mission

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Pronunciations

mission (MISH-in) listen

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Definitions

  • n. An organized trip meant to expose participants to the work of a nonprofit organization, raise awareness of a cause, and/or deliver supplies or services to a deserving population. Unlike the Christian use of the word "mission," Jewish missions do not signify a proselytizing motive.

Example Sentences

  • "Messinger recently signed up for a five-day mission with the Jewish Federation of Greater Buffalo, one of two dozen local residents who visited the Jewish community in Havana, armed with much-needed supplies." (Buffalo News)

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Languages of Origin

  • English

Who Uses This

  • Organizations: People involved in a professional or volunteer capacity with Jewish nonprofit organizations

Regions

  • North America
  • South Africa

Dictionaries

  • None

Notes

  • Jews aren't the only ones to travel on philanthropic "missions," but in the Jewish context such missions almost never have an evangelizing component. The term "mission" also helps to distinguish a tourist trip from one with charitable intent. To say "I went on a mission to Ukraine" emphasizes that the trip was about philanthropy or service, not leisure.

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