The BJE and Sulam: The Center for Jewish Service Learning is proud to sponsor Sulam's Spotlight Awards (formerly the Sherut L'Am Awards). Sign Up Now!

The Spotlight Awards shine a light on those Jewish teens who are of Bar/Bat Mitzvah age or older and have involved themselves in Service Learning. Through our Spotlight Awards program we have partnered with the Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles and the City of Los Angeles, to provide yearly recognition for those students who achieve a high level of Service Learning.

Additionally, Sulam is registered with the U.S. Government to give out The President's Volunteer Service Awards. The requirements for this award (offered in addition to our own Spotlight Awards) can be seen at the link at the bottom of this page. Everyone who signs up for our Spotlight Awards program is automatically in the running for a President's Volunteer Service Award.

Sulam's Spotlight Awards Levels of Service Learning Commitment and Honors:

Chaver (Friend)
18 hours of service
*You will be honored with a certificate from the Federation noting the Chaver level of Service Learning commitment and a certificate from the City of Los Angeles.

Kavod (Honor)
60 hours of service
*You will be honored with a certificate from the Federation noting the Kavod level of Service Learning commitment and a certificate from the City of Los Angeles.

Tzedek (Righteousness)
60 hours of service and a 500 word reflective essay
*You will be honored with a certificate from the Federation noting the Tzedek level of Service Learning commitment and a certificate from the City of Los Angeles
* AND have your work published on the "Featured Stories" or "Reflection" page of Sulam's web-site
*AND a chance to be one of three teen speakers at the end-of-the-year recognition event
*AND a chance to have your essay published in the Jewish Journal

***Please note that any service hours you receive by volunteering at a summer camp can only count for a maximum of half of your required hours.

Click here to see the award you could receive from the City of Los Angeles!
Click here to see the award you could receive from the Jewish Federation!
Click here to see the award you could receive from the President of the United States!

The Recognition Ceremony

In addition to qualifying for well deserved awards that look great on your college resume, Sulam puts on an end-of-the-year ceremony. Dignitaries from both the Jewish world and the political arena mark this event and pay honor to all the students' hard work and good deeds. At the Recognition Event, the students are given their awards and have the opportunity to share their thoughts and feelings about their year committed to Jewish Service Learning. We want everyone to know what a great asset you are to our community. All you have to do is fill out the registration form, noting your level of commitment to community service and, when your hours are complete, send in verification. It's really as simple as that. Applications are due April 1st, 2008.

For a registration form to sign up for Sulam's Spotlight Awards, click here!

For guidelines on how you may qualify for the President's Volunteer Service Award, click here!

The Jewish Service Learning year is from July 1, 2007 - May 31, 2008 and all hours of service from that time period apply. You must have or have had your bar or bat-mitzvah by May 31 of this year to qualify for the program. Once you have signed up for the Spotlight Awards, please submit verification of the hours you have completed by having your supervisor from each service experience sign a form (often the organizations will have them ready as part of their volunteer program, but if not you can simply type up a letter) and send it in (fax 323-761-8640) or email the Director, Rabbi Glenn Karonsky, at GKaronsky@bjela.org.

For more information contact Rabbi Glenn Karonsky, Director of SuLam, at GKaronsky@bjela.org or (323) 761-8631.