Ruchot

Welcome to Ruchot: Community Organizing and Advocacy Training for High School Students

Some days, the news can feel overwhelming and the world full of big problems. As a young person, perhaps you care deeply about issues you see around you but aren’t always sure how to act and make a difference. Cue Ruchot.

Ruchot means “winds” in Hebrew (like “winds of change”). This seminar is designed for high school students who want to change the world. We’ll teach you to start organizing your community to act on issues such as climate justice, reproductive rights, access to education, poverty, and more. 

Details

Ruchot will take place in Washington, D.C. from Friday, February 7 at 5:00 p.m. until Monday, February 10 at 1:30 p.m. Participants and staff will stay at the brand new Caravan Hostel, which will serve as Ruchot headquarters for the weekend.

During this immersive weekend, we’ll spend Shabbat with Adas Israel, a vibrant congregation in D.C., where we’ll celebrate with the community, eat good food, make new friends, and start learning. After Shabbat, the city will become our classroom, where we will learn from experienced local organizers, lobby local representatives on Capitol Hill, and explore what role Judaism plays in our identities as organizers.

In addition to a weekend of immersive learning, Ruchot will also include two Zoom workshops before and after the trip (four total). We’ll help you prepare for our time together, dig deep into learning about organizing, and then work to translate your learning into ongoing work in your home community.

Pre–trip sessions will take place on Wednesday, January 22 at 8:00–9:00 p.m. ET and Sunday, January 26 from 5:00–6:30 p.m. ET. After the trip, we’ll hold one full-cohort session on Sunday, February 23 from 8–9:00 p.m. ET. We will also schedule an individual consulting session with students by community to help them translate their learning into engagement at home. 

What can I expect to do at Ruchot?

• Spend a fun Shabbat in D.C. We will attend services at Adas Israel congregation, eat Shabbat meals with the community, and get to know each other.
• Learn about the national and local issues that matter to you. We’ll dive into what makes the issues complicated and how people are working to address these challenges. These issues may include climate change, poverty, reproductive justice, education, and more. 
• Engage in workshops designed to give you tools from different schools of thought about organizing for social change. This includes relational organizing and direct advocacy.
• Visit Capitol Hill to put your learning into action. You’ll visit the offices of your elected officials and lobby them on issues we’ve helped you prepare.
• Explore D.C.! Learn about our country’s capital, visit monuments, eat delicious kosher food, and for the sports fans, watch the Superbowl on Sunday evening!

What do I need to know about travel arrangements?

Participants are responsible for organizing their own transportation to and from D.C. This is not included in the cost of the program. Students’ transportation should be arranged to and from Dulles or Reagan international airports or the D.C. Amtrak train station. Ruchot staff will meet participants at the airport/ station upon arrival. From there, staff will take students to the hostel where we are staying. Students will each receive a prepaid subway card to use on public transportation when they arrive.

Who can attend?

Teens in grades 9–12 are invited to apply regardless of previous social justice participation or experience.    

What is the registration cost and cancellation policy?

Registration Cost

Cancellation Policy

You may purchase trip protection during the registration process that covers cancellation up until the start day before the program. If you choose not to buy insurance for the trip, the following refund policy applies.

Are scholarships or financial aid available?

Scholarships are available and cost should not be a barrier to participation. If you need scholarship, start your registration. One of the questions asks if you need additional financial assistance. Click “yes” and fill out our one page scholarship application. We will get back to you within two weeks. If transportation to the program is cost prohibitive, we will subsidize $100 of travel for students traveling by plane and $50 for students traveling by train.

What will Jewish religious observance look like on the trip?

This trip is designed to give us all an opportunity to unplug and observe Shabbat. All programming will be shomer Shabbat, kosher, and egalitarian. We also welcome and respect different levels of familiarity and comfort with Jewish observance. 

We will work with everyone to build a Shabbat community that feels welcoming, fun, and respectful. We will attend Kabbalat Shabbat and Shabbat Shacharit services at Adas Israel Congregation, a vibrant Conservative shul a 1.8 mile walk from our hostel. Every morning during the program, we will daven or pray Shacharit (the morning service). Optional Mincha and Ma’ariv services will be offered in the afternoons and evenings. Food will be hekshered kosher, except for one meal at a vegan restaurant (we will make accommodations if you would prefer only hekshered food). Our staff are committed to making sure that students feel included and engaged.

Who will I room with?

We will stay at the new Caravan House hostel that opened in June 2024. All participants will sleep in their own bunk bed with a privacy curtain. Students will be grouped in bunk rooms according to their gender identities. We will make every effort to make sure that students feel safe and comfortable staying together on the trip.

Are you a Jewish communal leader?

Please nominate students from your community for Ruchot.

Registration

We’re grateful to our partner, USY, for hosting the registration platform.

Other Questions?

Please email program coordinator Sarah Rockford at sarah.rockford@jtsa.edu.

Partners

This program is a collaborative project across organizations within the Conservative movement. Thank you to Adas Israel Congregation, USY, the Rabbinical Assembly, USCJ, Ramah, and the JTS Hendel Center for Ethics and Justice.

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