YU Student Finds Way to H.E.L.P.

Although many in orthodox circles often do not emphasize the philosophy of "Tikkun Olam," which emphasizes enlightening and ameliorating the lives of gentiles as well as Jews, some YU students are emphasizing this outlook, as they work to cre ate a better life for the less fortunate, regardless of their religion.

Over the last six months, Josh Landa, a Yeshiva College junior, has gone through extraordinary lengths to design and found programming for the homeless. His organization, known as H.E.L.P., Health Organization for Life Program, conducts seminars in wh ich homeless individuals are advised of health issues that may affect them. Seminars have included discussions on tuberculosis, pneumonia, hepatitis, alcohol and drug abuse as well as on the transmission of the Aids virus. The program, of which Mr. Landa is co-founder and president, utilizes the energy and knowledge of approximately 30 YC students. Additionally, in conjunction with Cornell Medical School, the group claims around 20 second year medical students in its membership. The lectures, which are gi ven in three shelters run by the National Coalition for Shelter on the Upper East Side, are conducted on a biweekly basis. Mr. Landa describes how seminar leaders have elicited a "remarkable" response from the homeless audience, adding, "Yo u’d never know some of them are homeless! Many of them dress well, are articulate in their questions, and show a real desire to improve their situation in life."

It may shock many that HELP is the only independent organization that provides health-education for the city’s homeless. This fact becomes even more surprising when one realizes that the homeless population in the five boroughs ranges anywhere from an estimated 15-25,000! Indeed, Mr. Landa attributes his own idea for such an organization to pure luck. "The idea just sprang into my head," he said. "I was discussing with a medical student, who I was friendly with, ways that I could get in volved in the health care area while still in college. She mentioned to me that given New York’s large homeless population, maybe some work could be done in that area. Then, almost like an epiphany, the idea for an organization like HELP occurred to me.&q uot;

Although Landa developed his group’s underpinning philosophy, implementation of that philosophy proved to require a lot more work than having an epiphany usually does. He first approached a volunteer referral service that had trouble taking seriously M r. Landa’s rather ambitious plan. Nonetheless, a meeting was arranged with the Coalition for Shelter, and soon, a formerly unrealistic and ambitious plan began to take shape.

Cornell had previously been involved in a homeless education program but the program had petered out a few years ago. However, a connection was made between the Yeshiva and Cornell students and soon the program was underway. Naturally, Landa was the fi rst member of the group to give a seminar. His first lecture actuated a great deal of anxiety initially, but, ultimately, it proved to be an outstanding success. Landa said, "I’m sitting there, knowing that I would have to give a 45 minutes speech, but have no clue whether I would be able to fill the time. Also, I expected the interest level of the audience to be quite low. Surprisingly, 10 minutes into the speech hands went up! Ultimately, the seminar went overtime."

The end product of the seminar for Josh Landa is not simply educational -- it contains a more personal aspect as well: "YU students and the homeless, never have any contact with one another. In the special environment of the seminar, these people share with us their experiences. We realize the unique thread that binds all of us. We have so many similarities, so many of the same foibles, the same caring for other people. The seminars have been, for all its participants, a real eye-opener."

Furthermore, Landa firmly believes that these seminars have an effect on the community that it aims to assist. He said, "Often, the nurse at a particular shelter (the organization serves three) will tell me that after a certain disease has been d iscussed, a number of shelter residents will approach him with questions and concerns regarding the illness, as well as testing information."

While the organization is only the brainchild of Mr. Landa, he hopes that it will continue after he graduates in May of next year. The fact that the organization has grown from the one man, to a group of over 50 members, and that these students have to gether have lectured approximately 1500 homeless, seems to indicate that this unique organization does have the mettle to survive. Indeed, the credo of the H.E.L.P. is best summed up by the mantra through which Josh Landa conducts his life. In the words o f the great social activist Margaret Mead, "Never say that a small group of thoughtful, mindful, citizens can not change the world. In fact that is the only way that it has changed."