer
Saint Louis, MO

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