I may not remember where I heard this quote, but it is certainly true about the feeling you get when you do social action or raise money for tzedakah and Tikun Olam. Social Action and Tikun Olam, the two aspects of USY's "SA/TO" acronym, and are two equally important mitzvot. As Jews, and human beings, it is our responsibility to help those around us and do our best to brighten this world with our light, and extend helping hands to one another. To break it down, Social Actions are g'milut chasadim, acts of lovingkindness which are done to help others. Tikun Olam is USY's tzedakah fund. It is the way we USYers are able to donate money to help others.

Whoever we may be, and wherever we are, we always have the ability reach out to others, to support causes that are important to us, and to work to improve the world around us. This year, together, we have the ability to help each other in these endeavors to really make an impact on the world.

We have many exciting SA/TO undertakings to look forward to this year, on the International, Regional, chapter, and individual levels. Everyone plays an important role in Social Action and Tikun Olam. Every social action helps. Every penny adds up. This page is here to help you with all of your SA/TO needs. From this page, you are able to access the 613 Mitzvah Corps and UDAFE, USY's SA/TO clubs, as well as find information about the International Mega Mitzvah challenge and the SA/TO publications. You are also able to contact your International SA/TO Committee and me. Whether you were just told to make up a SA/TO program for an event tomorrow night, you need help finding a way to do social action in your community, you want to know to whom and how you can have more say in allocating your TO money, whether you want help amending a program to make it run more smoothly, you want to share a successful SA/TO story, or you just want to chat, we are all here to help you, so feel free to call on us!

Imagine this: You arrive at an elementary school with friends, and you are all preparing to read to the kids there and spend some time with them. You walk into a classroom and introduce yourself to the kids and start and talking to them. After about an hour it is time to leave. As you stand up, you feel as though this is just another afternoon, but before you can even start towards the door, a little girl raises her hand and quietly asks, "Can I have a hug?" As soon as the words come out of her mouth, 19 more arms jump up and reach out for hugs. SA/TO is not important because it is something we are told to do in USY. SA/TO is not important because it is something we are told to do anywhere. It is the feeling that comes from afternoons like this one, the feeling that tells you that you have truly touched someone's heart, that makes SA/TO important. This story is a true story, it is a memory of mine, and it is a feeling that I want to share with you. To really make an impact on the world, we must always strive to do more. There are endless opportunities to repair the world, and just like a flame, we must always reach upward and grab them. It is my honor and privilege to be your 2008 Social Action/ Tikun Olam Vice President. Ani v'atah n'shaneh et ha'olam – Together, you and I will change the world.

B'ahava,

Missy Mandell
2008 International USY Social Action/Tikun Olam Vice President