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Very well said! I’ll add that the less effort we spend congratulating ourselves for a single day of service, the more time and resources we can spend throughout the year on acts of loving kindness AND advocating for social change.
I appreciate your distinction in types of service, but I would push back that tikkun olam is something completely separate than “sherut” and “gimilut chasadim.” I would argue that it’s inappropriate to move to a space of advocacy and changing systems without having had a direct experience with the populations you are advocating for- and, when not advocating for oneself, often that experience comes through one or multiple volunteer experiences.
While I might agree that a one-time volunteer experience on a day of service isn’t “tikkun olam,” I think it can be the start of that work- especially if thought and planning is put towards the facilitation of that experience and proper follow up.
I agree with the article’s overall sentiment and thrust. I disagree with the characterization of the the focus of JEP’s Jewish Futures Conference. The call to action was decidedly about civic engagement/involvement and moving from the comfort zone of PB&J sandwich making to meaningful study, self-reflection, and action in support of civic education and universal civil rights.
To clarify – I apologize that the way I cited what I heard at the Conference came across as critical in that way. I was only reacting to what I heard some of the participants discuss as programmatic responses, and to what I see as a trend in our Jewish community. I certainly agree that the Conference was a call for change relating to civic engagement/involvement and that the focus was on meaningful study, self-reflection, and action in support of civic education and universal civil rights. Thank you for raising this point.
hi ed – overall, i like the ideas of different types of tikkun olam, and i think people can handle that (as opposed to calling everything and anything by the same term).
i am a little confused by all the talk in the article about jewish education, jewish values, etc.
i think it is totally wasted if it is pushed aside for other mitzvot – like shabbat, for example. you used the example of “march for our lives” but the gun control march was on shabbat. what a real slap in the face of shabbat….. pity there couldn’t be an alternate date for the march, or that USY could have, at least, not encouraged people to go, and instead, do other things in the spirit of shabbat that day (or anything on a different day), etc. to me, THAT would be a huge win for, as you say, “Offering opportunities for service and social change, and helping our children and adults find Jewish meaning in their efforts” and to “nurture passion for an authentic, dynamic Judaism.”
I agree with the general point here about the need for the Jewish community to be more clear about the difference between service work and social change work. However, in making the distinction, I worry that you are belittling service and missing the opportunity to challenge us to elevate the service experience itself. Here are three ways I have learned as director of Repair the World NYC that direct service can be powerful and impactful, beyond just an act of lovingkindness:
1. When done right, service is an act of solidarity. We cannot simply fight for social change through rallies and marches, although that undoubtedly is important. We also need to “show up” to support the people who are negatively impacted by the very policies we are fighting to change. Systemic racial inequity, for example, is an issue that our community is starting to address, but even as we lobby to change laws, we must build relationships and connections with our neighbors. Showing up in low-income communities of color to support black leaders is critical not simply because it is nice, but because it is a strong act of solidarity. Moreover, when we show up—ideally on an ongoing basis—we help ensure that the change we are advocating for is actually grounded in our relationships with marginalized communities. How do we know what systemic change to advocate for if we are not actively in relationship with and listening to our neighbors who will be most impacted by the change?
2. I’ve also learned that service learning is a powerful way to inspire volunteers to commit to more significant change work. At Repair the World, we never offer a service experience without also engaging in deep learning and reflection on why the service work is needed. We ask volunteers to consider if their service is actually making a difference and to identify the systems that make the service necessary to begin with. The answers are not always easy — yet, by understanding this reality, many are prompted to roll up their sleeves to work even more deliberately and more determinedly to create change.
3. And finally, my newest learning is that service alongside marginalized communities is a powerful antidote to implicit bias. Research shows that the most effective way for people to change the deeply internalized assumptions that we make about people based on their race is through individuation, which is increasing the quantity and quality of our relationships with people from historically oppressed groups. Service, especially service that is done alongside our non-Jewish neighbors, is a powerful way to build relationships and uproot our internalized biases that inform our everyday decisions about where we live, shop, dine, and who we interact with. Truly serving side by side is an equalizer that begins to create real change on the ground.
Shalom Arnold,
You wrote: “i am a little confused by all the talk in the article about jewish education, jewish values, etc. i think it is totally wasted if it is pushed aside for other mitzvot – like shabbat, for example. you used the example of ‘march for our lives’ but the gun control march was on shabbat. what a real slap in the face of shabbat….. pity there couldn’t be an alternate date for the march, or that USY could have, at least, not encouraged people to go, and instead, do other things in the spirit of shabbat that day (or anything on a different day), etc. to me, THAT would be a huge win for, as you say, ‘Offering opportunities for service and social change, and helping our children and adults find Jewish meaning in their efforts’ and to ‘nurture passion for an authentic, dynamic Judaism.’”
Kol hakavod for illustrating that the participation of Jews in an event does not necessarily confer Jewish status on event. You’ve thus illuminated the void formed by the lack of a clear and compelling definition from a North American non Orthodox (NANO) perspective of the adjective “Jewish.” The video below is a humorous d’rash on this idea.
Biv’racha,
Jordan
https://youtu.be/77z2VsqEmXk