YOZMA Siyyum Lauds Student Activists

Student social activists in the YOZMA social action leadership initiative were celebrated for their inspiring work at the YOZMA Siyyum on Friday, March 23 in the Margolis Theater. Parents, grandparents, faculty, and staff attended the luncheon and informative social action fair, where they learned about the various causes the groups are working on. The 21 seniors were honored and underclassmen received peer recognition awards.

 

The top award, the Hineni (which means “Here I am”) and goes to the student(s) who answer(s) the call of YOZMA, went to seniors Eli Elisha and Ben Levin. They answered the call every step of the way during their four years in YOZMA. Stellar leaders, they care deeply about children and showed extraordinary leadership. Talia Shakib-Khou ’18 and Lauren Okhovat ’18 received the Neshama Award: Soul of YOZMA. They approached their social action work through their souls and passionately led their respective groups with conscience. The Moreshet Legacy Award went to Lauren Moghimi ’18. She created a new group, Healing Spirits, to help heal the ill or raise people's spirits with random acts of kindness. Incredibly successful, it is creating a legacy of the newest group in YOZMA.

 

A student-led and faculty guided program, YOZMA (Hebrew for “initiative”) is for students who are passionate about social justice and believe in their abilities to make a difference in the world. Students generate the ideas and faculty support them to help realize their visions. YOZMA students are deeply committed to their causes and spend approximately 50-60 hours completing their various intensive projects throughout the year. Students create educational and fundraising events on campus to raise awareness of their causes and to mobilize Milken students to join their efforts. “Students have the opportunity to take high-level initiative, develop leadership skills, and make a significant contribution not only to the school community but also to the larger Los Angeles community and abroad,” said Director of YOZMA Carolyn Camras.

 

Fundraisers and events they have sponsored include Red Hand Day to advocate against the use of child soldiers; toy and book drives for Children’s Hospital; holiday food drives for SOVA; visiting Holocaust survivors and U.S. veterans; and raising money for Israel.

 

This year’s YOZMA Groups are Hunger, Jewish World Watch, Heart Action: Israel, Global, Healing Spirits, U.S. Veterans, Animal Rights, Children. Also, a group of seniors established the Engagement Ambassadors group, learning about political process and advocacy.

 

Remarked Camras, “My wish for YOZMA students is to take with them their YOZMA years of experience and skills, combined with the strong Jewish roots and values of their Milken education, always confident that their voices and actions matter, to use these wisely, and to understand their obligation that the world needs them to lead the way.”

 

Students interested in participating in YOZMA can apply online in MyMilken—Service Learning. Applications will be available in May. Freshmen, especially, are encouraged to apply.