The program consists of three parts:

1. Studying 38 core Jewish values
2. A retreat to Washington, D.C. and
3. Implementing a social action program.

The retreat took place during the second week of February. In addition to our three K.M. students, Mark Feldman, Daniel Freedman and Matthew Goldstone (who studied with the Los Angeles Hebrew High School group), around 50 teens from around the Los Angeles area participated, including students from Wilshire Blvd. Temple, Beth Haverim (Agoura) and Temple Menorah (Redondo Beach).

Once in Washington, we met up with students from Rochester, N.Y., San Antonio, Texas, and St. Louis, Missouri. There were close to 100 students all together.

The retreat had several components. Students had a chance to participate in a hands-on social action program. I chaperoned a group of 10 students to the D.C. Central Kitchen. The kitchen is a model of how a kitchen can work. In addition to serving 3,000 meals per day, the kitchen trains workers in food preparation so that they can get jobs in the community.

The kitchen also delivers food, runs a catering business, and prepares meals for shelters throughout D.C. Much of the food that the kitchen takes in is already prepared, so we had the chance to help put together lunches and dinners, stock shelves, sort through spoiled food, and clean out the refrigerated coolers. It was exhausting work, but very satisfying.

After working alongside the kitchen's staff and enjoying our own bag lunch, the students went to the offices of FRAC, which is an advocacy organization. Part of the plan of the Washington Institute is to expose students to the idea that social action programs are incredible important, yet limited in their scope. We learned that legislation that FRAC lobbies in favor of has changed the nutrition programs of schools around the country, helping 2.5 million malnourished children.

There were a number of speakers that addressed the students, and my favorite was from a mid-level diplomat from the Israeli Embassy. He spoke to us just after the election results in Israel were known, and gave us a glimpse into his life as an ambassador and participant in some of the discussions at Camp David. It was an inspiring talk, and one which left me with a favorable impression of the incoming government.

On the final day of the retreat, the students had the chance to meet with their representatives, the people who truly can make a difference in fixing society's ills. Several students met with Sen. Dianne Feinstein, and took a group who had a chance to hear Sen. Barbara Boxer address around 120 Californians at a constituent breakfast. Sen. Boxer spoke about the energy crisis in California, her vote on (now) Attorney General John Ashcroft, and several other issues. Afterwards, students from the JCI spoke with one of her legislative aides who handled Boxer's Foreign Policy portfolio (Sen. Boxer is on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee).

There was a lot of activity jammed into just 4 days, including a tour of the DC Monuments, visit to the Holocaust Museum, and a little free time (a chance to visit Georgetown!). Jet lag definitely took its toll; I think I only had 4 hours of sleep per night, but it was all worth it.

We hope to continue this program in Los Angeles for the next two years, so interested 10th-12th grade students should speak with me regarding enrollment for next year.