In Tel Aviv, OU-JLIC young professionals are lighting candles with Holocaust survivors and giving a meaningful gift.
“They’re bringing beautiful ceramic handmade chanukiot created by at-risk youth,” explained Rabbi Joe Wolfson, OU-JLIC’s national chesed coordinator. “The volunteers purchased the chanukiot and raised money for a youth home in the process.”
In Herzliya, volunteers led by OU-JLIC directors Rabbi Noam and Shiffy Friedman of Reichman University (formerly IDC) delivered Chanukah packages of a menorah, candles, chocolates and cappuccino mixes for 25 lone soldiers living in or near the community.
OU-JLIC of Greater Toronto led two “CANorah” lightings—a menorah made up of canned food to be donated.
L.A members will be wrapping Chanukah gifts for kids in the local community.
Some volunteers got more than they bargained for. “We had a great time!” said a Tel Avivian who visited with a survivor. “We spent about an hour together and she’s trying to set me up with her grandson now.”
The OU’s Jewish Learning Initiative on Campus (OU-JLIC) helps young men and women thrive and observe key aspects of Jewish life on 26 campuses across the United States, Canada and Israel. OU-JLIC also serves young Jewish professional communities.
