Once a RAC LA, Always a RAC LA
Rebecca Blake Chaikin is a former Legislative Assistant at the Religious Action Center. She currently serves on the Union for Reform Judaism's Resolutions Committee. Twenty-five years ago Larry Milder wrote, "Wherever you go, there's always someone Jewish." (See his Biennial performance of it below!) Being at Biennial, I feel that wherever I go, there's always a current or former RAC Legislative Assistant!
Whether serving on committees or the URJ Board, running NFTY programming, working on the URJ staff or presenting at learning sessions, former RAC LAs have a considerable presence here. It is a testament to the dedication to Reform Judaism fostered by the intense, challenging, and immeasurably rewarding Eisendrath Legislative Assistant program that being a RAC LA is so often only the beginning of an adult life spent in service to the Movement.
As a member of the 2007-2008 class of LAs, I staffed the last Biennial in San Diego. I remember long days, snatching quick naps on the staff room floors, talking to the thousands of people who stopped by the RAC table and doggedly pursuing them to shoot hoops for our Nothing But Nets campaign. It was exhausting, but exhilarating. In so many ways, being a RAC LA at the Biennial puts you at the epicenter of Reform Jewish life. Our table is a hotbed of energy and enthusiasm, and the staff works as a cohesive team to ready featured resolutions and initiatives, to get our messages out to participants, and to shepherd the inspiring plenary speakers around the convention center.
Being back here as a participant this year, I find I miss the frenetic pace and the can-do spirit of the RAC team. In addition to attending learning sessions and full plenaries (which I missed out on last time around), I find myself standing at the ready to frantically box up prayer books after Shabbat services or to plug the RACNews "bookmarks" at every opportunity. Once a RAC LA, always a RAC LA. And I think that if I were to ask any of the other dozen or so former LAs roaming the convention center, they'd probably say the same thing.
Being back here as a participant this year, I find I miss the frenetic pace and the can-do spirit of the RAC team. In addition to attending learning sessions and full plenaries (which I missed out on last time around), I find myself standing at the ready to frantically box up prayer books after Shabbat services or to plug the RACNews "bookmarks" at every opportunity. Once a RAC LA, always a RAC LA. And I think that if I were to ask any of the other dozen or so former LAs roaming the convention center, they'd probably say the same thing.