June 30, 2011
This spring I had the privilege of interning for the American Jewish Committee's (AJC) San Francisco office. At Dartmouth College, our academic schedule allows us to explore off-campus opportunities and take terms to study-abroad or attain work experience. Chabad is my Jewish home up here in northern New England and during my off-term I desperately missed Shabbat dinners full of Chani's delicious challah and gefilte fish (and of course the occasional prime rib).
Recent times have brought an array of challenges and opportunities to the Jewish people and the Jewish state. During my time at AJC, among other tasks and responsibilities, I helped engage in Jewish diplomacy with the Egyptian, Chilean, and Brazilian consulates. I had the honor to attend AJC's Global Forum, a young leadership program focusing on countering attacks on Israel's legitimacy, AIPAC's annual policy conference, and a briefing by Israel's Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon on foreign policy challenges for Israel.
Jewish diplomacy is extremely important in this day and age. In San Francisco an anti-circumcision ballot initiative poses a threat to religious freedom. It's crucial for such initiatives to fail.
Just down the street from AJC's downtown office, Chabad of SF parks the Chabad Cable Car for daily afternoon minyan. It's quite an experience to pray on a cable car next to the famous piers of San Francisco.
Dartmouth College's Rockefeller Center for Public Policy funded a portion of my time at AJC. At Dartmouth College, the opportunities truly are endless and varied.
I enjoyed my time back home in the Bay Area, but I can't wait to be back in Rabbi Gray's home enjoying Shabbat dinner with all of my friends.
Paul Lazarow