Rabbi Micha Odenheimer is not your typical rabbi. Rather than take a pulpit, he traveled the developing world as a journalist, where he became interested in the realities of globalization. At the same time a background in Jewish texts and interest in social justice led him to pursue a unique form of activism with a distinctly Jewish perspective. Vacationing in India several years ago, Rabbi Odenheimer found his interests colliding. "I remember seeing the really extensive presence of Israeli youth in the East and thinking it would be great to involve them in a deeper way in social justice."

 

That goal would eventually lead to Tevel B'Tzedek, Hebrew for "the earth, in justice," a distinctive volunteer program that brings Jewish and Israeli youth to Kathmandu, Nepal, for four months to volunteer in different social and environmental justice causes. In addition to working at their volunteer positions, participants live together, study the Nepalese language and explore their Jewish heritage and the literature on social justice and tikkun olam, the Jewish imperative of repairing the world.

 

Tevel B'Tzedek uniquely incorporates two rising trends – the emergence of youth service programs for young Jews, and the thriving culture of Israeli backpacking tourism in the Far East. For Rabbi Odenheimer, the two work hand in hand. "In the past 6 or 7 years, there has been a revival of the volunteering spirit in Israel," he says, citing the growth in popularity of the Shnat Sherut and Mechinot Kdam Tzvayot – gap year national service programs for Israeli high school graduates. "There is a lot of idealism in Israeli society that doesn't always find expression in the current socio-political situation."

 

The Schusterman Foundation - Israel took an early interest in Tevel B'Tzedek, believing in its emphasis of tikkun olam, while uniting diverse Israelis with Jews from around the world. "We set Jewish identity high on our priority list  and what better way to do this than engaging in the pluralistic Jewish value of tikkun olam, in a setting where young Jews can gain the perspective to contemplate their roles as Jews in the world," says David Gappell, Director of Schusterman Israel. 

 

The overwhelming positive feedback from participants, some of whom return and take positions on Tevel B'Tzedek's board, speaks volumes about the program's success. "As a participant on the pilot trip," explains Michalya Schonwald, who is now Tevel B'Tzedek's international deputy director, "I've seen young Israelis who have never had leadership roles in their lives, truly becoming a cadre of change makers." "The communities where Tevel B'Tzedek operates have also been very receptive," says David, explaining that Tevel B'Tzedek has become a fixture in its community in Katmandu, its volunteers often leaving permanent changes. One young nurse who volunteered at a medical clinic with no system of recording patients, taught the staff to keep medical records. Another volunteer learned fluent Nepali gaining him access to troubled children in Katmandu, and worked to help them get off the streets. In addition to its regular 4-month program, Tevel B'Tzedek has been so well-received in Nepal, that in March 2008 it was asked to be part of a team of third-party NGO's helping to monitor Nepalese elections, ensuring free and fair voting. 

 

Going forward, Tevel B'Tzedek strives to create more permanent projects in Nepal, including a model farm to train communities in advanced techniques, so they may support themselves, without moving to the cities for work. Tevel B'Tzedek recently set up a second house in Katmandu targeting Jewish backpackers for in Nepal, creating ways to involve them in short term volunteer opportunities such as one-day clean up jobs and painting murals throughout the area. Back in Israel, Tevel B'Tzedek is working to strengthen its alumni network to encourage social justice entrepreneurialism at home. In the coming years it aims to open a second location in East Africa. 

 

"Hostile neighbors and tight borders make growing up in Israel a bit of an isolating experience. People want to find themselves, figure out what does it mean to be a Jew and an Israeli in the world at large," says Micha reflecting on Tevel B'Tzedek's greater impact on Israelis. "This mission fuses with a search to convey idealism, and young Israelis connect their own search for identity with search for a better world."