Students rally to help people of Darfur

REACHING OUT- New Community Jewish High School students gather to raise funds for Jewish World Watch, which is helping to stem the tide of violence in Darfur. New Community Jewish High School students dedicated to social action sponsored a benefit concert June 14 to help raise funds in support of Jewish World Watch's efforts to protect citizens of Darfur Sudan from the ongoing violence and genocide in that region.

Organized by student members of the school's Club Kodesh and United Students With a Cause, with the help of faculty advisor Ariel Neaderthal, the event included musical guests Todd Herzog and the band Eleventh Hour Ash; Shelby Lane Jewelry (featuring jewelry made and sold by a high school student to raise money for Darfur); a presentation by Jewish World Watch; opportunities for advocacy and letterwriting to elected officials. There was also a raffle and T-shirt sale..

The proceeds of more than $4,000 will be donated to Jewish World Watch to build a new well in Darfur.

"We all embarked on this journey not only to help those in need of aid in Darfur, but also to encourage our fellow students to take advantage of the opportunities that New Community Jewish High School offers that allow us to turn our ideas into realities," said 11th-grader Daniella Kaufman, Club Kodesh president.

Having just completed its fifth year of operation, New Community Jewish High School is the third largest Jewish community high school in the country. The school's motto is "Building Community One Mind at a Time."

"Before I became involved in this social action committee, I never imagined that a group of teenagers could actually make a difference," 10th-grader Alisa Goldrich said.

"Our group of committed students proved able to take action and save lives.A great deal of work and determination and a little bit of faith can truly spark change in our world," Goldrich said.

The students have launched projects that teach their peers and younger students how to create and manage community service fundraising projects, and they have collaborated with students at other schools to sponsor joint fundraising projects.