Jews for Judaism International is proud to announce that it has recently been awarded a significant Cutting Edge Grant from the Jewish Community Foundation to further its work in combating those who target Jews for conversion. The grant, in the amount of $175,000, will go toward its new "Community Mobilization and Empowerment Against Proselytizing" initiative.
This multi-faceted program will mobilize the community to counter the proselytizing efforts of missionaries and cults to convert Jewish high school and college students. Working with a team of collaborating agencies comprised of Hillel, Jewish Student Union, L.A. Hebrew High and JCA Shalom Institute, Jews for Judaism's new initiative will help young Jews resist the often powerful lure of missionaries, cults and peer pressure.
The program will incorporate a wide range of inter-linked activities. These include training for student liaisons to serve as peer-to-peer representatives on their campuses; an annual student leadership training retreat and concert; development of a student-oriented website, student prep kit and interactive DVD that empower students with information to deal effectively with proselytizing; and specialized training for Jewish professionals.
According to Marvin Schotland, president and CEO of the Jewish Community Foundation, "We are delighted that our Cutting Edge Grant will help counter the aggressive and sophisticated efforts aimed at Jews by missionary organizations. Most importantly, through Jews for Judaism, multiple Jewish organizations and professionals are coming together for the common goal of protecting vulnerable Jewish youth who are often targeted by missionaries."
For more information about the Community Mobilization and Empowerment Against Proselytizing initiative, or to learn about sponsorship opportunities or how you can get involved, contact Rabbi Zalman Kravitz, Education Director of Jews for Judaism, at (310) 556-3344 or zalman@jewsforjudaism.org.
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Jews for Judaism's mission is to strengthen and preserve Jewish identity through education and counseling that counteracts deceptive proselytizing targeting Jews for conversion. Jews for Judaism was founded in 1985 in response to the multi-million dollar crusade of Jews for Jesus and Messianic missionary groups targeting the Jewish community for conversion. These groups have converted more than 300,000 Jews (15,000 in Israel) by deceptively masquerading Evangelical Christianity in the guise of traditional Judaism and misrepresenting biblical and rabbinic texts. Established in 1954, the Jewish Community Foundation is the largest manager of charitable assets and the leader in planned giving solutions for Greater Los Angeles Jewish philanthropists. The Foundation currently manages assets of $743 million and ranks among the largest Los Angeles foundations (based on total assets). In 2006, The Foundation and its 1,200-plus donors distributed $70 million in grants to more than 1,700 organizations with programs that span the range of philanthropic giving.