Advocacy

Nicole Szeto

2.20.09

English 1 B

Gabor



“Adovah”

In the Adovah website there are many people that spoke about the program and how it helped them incredibly work wise and by helping build their personality. Religion is affiliated in the Adovah program because most of the founders and the participants help build the connection between social activism and Jewish life. Although most of the founders of the program were Jewish there were also a handful that were not. The participants that were not Jewish were those who worked in non-profitable organizations and those who wanted to better the world by helping those in need. The participants’ practices have definitely shaped the program into making it what it is today. The effort the alumnus have put in have helped the program prosper by helping those in need without having the intentions of getting any pay. All the participants within the program have a set belief, which is to benefit others first before themselves. Those who were Jewish had a mind set to serve others and to “integrate Judaism and social activism in ways that nourish their ideals and provide them with the capacity for stronger, enduring activism.”

Religious beliefs have a huge part in advocacy especially to those who are Christian, for example. Christians, like myself, have been taught to treat others like you would like to be treated. Although religion can take a huge part in advocacy, some people just do it because of karma. Some people do good deeds just because it is their nature to help those in need or because it makes them feel better as a person. Other people who do not believe in religion but believe in heaven think that doing good deeds and helping those in need will win them the key to heaven’s gate, however that is not the case.