FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
JEWS FOR JUDAISM LAUNCHES NATIONWIDE
ART AND CREATIVE WRITING CONTEST
Jewish students face constant challenges to their spiritual identity. These dangers have intensified dramatically since traveling the Information Superhighway has become a daily activity. Doing research for a Hebrew School project may sound safe – but the likelihood of encountering missionary websites when Googleing the most Jewish of topics is enormous. Many cult and missionary groups routinely troll for prospects in chat rooms visited by students.
As part of an ongoing project to protect Jewish youth from these and other threats, Jews for Judaism has launched a nationwide Creative Writing and Art Contest encouraging students to explore their positive connections to Judaism.
Jews for Judaism is a Toronto based organization dedicated to keeping Jews Jewish by countering the growing threats posed by missionaries and cults specifically targeting the Jewish community. Jews for Judaism offers special counseling services and inspirational educational programs for students and adults.
The contest was first held in 2003 for students in the Toronto area. Sarina Nemirov, 14 and Laura Gorfinkle, 8 captured first prizes in their age divisions with beautifully evocative poems on the theme of “I Love Judaism”.
This years contest, on the theme of “My Favourite Jewish Holiday” is being held across Canada. Jews for Judaism has sent flyers and information about the contest to every Jewish school from coast to coast. Entries can include any form of creative writing, short stories, poems, songs, essays or art piece related to the theme. The contest has three divisions: Grades 1-4, Grades 5-8 and Grades 9-12. Three cash prizes will be awarded for each category. The 1 st prize will be $180, 2 nd will be $100 and 3 rd prize $54.
The contest deadline is May 31, 2005. All contestants will receive a “Certificate of Participation” and winners will be announced on the Jews for Judaism website (www.jewsforjudaism.org) in June. Entry forms and information about the contest can be obtained by contacting the Jews for Judaism office at (905) 761-0040 or by email,
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Contact:
Rabbi Michael Skobac, Director of Education,
Office (905) 761-0040, Mobile (416) 473-9293
Julius Ciss, Executive Director
Office (905) 761-0040, Mobile (416) 826-6718