Mishkan Ha'am The Westchester-Riverdale Reconstructionist Group

Pirkei Avot, an ancient collection of rabbinic wisdom, records in the name of Shimon the Righteous that, "the world stands on three things: Torah, Avodah, and Gimilut Chasadim."  These Hebrew words usually translate as "Torah, the service of God, and deeds of loving kindness."

This same principle, albeit with some adaptation and alternative translation, gives a paradigm to our own communal programming goals at Mishkan Ha'am.  In what we do together, we strive to enrich our lives through Torah--Jewish study, both religious and secular; Avodah--spiritual practice that interweaves tradition with innovation; and Gimilut Chasadim--acts of loving kindness toward each other, and also toward our society and the world through tikkun olam.

Different people are energized by different forms of engagement, which leads to a wonderful mosaic of personalities and involvement.  And different moments of the Jewish year emphasize, from time to time, one pathway over another, allowing all of us to participate in the kaleidoscope. 

We have just entered the second month of the Jewish year, called Cheshvan.  After all of the holiday hubbub of the first month--Tishrei--Cheshvan is notable for being unremarkable.  There is not a single holiday that falls within this lunar month, nor a single religious obligation of any distinction that is meant to be performed between now and the next new moon.  For this reason, tradition has come to refer to it as Mar-Cheshvan--"Bitter Cheshvan"--though for Jewish professionals, still reeling from Tishrei, it's pretty sweet!

But recently, a consensus has emerged across the Jewish world (and that in and of itself is a rare thing!) that we should use this remarkably unremarkable time in a special way.  Because Cheshvan leaves us so free of ritual obligations--Torah and Avodah--it has been decided to use this time to devote ourselves more vigorously to Gimilut Chasadim: to using our Jewish identities as a motivator for social justice work.  Mar-Cheshvan has, in fact, been renamed "Jewish Social Justice Month."  (Take a look at this website for more information:http://globaljsam.ning.com/)

I invite you to use this time to consider what you do for others--family, community, society, the world--and how this can be an intrinsic part of what it means to be Jewish.  Our community engages regularly in Tikkun Olam opportunities.  We encourage you to join us!   This month, we have planned a Midnight Run for teens, our monthly serving at a food pantry, and a knitting circle to create gifts for the ill.   Be on the lookout for suchopportunities that our own Tikkun Olam committee creates for us; they are listed on the web-site, and announced at services.  And please  feel free to share some ideas of your own!

And, just as Cheshvan has been reconceptualized, so may your works of loving-kindness succeed in transforming bitterness to sweetness.

b'shalom,

Rabbi Ben