Lori Palatnik: 2010 Jewish Community Hero Semifinalist

http://www.jewishcommunityheroes.org

"In the merit of the Jewish women we were redeemed from Egypt, and in their merit the ultimate redemption will come." -- The Talmud. Lori Palatnik believes that if you can change a woman you can change a family. If you change enough families, you change a community. If you change enough communities, you can change the world. As the Executive Director of the Jewish Women's Renaissance Project (JWRP), she has brought together outreach organizations from all over the world, with one goal in mind: inspire Jewish women with values, and they in turn will inspire others. The "Birthright for Women" trip is highly subsidized so women (and their husbands) can't say no. In 2010, the women paid just $699, including airfare from New York (go to jwrp.org). The JWRP partnership insured that recruitment was done by the local outreach organization, as well as the important follow-up. 90% of the women accepted for this mission have children at home so the impact of change doesn't just end with the woman. It ensures that it spreads to the whole family. The results are staggering. Based on evaluations and follow-up surveys throughout the year, the women have started celebrating Shabbat on a regular basis, put their kids in Jewish Day Schools, are more active in other Jewish organizations (Federation, synagogues), have a deeper connection to Israel, and an overall deeper commitment to raising their family in a Jewish environment.

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Nonprofits & Activism

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