Comments on: Not Only for Ourselves http://ejewishphilanthropy.com/not-only-for-ourselves/ Connect. Educate. Innovate. Thu, 24 May 2012 14:12:08 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Gary http://ejewishphilanthropy.com/not-only-for-ourselves/comment-page-1/#comment-44434 Gary Mon, 30 Nov 2009 21:35:21 +0000 http://ejewishphilanthropy.com/?p=3112#comment-44434 "But elevating Jewish identity to a goal of such efforts undermines their very purpose." (From the editorial above) Had the editor said "the goal" instead of "a goal" perhaps I would have agreed. Even Ruth Messinger sees service programs as having an objective of strengthening Jewish identity. World Jewish Service points proudly to its website that provides texts from the tradition to support its work as a means of fostering greater Jewish identity. http://www.on1foot.org/ Our tradition does not shy away from advancing multiple agendas while performing mitzvot. Hillel's dictum suggests we need to be both for ourselves and for others...I suggest it applies as much to the community as a whole as to the individual. And it also applies when we perform mitzvot including those pertaining to social justice. Yes, service to others should be primary...but must it be exclusive? “But elevating Jewish identity to a goal of such efforts undermines their very purpose.” (From the editorial above)

Had the editor said “the goal” instead of “a goal” perhaps I would have agreed. Even Ruth Messinger sees service programs as having an objective of strengthening Jewish identity. World Jewish Service points proudly to its website that provides texts from the tradition to support its work as a means of fostering greater Jewish identity. http://www.on1foot.org/ Our tradition does not shy away from advancing multiple agendas while performing mitzvot. Hillel’s dictum suggests we need to be both for ourselves and for others…I suggest it applies as much to the community as a whole as to the individual. And it also applies when we perform mitzvot including those pertaining to social justice. Yes, service to others should be primary…but must it be exclusive?

]]> By: Sara http://ejewishphilanthropy.com/not-only-for-ourselves/comment-page-1/#comment-44397 Sara Mon, 30 Nov 2009 09:17:47 +0000 http://ejewishphilanthropy.com/?p=3112#comment-44397 Aside from the important note that service must serve those who we intend to help, the idea of "good intentions" is simply not enough from a Jewish perspective. Although a very American approach to being proactive in treating the worlds ills, this action without change is not enouugh. In writing social welfare programs and "mitzva projects" both in the US and Israel, the idea that if the plan will not provide an actual service it is simply not worth carrying out as a practice in making the service provider feel good from their altruism. Aside from the important note that service must serve those who we intend to help, the idea of “good intentions” is simply not enough from a Jewish perspective. Although a very American approach to being proactive in treating the worlds ills, this action without change is not enouugh. In writing social welfare programs and “mitzva projects” both in the US and Israel, the idea that if the plan will not provide an actual service it is simply not worth carrying out as a practice in making the service provider feel good from their altruism.

]]>