Glencoe's Aitz Hayim to feature Ruth Messinger, a voice in preserving human rights

Ruth W. Messinger is the President of American Jewish World Service (AJWS), the world's leading Jewish organization working to end poverty and realize human rights in the developing world. She has been named one of the Forward's "50 most influential Jews of the year" for 10 years. http://ajws.org.

On Saturday, Dec. 7 at Aitz Hayim Center for Jewish Living, Messinger will share what drives her lifelong pursuit of social justice, helping people around the world improve the quality of their lives and their communities. Her talk will begin at 1 p.m. in the Education Center, 1185 Sheridan Road.

Considered a national leader in the movement to end the genocide in Sudan, Messinger has been called upon several times to advise President Obama about creating a sustainable path toward peace in that country. In recognition of her leadership, she has served on the Obama administration's Task Force on Global Poverty and Development and currently sits on the State Department's Religion and Foreign Policy Working Group and Strategic Dialogue with Civil Society.

Messinger has been honored for her inspirational work by many national Jewish organizations, including the Jewish Council for Public Affairs, the Women's Funding Network, and the Union for Reform Judaism, and the American Jewish Committee. She has also received honorary degrees from four major American rabbinical seminaries. She lectures widely on diverse social and global justice issues.

For more information, call Aitz Hayim Center for Jewish Living at (847) 835-3232 or visit online at www.aitzhayim.org.