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February 22, 2002/Adar 10, 5762, Vol. 54, No. 23
Time to recognize teens who make a difference
WYLIE SILVERSTEIN
Special to Jewish News
Our teenagers are wonderful, and we are noticing.
The teenagers in our community are truly remarkable in their acts of kindness and community service. They are involved in areas that call for extraordinary dedication and effort. The seeds of "giving back to the community" have been firmly planted, and we can all be proud.
Across the country, the importance of civic engagement and community service has never been more profound. The president of the United States in his State of the Union address on Jan. 30 stated the responsibilities young people must take on to become active participants within their communities. This type of involvement, he pointed out, will help keep America's spirit strong.
Sens. Evan Bayh (Ind.) and John McCain (Ariz.) co-sponsored a bill, the Call to Service Act, currently in the Health, Education and Labor Committee. We in the Jewish community have always known that service is our obligation. The only question has been how to ensure that each generation will accept this responsibility. It has never been if we are to help, but how.
The Women's Department of the Jewish Federation of Greater Phoenix wants to recognize the tremendous efforts of our young people. This year we are introducing the Anne Frank - Teens Make A Difference Award. The purpose of this award is to recognize the outstanding achievements of our Jewish youth and to enhance community awareness of their positive contributions. The award recipient will receive $613, relating to the Jewish tradition of 613 mitzvoth. The recipient will also receive an award certificate, a letter of recognition and acknowledgement by the Jewish federation. Honorable mentions will be given to the top 10 applicants.
A written application must be submitted and personal interviews will be conducted. All adolescents ages 13-19 are encouraged to apply. The application deadline is March 15.
The secular community in which we live does a wonderful job of recognizing the accomplishments of teenagers throughout the Valley. But the Jewish community needs to strengthen its recognition of the accomplishments of Jewish teens. It is the dream of the Women's Department to encourage and honor our youth. They are the legacy that will build and solidly hold our Jewish community together.
The Anne Frank - Teens Make a Difference Award was named so because Frank was a young person to whom circumstance denied the opportunity to serve her community. Our young people have endless opportunities to do acts of goodness and kindness.
Frank once said, "How wonderful it is that nobody wait a single moment before starting to improve the world." These are clearly the words that our children must integrate into their visions.
Our Jewish youth represent our next generation of service to our community. Join with us as we honor our teens who have the infinite potential to make our community and our world a better place. Let us also, as a community, take the time and the effort to recognize these young people for all that they do. It is our responsibility to help our young people realize that every one of them possesses the potential to serve their communities to the very best of their abilities.
Applications for the Anne Frank - Teens Make a Difference Award are available in all Valley middle and high schools, synagogues, youth groups, Hadassah and at the Jewish federation and online at www.jewishphoenix.org.
If you know a Jewish teen in our community who has contributed time and effort to any community-based organization, encourage him or her to apply for the award.
For more information, call the Women's Department at 602-274-1800.
Wylie Silverstein is president of the Women's Department of the Jewish Federation of Greater Phoenix.
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