YULA has played such a huge role in chessed within our community this year on both the Girls and Boys campuses. Throughout the year, there have been so many opportunities for students to give back—not just through our required chessed hours, but because we genuinely want to support the community and make a real impact.
This past December, the YULA Girls’ sophomores got to experience the Sophomore Slam, an amazing trip where we bonded as a grade while doing chessed. We packed 1,150 bags for seniors who are stuck staying at home at the Three Square Foundation and volunteered at Opportunity Village, making a real difference in people’s lives. As one of the sophomores on the trip, I can say it was truly an incredible and inspiring experience.
One of the most exciting programs on the Girls’ Campus is the Leila Midrasha program, which has grown so much this year. Instead of just learning Torah in the classroom, they’ve had the opportunity to go on chessed trips and bring their learning into the real world, especially at their Lev LA and Yachas chessed trips. It’s been amazing to see how much of an impact they have made just by taking what they’ve learnt and sharing it with others. At the girls campus the girls participate in Shabbat Kit packing at least once a month where they pack shabbat essentials in boxes and decorate them for jewish people spending shabbat in the hospital.
Along with these chessed opportunities, in our own community in january YULA students stepped up to help those affected by the devastating Los Angeles fires. Many families were displaced or lost their homes, and as students who had friends who had lost their homes in the fires, they knew that they had to do something. Students from both the Girls and Boys campuses took it upon themselves to organize not only a clothing drive but also a Judaica drive to help families who had lost essential Jewish items needed for the holidays and daily life. It was incredible to see our school come together to support those in need, proving once again that chessed is truly at the heart of the YULA student body.
This past December, YULA Girls and Boys participated in their annual Impact Day, a day dedicated to giving back to the community and sharing our blessings with those in need. The Girls’ Campus students volunteered all around Los Angeles at incredible organizations like ETTA, YACHAD, Lev LA, OBKLA, Sharsheret, Global Kindness, Chai Lifeline, Garden of Palms, and Country Villa Health Center. Impact Day is truly one of the most meaningful days of the year at YULA, it shows us how even the smallest acts of kindness can make a real difference.
The Boys’ Campus also spent the day volunteering throughout Los Angeles. The freshmen went to OBKLA to show their support, while the sophomores spread their kindness at the Iranian Jewish Senior Center, ETTA, and even at their own YULA Boys’ campus, where they packed Shabbat kits. The juniors made an impact at a soup kitchen, the Garden of Palms assisted living community, and YACHAD, while the YULA boys seniors took on a huge responsibility with the Love and Groceries mission. They not only purchased groceries for them but personally delivered them to families in need, helping to provide a sense of stability and peace of mind for those facing difficult times.
Impact Day is a reminder that chessed isn’t just something we do, it’s something as jewish people we live by. It’s amazing to see our school come together as a community to make a real, lasting impact!
