UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — With partnerships and support from more than 40 organizations across the University, Rebuild-U, Penn State’s first hands-on Jewish service group, will launch the inaugural Nadav Ezra Day of Giving on Sunday, Oct. 16.
Rebuild-U, founded by Pittsburgh native Rebecca Lerman, has worked closely with the State College community and local nonprofits to establish a diverse selection of projects that students can participate in based on their passions and skills. Options include serving at The Arboretum at Penn State, Centre Learning Community Charter School, Bellefonte borough, State College Area Meals on Wheels, and more. To view the full list of service opportunities and to sign up, click here.
The Nadav Ezra Day of Giving is dedicated to the memory of Nadav Ezra, a close friend of Lerman who was killed in a car accident Jan. 4.
“I met Nadav on a summer trip to Bulgaria while I was in high school,” said Lerman. “I had never met someone so young with the high level of maturity he displayed. Nadav had a unique outlook on life, pursing his dreams and passions before most of us even knew what our own dreams and passions were.”
The mission of Rebuild-U is to develop personal connections through hands-on service by reaching out to those in need and actively engaging the community locally and around the world.
“We thought a long time about what to name the day of service,” Lerman said. “Over the summer, I was at home sending a message to Nadav (she still writes to him) sharing details about the planning process. While writing, I was prompted to do a search for the meanings of the Hebrew names ‘Nadav’ and ‘Ezra.’ I found that ‘Nadav’ means ‘gives’ and ‘Ezra’ means ‘helper.’ It was perfect and the name was set.”
Rebuild-U would like to send a special thanks to the Nadav Ezra Day of Giving sponsors: Penn State Presidential Leadership Academy, Penn State Schreyer Honors College, State of State, Penn State Hillel, University Park Undergraduate Association, Penn State Panhellenic Counci, and the Interfraternity Council.
Penn State groups supporting the day of service include the Interfraternity Council, Student Programming Association, Social Justice Coalition, Women in Business, Residence Life, Order of Omega, Army ROTC, LTA, baseball, hockey, rugby, golf, PSATA, men’s basketball, Penn State Sapphire, Student Athlete Advisory Board, Passion with a Purpose, Sisters of the Runway, Omega Phi Alpha, CCSG, Graduate and Professional Student Association, Council of Lion Hearts, Lion Pantry, Pencils of Promise (PoP), Lion Ambassadors, Penn State Pre-Vet, Presidential Leadership Academy, and Students Supporting Israel.
To learn about Rebuild-U and the Nadav Ezra Day of Giving, visit www.pennstatehillel.org/students/opportunities/rebuild-u or contact Hannah Gitermam, Penn State Hillel’s director of community engagement, at 440-223-2015 or hbg12@psu.edu.