PANIM: The Institute for Jewish Leadership and Values

The brainchild of founder and long-standing director, Rabbi Sid Schwartz, PANIM was originally a response to what he thought was both ineffective institutional Jewish education and uninformed Jewish adults participating in public affairs. To those ends, PANIM has focused its attention on preparing young Jews to assert tikkun olam—repair of the world—as a core principle of their Judaism. 

Through its flagship program, Panim el Panim, high school students from across the religious spectrum as well as the country, travel to Washington, DC to learn about politics, political activism, and civic engagement in the context of Jewish texts and values. Participants gain a deeper appreciation for Judaism and a sense of empowerment about how they can find a role in changing the world. 

PANIM continues to fill a critical need in the community for social justice programming for teens. For more information, visit www.panim.org.