Erika Steinhart is the summer marketing intern at the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia and a rising junior at Syracuse University. She interned with the Jewish Federation as part of the JEVS Human Services’ Franklin C. Ash Summer Internship Program, which connects college students with leading Jewish nonprofits. During JEVS’ graduation luncheon on July 31, marking 25 years of this program, Steinhart provided the below d'var Torah.
I want to start off by congratulating all my fellow interns for the successful completion of our program. I have loved getting to know you all and hearing about your experiences in your different placements. This has been such an amazing seven weeks, and I cannot believe it is already coming to an end.
My placement was at the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia, where I was working in the marketing department with my supervisor Andrea (Andi) Cantor and the rest of the amazing marketing team. They truly all welcomed me with open arms, and taught me invaluable skills that I will now be able to translate to my professional, academic and personal life. As I look at the work that the marketing team does to ensure the Jewish Federation can achieve its mission, it makes me think about my relationship with Judaism and how it drove me to pursue a career in the nonprofit sector.
A parasha is a section of the Torah that is read during a specific week. This week’s parsha, Parashat Matot-Masei, talks about vows, oaths and laws about justice. While reading through this parsha, one line in particular stood out to me. The line reads “You shall not defile the land in which you live, in which I Myself abide, for I G-d abide among the Israelite people.”
What does this line mean? I’d like to connect it to tikkun olam, the Jewish value of repairing the world. It’s human responsibility to take actions that make the world better. Sometimes, for me, it can seem overwhelming to fulfill this responsibility. But by taking initiative to do this internship and pursue a career in non-profit work, I am able to make a difference. I see how all of us in this program and at my placement have taken actions to accomplish this. From programs that serve incarcerated women, to programs helping adults get educational certifications, to my work in the Jewish Federation, we’re all repairing the world. For me, not defiling the land in which we live means fostering the wellbeing and growth of our home and the rest of the world.
In my placement, I was blown away by the expanse of the work that the Jewish Federation does. From giving young girls a hands-on STEM education to delivering nearly a million pounds of food to those in need in Greater Philadelphia through its Mitzvah Food Program, the Jewish Federation is dedicated to the health and happiness of local and global Jewry. This incredible mission is achieved by the dedication of each individual person involved in the organization. It takes cooperation, creativity, drive and so much more to be able to be there for the community the way the Jewish Federation is.
When I first stepped into the office and learned about just exactly what the Jewish Federation does, I felt intimidated. Just exactly how could I contribute to such a big, established cause? But despite my self-doubt, I threw myself in. I took notes. I asked questions. I made mistakes. I admitted when I needed help. All of these experiences helped me learn. I’ve always been a firm believer that learning should be sweet. These past seven weeks have most undoubtedly been. I tried new things. I strengthened existing skills. I made priceless connections, within my JEVS cohort and at my placement. I had a once in a lifetime type of experience that I know will carry me forward.
With this sense of enjoyment, I also feel a sense of accomplishment. I know that my work is helping repair the world. All of us are contributing to tikkun olam. Not only has the work we’ve done this summer already contributed to the welfare of Greater Philadelphia, but we’ll take this experience and skills into our professional life after graduation. I cannot wait to see the work you all will do after this summer, and will be forever grateful for the brief time spent together.
I’d like to thank Mr. Ash for ensuring that we can all receive this opportunity to learn and better the world in which we live. Mazel tov, congratulations, to my fellow interns, and I hope you all continue to do amazing things.
***
The Jewish Federation is committed to supporting young adults in their career development and uplifting the Jewish leaders of the next generation. To help support this work, consider making a gift by clicking here.