Repairing the World

by Alan Gelb

In a year in which there has been so much hardship in the world—the pain of the recession, the natural disasters in Haiti and Chile—-this is clearly a time when many in our Synagogue have been thinking about how we can effectively initiate social justice projects. To that end, we now have the newly formed Tikkun Olam Committee. "We are all familiar with the Jewish concept of Tikkun Olam, repairing the world," says Avi Dresner, Chair of the Committee. "We've certainly attempted to do so, as a community, in ad hoc fashion over the years. But now it's time for a more formal structure that will allow us to play an important and ongoing role in making our community, our nation, and our world more whole."

Tikkun Olam was a major theme in Avi's childhood. His father, Israel "Si" Dresner, rabbi of Temple Beth Tikvah in Wayne, New Jersey, was one of the most important—and arrested—Jewish figures in the civil rights movement. "Martin Luther King was a constant presence in our house, even though he died before I was born," Avi remembers. "There was a book in the house that had an inscription from Dr. King that said, 'To Si, my brother in the struggle.' I even remember doing a book report in 4th grade and finding a picture of my dad in a book on the civil rights movement."

Avi is joined by our visiting scholar, Rabbi Or Rose, in bringing the spirit of Tikkun Olam to the forefront of the Synagogue's consciousness. Rabbi Rose is the editor of the anthology Righteous Indignation: A Jewish Call for Justice, in which important voices like Michael Lerner, Elliot Dorff, and Jonah Pesner touch on a wide range of social justice topics. This year, he has led a series of Sunday workshops for the Synagogue that has explored the issue of Tikkun Olam.

The Tikkun Olam Committee has identified a number of principles that will guide its efforts in moving ahead. The Committee recognizes that there are so many causes and concerns that demand attention that some people may fall into apathy in response to this paralyzing overload. Accordingly, the work of the Committee will follow these Biblical precepts: feed the hungry, clothe the naked, house the homeless, heal the sick, and help the helpless.

Each month, the Committee will choose one cause or project to focus on, such as food, clothing, or blood drives. Some of the established projects that are already associated with TCS, like the children's Baking Project for local food pantries and the communal gleaning at harvest time, will continue. "We are going to strive to be as apolitical as possible," says Avi, "and by this I mean that we hope to remain above party politics. Fighting hunger, poverty, and genocide are human issues, not party ones." The Committee also hopes to bring occasional guest speakers to the Synagogue and to institute Tikkun Olam Teaching Shabbat Services.

Those who are interested in working with the Tikkun Olam Committee should contact Avi at 413-499-8706 or at adresner@nycap.rr.com.