Over 50 students from Rae Kushner Yeshiva High School, along with students from Newark Academy, gathered on the RKYHS campus for a social action project to raise awareness of homelessness in the United States.

Students were shocked to learn that in the United States, the richest country in the world by GDP, 1 in 30 children (a staggering 2.5 children) will be homeless at some point this year. Students participated in a thoughtful and robust program that featured presenters from the Covenant House, a grassroots, non-profit organization that seeks to provide the critical resources that homeless young adults need to rehabilitate their lives and get off the streets. Students listened eagerly to Dimitri, a resident of the Covenant House, as he explained the incredibly difficult experiences that led him to this circumstance. Dimitri spoke about his goals for the future and the students appreciated listening to him, as a profound truth emerged- that their own personal goals, to have a safe place to live, to have a family and meaningful work, were similar to the hopes and aspirations that Dimitri espoused. This insight shared by the students in one of the many breakout sessions captured the essence of the evening.

Students of different backgrounds came together for a common cause and in this process realized that the differences in appearance, social standing or tradition which often define us paled in comparison to the challenges and opportunities of our shared human experience. The culmination of the evening brought the students into the cold to sleep outside to build empathy for the millions of human beings who will not have the option of coming inside when it becomes too cold. In every respect, this evening helped students cultivate empathy for one another and for those less fortunate. RKYHS congratulates the intrepid students who participated in this event.