The Rashi School’s prestigious Tikkun Alum Award was presented to Harris Wallack (’10) in recognition of his extraordinary dedication to tikkun olam. Amidst a festive dinner and heartfelt speeches, over 400 people came together to honor Harris at the school’s annual fundraising and community event on Sunday, May 7, at the Seaport Hotel.

Harris, who has currently taken on a new challenge of spearheading a collaborative effort between JBBBS and JDRF (the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation), gave an inspiring speech when he accepted his award. “The Rashi School has had a profound impact on my life, and I owe much of my success to the values and teachings that I learned during my time at the school,” stated Wallack.

Wallack’s leadership and dedication have been instrumental in bringing JBBBS and JDRF together and creating a successful program. This partnership pairs “Bigs” with Type 1 diabetes (T1D) with “Littles” with T1D and aims to make a positive impact on these children and their families, providing them with resources, support, and a sense of community. Harris’ guidance has been instrumental in bringing the two organizations together and creating a successful program. Under his guidance, JBBBS has trained its mentors to understand the unique needs of children with T1D and provide them with the emotional and practical support they need.

As a philanthropic leader and community advocate, Harris displays a passion for improving the lives of children and families. He is both a “Big” and board member at Jewish Big Brothers Big Sisters (JBBBS), a Greater Boston-based organization that matches children with adult role models, providing them with mentorship, guidance, and support.

Additionally, Harris is a leading member at Combined Jewish Philanthropies (CJP), serving on the Young Adult Philanthropy Board and chairing the Spark program that engages young adults with Israel and CJP’s partner organizations. Harris is a graduate of CJP’s Kadimah Young Leadership program. He also co-chairs the Brothers for Life (BFL) ATID program, which works to engage young adults with BFL and its mission to support injured Israeli combat soldiers.

During his time at The Rashi School, Harris first became interested in tikkun olam when he was exposed at a young age to the impact people can have on others through programs like Tamchui. He has also been inspired by his parents and grandparents, who have served as role models for volunteer leadership and philanthropy.

During the course of the 2023-2024 school year, Harris will spend an entire day at Rashi, sharing his experiences with students and the ways in which Rashi social justice initiatives and Jewish studies curriculum can shape their own directions and pursuits. Harris closed his remarks by addressing the importance of his Rashi education. “The values and teachings that I learned at Rashi have been a guiding principle throughout my life, and they have given me the tools necessary to be a leader in my community,” explained Wallack. “I will continue to carry these values and lessons with me as I work toward making a difference in the world.”

The Tikkun Alum Award was created in 2012 to celebrate Rashi alumni who demonstrate a strong commitment to social justice and tikkun olam (repairing the world) in their lives beyond Rashi. Through personal and professional efforts, Tikkun Alums embody the values of social justice that were instilled in them as Rashi students.

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