PANIM, JAM, Mural @ a Catholic Diocese

PANIM‘s (“The Institute for Jewish Leadership and Values”) summer JAM (“Judaism, Activism and Mitzvah”) program brings Jewish high school students from across the Jewish religious and educational spectrum to Washington, D.C. to learn about political activism and civic engagement in the context of Jewish values and principles. This year, just like the previous two, the program included doing an art project (painting a mural on the wall of the Arlington Catholic Diocese) together with Muslim youth, mostly fresh immigrants, often refugees. Working, playing, conversing together created bonds. I applaud the inclusion of this segment into JAM’s program as I would like to see new Jewish leadership open to Muslim Jewish dialog. And as this Connection article mentions For other teenagers who are new to the country, the mural program provides the chance to mingle with American students in a relaxed environment away from the social pressures of high school.