Section archive - Informal Education

Synthesizing Durkheim’s notion of “sacred symbol” with Walter Benjamin’s theorization of “authenticity,” this paper proposes the theoretical construct, “authentic symbol,” to account for the symbolic function of Holocaust relics in contemporary Holocaust pilgrimage. The symbolic function of four kinds of relics (the sites, witness/survivors, human bodily remains and accessories) is examined and compared in three different contexts.

After an initial emergency recovery, areas affected by natural disasters often fall out of the public spotlight, even when they still require significant recovery work. Recognizing that serious and effective volunteering opportunities interest large numbers of young Jews, Jewish Disaster Response Corps (JDRC) closes the gap between the Jewish community and the need for volunteer domestic disaster relief. JDRC brings multiple groups of volunteers to affected communities over extended periods of time.

Foundation for Jewish Camp (FJC) is proud to introduce BunkConnect, an affordability initiative built on the success of FJC’s One Happy Camper program. BunkConnect is a referral program that makes finding the perfect camp easy by offering special introductory rates at participating camps for eligible families at many of the best Jewish camps across the country. Through BunkConnect, first-time campers of all Jewish backgrounds (including Jewish day school students) can choose from a variety of high quality summer experiences. The program is specifically designed for families for whom Jewish camp might not be financially feasible - including families with moderate incomes.

This article introduces the Leadership and Dialogue project Likrat as a creative answer to the question of how Jewish adolescents between sixteen and eighteen years-of-age can gain a nuanced understanding of Jewish themes, expand their Jewish knowledge and strengthen their Jewish identity.