Matthew Levin, Candidate for the 5th Board of Manhattan AZA
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Matthew
levin
Riverdale BBYO
aspiring to be your 2nd Regional Aleph Shaliach
Biographical Information
School:
The Churchill School and Center | Class of 2022
NYC Neighborhood:
Riverdale, The Bronx
Favorite Restaurant in NYC:
Pizza Suprema
Favorite Quote (and who said it):
If I am not for myself, who will be for me? And being only for myself, what am 'I'? And if not now, when? - Rabbi Hillel the Elder
Who is one of your Role Models and why?
One of my role models is Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel who teaches us that prayer and religion are useless without action.
Reflection Questions
Why do you want to serve in the position for which you are caucused? Why are you qualified to do so? What will you uniquely bring to the Regional Board?
I want to serve in the position of Regional Shaliach because I have a passion for sharing Judaism doing community service, and Israel advocacy. I was the President of the Community service club in middle school after being in it for 5 years as the longest serving member in addition to being involved with the Animal rights club. I then started a chapter of the Animal rights club in my high school. In terms of Judaics, I have a passion that has led me to a lot of self learning. I also am a regular teen planner and leader at the young kids service at my synagogue on Shabbat morning. I also have served Manhattan as regional Shaliach for the last year, bringing more rich Jewish programing to the region then ever before, even breaking ground in the bbyo world.
Select one of the Cardinal Principles and explain how you apply this principle in your day-to-day life. How does this principle influence your leadership style?
One of the Cardinal Principles that I identify with is Judaism. My daily life is filled with it.I have regular t’filah as part of my daily practice. I spend a lot of my free time learning Jewish topics whether online or learning text with a Chevruta (Jewish study-buddy). I am always thinking through a Jewish legal and ethical lens when approaching anything. Guided by Jewish values, I feel obligated to always be the kindest person I can be and to stand up for what is right.
BBYO is a pluralistic Jewish youth movement open to any Jewish teen. How can we provide holiday, Shabbat, ritual, and prayer experiences for Jewish teens that are accessible for, and welcoming to, Jews from a diversity of denominations, practices, and knowledge-levels?
As Regional Shaliach my goal is to continue to make MHR as accessible as possible to different kinds of Jews. We need to make our region a safe place for Reform to Orthodox jews. We need to make sure we create Jewish spaces where we are explaining what is happening and not “Jew-barras” anyone or make them feel unvalidated as Jews. We also need to work on making sure that we create spaces where we are observing Halacha so that observant teens feel safe in our Jewish spaces. On the Regional board, I pushed for inclusive policy that allowed more observant Jewish teens to participate more fully in our programs but the work is far from over. Our region needs to make a written plan on how to more fully commit to pluralism and serve as an exemplar for the International order.