Great Scott
Actor Scott Wolf has never taken home an Emmy for his work on “Party of Five,” “Everwood’ or “The Nine.” But how many other television studs can claim to have won the Social Action Award, handed out each year by the North American Federation of Temple Youth?
Wolf — who was given the 2007 prize last week in Philadelphia at the convention of the Reform synagogue youth group, known by its acronym, NFTY — was recognized for his work on behalf of young refugees from the war-torn Darfur section of Sudan. To help, in 2005,Wolf, his wife and a group of Park City, Utah, residents founded the Cheir Foundation. It has raised more than $100,000 to help fund the higher education of the refugees.
“I am truly humbled and honored to be awarded the NFTY Social Action Award,” Wolf said to the more than 1,100 teens gathered at the youth convention. “Receiving this award from such a meaningful organization makes it all the better.”
Wolf, who was raised in a Reform Jewish household, added: “There is no more important value to me than the idea that we are all created in the image of God. That is why we have started this foundation.”
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And what a time to step into the leadership of this storied Jewish institution! For 129 years, the Forward has shaped and told the American Jewish story. I’m stepping in at an intense time for Jews the world over. We urgently need the Forward’s courageous, unflinching journalism — not only as a source of reliable information, but to provide inspiration, healing and hope.
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