JLI Teen of the Year Award | 2010

On December 6, 2009, Allie Vaccaro had an opportunity most will never have: the chance to save a life. As a woman stood on the edge of the railing in a parking garage in Los Angeles, California, prepared to jump to her death, Allie pulled her to safety.
Her motivation? The JLI Teens class she had taken earlier that day.
Rabbi Mentz had discussed with Allie and her classmates the concept of not standing idly by the blood of another person. Allie was personally inspired by the idea that Jewish law doesn't allow suicide because the human body is considered holy and therefore cannot be destroyed.
At the National Jewish Retreat in Reston, Virginia, Allie received a reward from the Rohr Jewish Learning Institute for her act of bravery. As she spoke to a packed crowd, telling the story of this unbelievable event, listeners were left awestruck by her act of courage. Allie expressed strong conviction in the power of education to motivate positive action.