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ily into India, later arriving in the
United States in 2007. He took this
opportunity to tell his story, which
included the oppression his land
faces at the hands of China. “I’m
not sure exactly how telling my
story will lead to change in Tibet
but everything begins with raising
awareness,” said the senior honor
student.
Erica Getto, of Scarsdale High
School, helped earn herself Manhattanville’s
Richard Berman
Award with a similar mind set. “I’m
the Editor-in-Chief at the school
newspaper and informing students
on human rights issues across the
globe and right at home is where
action begins,” she says.
Otherwise, Getto’s involvement
and inspiration hasn’t been limited
to the confines of an editor’s inbox.
After an 8th grade trip to Africa,
she became involved in Water For
People, which provides well-water
to African communities through a
merry-go-round system pumped
by children. She is now president
of the school’s human rights
coalition. Money is being raised
for education in India and relief
efforts in Japan. In receiving the
award, her acceptance speech
was emblematic of the Center’s
vision. “Get out there and be an
up-stander,” she said.
Getting students to take a
stand instead of standing by
is the goal of Ms. Cohen. So
whether it’s taking a seat with the
classmate who usually eats lunch
alone or signing onto the antihuman
trafficking Polaris Project,
the day is a success if even one
more student chooses the “up”
side of action.
Although this kind of commitment
does not correspond to the
instant gratification that teenagers
are just starting to learn to
leave behind, Parens concluded,
“you have to be patient but eventually
they have to hear you.”
Prestigious Social Justice
Award to Temple Beth El
Early in May, Temple Beth El
of Northern Westchester will be
receiving the “Irving J. Fain Award”
for Outstanding Synagogue Social
Action Programming. It is one of
the highest honors available to
congregations within the Reform
Jewish Movement. Temple Beth El
receives this award for its “Multi-
Generational Jewish-Muslim
Dialogue” initiative. Partnering
with the local Muslim Society , the
Synagogue held interfaith dialogue
programs to discuss differences
and similarities between the two
faiths. “Social justice is an essential
component to our movement,”
said Dr. Cheryl Gutmann, chair of
the Commission on Social Action of
Reform Judaism. For more info, go
to www.rac.org
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38 Inside Chappaqua May 2011