left to right: Alex Stein, Cheyanne Mickenberg, Carly Levin, Daryl Stein, and Rodolfo Madero

After a highly successful first experience with Panim two years ago, the Jewish Federation once again enabled five teens to attend a Panim seminar for four days last month. ,On Panim el Panim, students learn about government, advocacy, and the connection between community service and activism through a Jewish lens.  This Washington, DC-based program is nationally recognized for inspiring and educating Jewish youth to a lifetime of leadership and service. 

El Paso was well-represented this year by five fantastic teen leaders: Rodolfo Madero, Cheyanne Mickenberg, Carly Levin, Alex Stein and Daryl Stein.   Accompanied by Stacy Purvin Berry, they joined 45 other teens from across the US to find out how they can change the world.  The students were given a primer on Jewish values and teachings that related to advocacy and helping others and they learned about current hot topics, political lobbying, and how advocacy groups function.

On the first night, they were introduced to two homeless men and learned their stories. The two stories were complete opposites, proving anyone could be in their shoes.    The next day, the teens went out and visited various organizations that helped communities, through tikun olam, across Washington D.C.  Some of the teens helped children with disabilities, some helped clean up a park, and others helped out senior citizens.  The students were able to interact with these people and try to make a difference.  "I know that what I am doing right now doesn't seem like much, but in the long run it will", stated Cheyanne Mickenberg while cleaning up a park in south D.C.  "Playing bingo with these children was very rewarding and I was sad to leave them", stated Carly Levin when asked how working with children with disabilities went.  She also mentioned how the children couldn't wait until the students came back, which unfortunately was impossible, since this was a one-time project.    

On the third day, the teens were sent to advocacy organizations focusing and different issues. For example, Friend of the Earth is a "go green" advocacy that told us that if people of today don't try to change what they are doing now, the effects on the earth will be permanent.  This gave the teens something to think about; although, some of the teens felt that the hands on projects made more of a difference.  That day they also went and met homeless people who were living on the street, and gave them hats, socks, and other warm items.  This activity gave the youth a chance to talk and meet many different people who live on the streets.  "Some of these people just don't want our help, while others did.  It was nice to be able to give someone something they could use and need," stated Alex Stein after giving some socks to a man. 

On the last day, our El Paso group had the pleasure to meet with Congressman Silvestre Reyes's legislative assistant. The teens had a chance to raise their concerns on what is going on here in El Paso and, in return, they were able to find out how Congressman Reyes feels about these issues.  "I was happy to let him know how I felt about the border issues going on here," stated Rodolfo Madero. "He helped me understand them better and I was also able to give my opinions, which was nice".  Daryl Stein said "I can't wait to go home and write Congressman Reyes and his legislative assistant to thank them and to follow up on these few issues they were able to discuss."

Also during this trip our kids had the amazing opportunity to visit the Holocaust Museum, Washington Monument, the World War II Monument and the Lincoln Memorial.  It was a very exciting four days.  They learned a lot about how they can affect our community here in El Paso, and how they can make a difference.  

by: Stacy Purvin Berry