Civic Engagement Through the Lens of Judaism
6 November 2018 Civic Engagement Through the Lens of Judaism
As the 2018 midterm elections approached, the Abbe Center for Jewish Life and HWS Hillel collaborated with HWS Votes to encourage students to vote.
HWS Votes joined members of the Jewish community during Shabbat dinner for a discussion about civic engagement and voting in Judaism. HWS Votes supplied absentee ballots and pre-stamped envelopes for students to mail their ballots.
While it is the norm for us to collaborate with political groups on campus, I think it is hugely important for us to recognize that there are so many other influential groupsthat can contribute to HWS Votes in major ways, says Cassidy DiPaola 18, HWS Votes co-president and one of the Center for Community Engagement and Service Learnings Civic Leaders of Political Activism. Partnering with Hillel allows us to explore the avenues that religion and community play in the civic engagement process.
Director of the Abbe Center for Jewish Life and Hillel Adviser Julianne Miller says that civic engagement and voting are unquestionably Jewish values, and ones she is emphasizing before the midterm election.
We are inspired by the Hillel International MitzVote campaign, says Miller, who explains that the Hebrew word mitzvot means commandments. We are commanded to engage in the work of Tikkun Olam of repairing the world, or continuing to improve it.There is no question that voting is an important part of the work of tikkun olam.
Miller also notes that the Talmud, one of Judaisms ancient texts, teaches that the community must have a voice in choosing its leaders, and as a community, we have an obligation to use our voice and vote.
During the dinner, students heard multiple perspectives on why voting is important and engaged with various members of campus. Through this partnership, we were able to once again make the point that Shabbat dinner is open to everyone on campus.Each time someone new comes to Shabbat, experiences the warm welcome and hospitality, and realizes theyd like to come back thats a connection weve built, Miller says.
HWS Votesisanon-partisan group of student leaders devoted to voter registration and the continuous education of the HWS and Geneva communities. Through CCESL, HWS Votes works with politically-oriented groups on campus to maximize student participation and understanding of the electoral process. In 2016, HWS Votes wasranked as the No. 1 campus nationallyfor registered student voters among all colleges and universities using TurboVotes registration system.