Jewish Teens Painting Out Hate

JEWISH TEENS PAINTING OUT HATE
For two teens planning this event, this work was started 35 years ago in another country fighting hate and anti-Semitism

Over 100 Jewish teens from across greater Seattle will make a difference in their community on May 1, 2011 by painting out hate, literally. The teens, members of the J-Serve team sponsored by the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle, are working with Seattle Paint Out in the Belltown neighborhood painting out graffiti.

For two of the teens planning this event, this isn't just about teens making a difference; it is about the continuation of something that began 35 years ago.

Sisters Rachel and Sarah Varon are intimately aware of the hate paint that happens in neighborhoods. Sarah, Student Body Vice-President at Northwest Yeshiva High School, remembers the day their school was tagged in September 2010.

"There were swastikas painted on the doors and references to gas chambers. It was pretty scary," said Sarah Varon.

One person who could understand is her grandmother, Marianne Heller. Marianne, who moved from Detroit to Toronto, Canada in 1976, saw what she called "frightening signs of racism appearing in our city." Skulls and crossbones and antiracial slurs against African-Americans, and Jews were appearing in a alarming rate. Marianne took the matter into her own hands and with an architect friend they covered the inciting words.

Following her in Grandmother's footsteps, Rachel Varon took the lead for the regional BBYO Jewish youth organization in planning and recruiting for this day of service.

"For us it isn't just about teens doing community service," she said. "It is about making a difference in our community and working to make others feel safer."

As part of the planning for J-Serve 2011, the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle is working with Jewish youth movements and organizations throughout the area, including BBYO, USY, NCSY/JSU, NFTY and the Stroum Jewish Community Center. Seattle Paint Out works with communities and organizations throughout the year to clean and paint out graffiti in Seattle neighborhoods.

J-Serve is a national program sponsored by BBYO.org. More information on J-Serve in Seattle, WA can be found at www.JewishInSeattle.org/JServe and information about Seattle Paint Out can be found at www.paintout.org.

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CONTACT: Amy Hilzman-Paquette

AmyHP [at] JewishInSeattle [dot] org