Tzedek / Social Justice

Quilt on the Quad

On December 1, Emory University hosts the largest collegiate display of the Names Project Memorial AIDS Quilt in the world on the Emory University Quadrangle in commemoration of World AIDS Day. The Emory community comes together on the Quad in commemoration of World AIDS Day to honor the memory of those lost to AIDS by raising awareness of this global pandemic and encouraging the prevention of its spread, celebrating†the accomplishments of Emory scientists in combating the disease to bring action in the struggle against HIV & AIDS through volunteer/community service opportunities, and educating the community at Emory through a shared commitment to the cause of AIDS awareness and education. Jewish tradition teaches "to save one life is to save the entire world" (Mishnah Sanhedrin 4:5). Every life is precious, and in Judaism, preserving human life takes precedence over all other obligations. The power of the Quilt is its inherent ability to draw a personal connection to this devastating disease. We can see beyond the numbers and statistics to honor the memory of those individuals lost to AIDS while we renew our commitment to bring relief to those currently affected by HIV/AIDS. Over 2,000 visitors to the Emory Quad viewed the display in 2009; the quilt included over 800 panels, each one memorializing the life of a person lost to AIDS.

SHOAH

The goal of SHOAH (Students Helping to Organize Awareness of the Holocaust) is to educate the Emory community about the Holocaust and all other forms of mass persecution. The organization hosts memorial services for Kristallnacht and Yom Ha'Shoah, guest speakers on Holocaust-related topics, film screenings, museum trips, and a week-long series of educational events during Holocaust Awareness Week in the spring semester. SHOAH supports and sponsors various other events during the year at Emory and in the Atlanta community that are related to the group's mission.