The Prophet Elijah came early this year. Well, Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-Md.) was actually late to his own gala dinner of the Elijah Cummings Youth Program in Israel (ECYP), having spent the day dealing on Capitol Hill with the economic crisis. But he did make the appearance here two weeks before Passover.

His event made me think: It would be great if Jews and African-Americans could simply rely on their shared history of oppression and civil rights to again bring them together. But the two ethnic groups have moved further apart since the ’60s.

It doesn’t help matters in Baltimore that the Jewish community keeps moving to the exurbs and into gated communities, our children tucked safely into private schools — parochial and religious. Improving relations is even harder with little interaction.

I’d love it if we could inoculate our youth to prevent racism and anti-Semitism, but that vaccine hasn’t yet been invented. Enter Mr. Cummings’ Baltimore-based ECYP. It is enjoying success on a very, very limited basis. Sadly, at about $12,000 per participant, it would take a lot of resources to make it larger.

The ECYP’s mission is to improve relations between the black and Jewish communities by immersing high school students in a four-week trip to Israel and a two-year leadership enhancement program. ECYP is a non-profit started by Mr. Cummings, Baltimore’s 7th Congressional District Representative.

Participants learn and develop skills that will help them become a future leaders, ones who organizers hope will promote interethnic understanding, and racial and religious tolerance. Hundreds of African-Americans from Mr. Cummings’ district compete to win a coveted spot in the program. Sadly, only 12 are chosen annually, due to funding constraints.

Last week, the organization’s annual gala honored outstanding Jewish and African-American leaders — the Hoffberger family and Dr. Benjamin Carson, the famed Hopkins neurosurgeon. I had a chance to meet with and be impressed by some of this year’s students and prospective applicants.

One mother told me about her son’s fears. He was so scared that he lay in bed each morning in tears. The distraught parent didn’t know what to do.

Ironically, her child was not afraid to go to Israel; he hated being home in the United States after a month in the Holy Land. The high school junior never knew what it was like to be safe, albeit in a country known for terrorism, and he feared his safety on the streets of Baltimore. The African-American woman didn’t know where to turn; her son begged her to allow him to move to Israel. Wisely, ECYP has a landing point with leader training and mentoring, so the distraught young man received counseling upon return.

We’ve heard stories from Jewish families who send their children to Israel about how they, too, don’t want to come home, or are changed for life. For the ECYP participants, the Israeli experience touches impressionable kids searching for meaning. Being Baptized in the Jordan River and visiting the Church of the Holy Sepulcher is tremendously moving in this foreign and sacred land. Many were struck by witnessing how committed Jews are to Israel; others enjoyed meeting Jews from Ethiopia and South Africa.

For some, just being with 11 other kids on whom they could rely, who in some cases became the only people they could depend on in their lives, was overwhelming. They called themselves family.

ECYP started 11 years ago at the urging of philanthropist Stuart Greenebaum and the implementation of the Baltimore Jewish Council. It’s now a separate non-profit. Over the next few weeks, the BALTIMORE JEWISH TIMES will be meeting alumni, some of whom are now 28 years old, to explore how the decade-old experience has changed their views of the Middle East and the Jewish people in the long run.

Judging from current participants, the program creates confident students with tools for success. They gain something many inner city kids never get: a chance. Let’s be thankful it’s coming courtesy of the Jewish community, even though itìs only 12 per year.

The Jewish sage Hillel said it best: “To save one life is as if you’ve saved the entire world.” Let’s hope that these 12 participants become the Dr. Ben Carson’s of their desired fields.

Almost two weeks ago, the Baltimore Sun published an editorial applauding Israel for its investigation of alleged solider misconduct in its recent offensive into Gaza.  I can’t say I disagree with that statement. CLICK HERE

What troubles me in calling out Israel and writing “The military code of the Israel Defense Forces, the best army in the region, obligates its soldiers to protect human dignity,” is that there was no comment about Hamas’ conduct. 

Yes, we all hold Israel and its democracy to a higher standard. Still, where is the Sun or any human rights organization chastising the Islamic organizations that control power in Gaza?

I recently attended an event for the Friends of the Israeli Defense Forces. The speaker, an IDF officer, told us how Israeli strategy has changed since the war in Lebanon in 2006. Strong navies and air forces don’t help when one’s enemy is hiding in urban areas. This was the case in Gaza where Hamas military was set up in schools and hospitals. 

I agree and applaud that Israel is making the effort to question is conduct. The world would be a better place if the human rights organizations and Muslim leadership also worked to conduct themselves according acceptable rules of engagement.