Academics
Curriculum

Service Learning

Making a Difference

The Service Learning Program at Milken Community School is built upon the concepts of tikkun olam and tikkun atzmi – repairing the world and becoming one’s best self and follows a cycle of learning, action, and reflection. Service Learning at Milken seeks to raise student awareness of local and global issues, engage students in direct problem solving and relationship building to address these issues, and develop graduates with a lifelong practice of engagement, service, and reflection. Our expert Service Learning faculty combine hands-on service opportunities with Torah study and personal reflection to create positive experiences that impact our students and strengthen the fabric of Los Angeles.

Our Middle School Service Learning program, Kulam, provides space for students to explore Jewish values and to become problem-solvers for our local and global communities. Milken students engage in both on-campus and off-campus direct service opportunities, embracing their role as social action advocates empowered to make an impact at home and abroad.

At the Upper School, the Service Learning advances the Jewish mandate of tikkun olam (repairing the world). Students identify areas of interest early in their Upper School careers and demonstrate active involvement in giving back to the community throughout. In addition, Upper School students must earn community service hours through Service Learning each year.

Yozma

Yozma (“initiative” in Hebrew) is Milken Community School's social action initiative. Through a leadership-based curriculum and the lenses of Torah, students work collaboratively to envision, plan and teach through selected causes, turning ideas into action. Yozma participants culminate the year at the Yozma Siyyum where they can display various projects and initiatives they have worked on during the year.

Members of YOZMA

  • Gain leadership skills, including advocacy, project management, and community building
  • Understand connections between Jewish learning and Social Action
  • Mobilize our community to take action to repair our world
YOZMA meets 2-3 times a month during lunch. 

Middle School Yozma launches Fall 2024.

All of Milken’s Service learning programs (Including YOZMA) are currently accepting applications.

In order to join a Yozma group, both as a Chair and participant, you must first complete the Service Learning Application.

Stay tuned for Grades 6-8 Yozma opportunities!


For more information or any questions, please contact Yozma Coordinator, Gala Zakai - gzakai@milkenschool.org

Beit Midrash Fellowship

One of Milken's Signature Program with a service learning component, the Beit Midrash Fellowship is an advanced, innovative Jewish studies program that integrates high-level text learning, social action, leadership, community-building and celebration. 

Global Beit Midrash Social Action

The heart of the Global Beit Midrash is a student-centered digital, global, collaborative, project-based initiative, with four corners: narrative, text, culture, and social action. As part of our Service Learning program, Milken students address common social action issues including how their communities engage poverty, hunger, homelessness, and the elderly. They design, facilitate, and fine-tune social action projects, teaching these skills to fellow students in the global program as they go. Learn more at www.globalbeitmidrash.com.

 

Service Learning Department

List of 5 members.

  • Photo of Caroline Wilcox

    Caroline Wilcox 

    English Teacher & Service Learning Coordinator, Grades 6-8
  • Photo of Gala Zakai

    Gala Zakai 

    Hebrew Teacher & Yozma Coordinator
    310.440.3075
  • Photo of Camryn Kruger

    Camryn Kruger 

    Director of Service Learning
  • Photo of Sophe Comfortes

    Sophe Comfortes 

    English Teacher & Service Learning Coordinator, Grades 9-10
  • Photo of Elizabeth Kattler

    Elizabeth Kattler 

    Jewish Studies Teacher & Service Learning Coordinator, Grades 11-12
    310.440.3500

Upcoming Service Events

List of 3 events.

View All Events

Connect With Us

At Milken Community School, we think education is more than what you know. Our School, founded on Jewish values, is about who our children can become and how they can help others become who they might be. Because the world our children will create tomorrow is born in the School we build today, our mission is to educate our children so they can surpass us.
Non-discrimination Policy: Milken Community School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation or national and ethnic origin in the administration of its educational policies, admission policies, financial aid, athletic, and other school-administered programs.