Stewart Florsheim fears the spotlight on the genocide in Darfur may be dimming.
To combat that, the Temple Sinai member and American Jewish World Service volunteer has been organizing the East Bay Jewish Community Walk for Darfur on April 25.
As it has in years past, the walk will coincide with the Oakland synagogue’s annual mitzvah day. But for the first time, the event’s co-sponsors stretch beyond Temple Sinai to include a total of 15 Jewish agencies.
“We need to let people know there is still a crisis going on,” said Florsheim, a Piedmont resident who has organized three previous walks for Temple Sinai. “It’s a difficult topic to talk about, but we need to raise awareness.”
Day-of-event registration begins at 9 a.m. April 25 at Temple Sinai and will be followed at 10 a.m. with a speech by American Jewish World Service President Ruth Messinger inside the sanctuary. The walk, a three-and-a-half-mile loop around Lake Merritt, will start at 11:30 a.m. on the northeast side of the lake near the Lakeview library branch.
In honor of the Reform synagogue’s mitzvah day and the 25th anniversary of AJWS, Messinger will speak about how Jews can make a difference in the world, stay engaged as activists and global citizens and affect the situation in Darfur.
“Ruth’s an incredibly inspirational and energetic speaker who can inspire people to care and participate in helping the victims of Darfur,” said Amy Draizen, a Temple Sinai member and AJWS community outreach volunteer. “It seemed like a natural match for her to speak, and we’re thrilled to have her be part of the walk-a-thon.”
Mohamed Suleiman, a native of Darfur and president of the San Francisco Bay Area Darfur Coalition, will join Messinger in discussing the current situation in Darfur. Suleiman is in regular contact with relatives and friends living there.
Messinger is slated to make additional stops at the JCC of the East Bay and Berkeley Hillel. Her schedule also includes appearances at South Bay congregations Beth Am in Los Altos Hills and Kol Emeth in Palo Alto, and Ziff Center for Jewish Campus Life at Stanford University.
As for the walk, Florsheim said he would be thrilled if 200 people participated, with their donations and pledges going toward AJWS programs that provide humanitarian aid and U.S.-based education to end the genocide.
“This genocide unfortunately cuts to the core of our Jewish identity,” said Laura Talmus, AJWS western region director. “Our community’s experience compels us in any way we can to engage against genocide. This walk is a primary vehicle for the Jewish community to take action on these fronts.”
Volunteers also will staff a political action table with information for participants to continue their advocacy after the walk by writing letters to the media and local political leaders to take up the cause.
“Caring about the well being of citizens across the globe is a concern of the Jewish community,” Draizen said. “The community involvement is a tribute to everybody wanting to participate in something that will make a difference.”
East Bay Jewish Community Walk for Darfur begins with event-day registration at 9 a.m. April 25 at Temple Sinai, 2808 Summit St., Oakland. For advance registration and information: action.ajws.org/goto/east baywalk4darfur.