Justice, Justice shall you pursue, that you may thrive and occupy the land that Adonai your God is giving you. Deuteronomy 16:20
Ask someone you know what they hope to accomplish with their lives and you will often hear, "I want to leave the world a better place than how I found it." What better goal than to have lived a life that matters?
Oak Park Temple has a long tradition of engaging in acts of "Tikkun Olam," repairing what is wrong with the world. At Oak Park Temple, our dedicated Social Action Committee has been the most visible manifestation of that tradition. In recent years, committee members have helped heal the Mississippi Gulf Coast in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, raised awareness of the on-going humanitarian crisis in Darfur and advocated for accessible and affordable health care. With the deep recession and the rising number of foreclosures, they have encouraged us to turn our attention to housing and homelessness. Mitzvah Days, Project Sandwich, P.A.D.S and our program of support for our sister community in Daugavpils, Latvia have led us to reach out to those in in greatest need in our communities, near and far.
I am certain, though, that these are not the only ways that the spirit of tikkun olam is expressed at Oak Park Temple. There are many, many members of our congregation who are engaged in daily acts of social justice and tikkun olam in their professional, volunteer and philanthopic activities. Recently, OPT member, Dr. David Ansell, published his memoir, "County: Life, Death and Politics at Chicago's Public Hospital." In his book, David describes his work addressing the healthcare inequities that have led to shortened lives and suffering born of the politics of race and poverty. Thank you for all of your efforts, David. But, I know that you are not alone in your good works. There are many others at Oak Park Temple who make tikkun olam an important part of the fabric of their lives. We just don't always know about these activities. Wouldn't it be nice to know? Wouldn't it be wonderful if we could join with others in supporting important work that will improve the world? Think of the added power that our collective efforts could bring to bear on conditions in need of repair.
To allow for this sharing of knowledge, connections and energy, we are conducting a "Tikkun Olam Inventory." Please go to the questionnaire that will be on our temple website in the very near future, http://oakparktemple.com and let us know how you express your impulse to “…leave the world a better place." Please understand, I am not encouraging this effort in order to engage in mutual self-congratulation and admiration. I make this invitation to allow us all to know of the myriad opportunities that we have within Oak Park Temple to make the world a better place. Perhaps someone in the congregation shares a passion that you have, might wish to learn more from you and would like to join you in your good works.
Rabbi Tarfon used to say: "It is not for you to complete the work, but neither are you free to desist from it. Pirkei Avot 2:21
Let's do the work of tikkun olam together.
L'shalom,
Jeff Blaine, President
