Day 31
Tikkun Olam
In memory of those who perished, by Andrew & Nicola Loftus.
Three years ago, I spent the summer in a small fishing village in Ghana volunteering with young children who had been rescued from slavery. Many of them suffered from malaria, and they lived in mud huts with little food, no running water, and no sanitation. The idea of taking an Orthodox rabbi to help children in Africa was the brainchild of the American Jewish World Service as a magnificent example of Tikkun Olam (Mending the World).
Although the term Tikkun Olam has its origins in the ancient books of the Mishnah and mysticism, today the term is used for any activity in which Jewish people promote social justice, loving kindness, and ethical living, from work with the poor to environmental projects.
These activities have deep roots in Jewish tradition. At the beginning of our history, God charges Adam and Eve to take care of their world and they are placed in the Garden of Eden “to work it and take care of it.”1 Abraham, the first Jew, makes an impact on the world around him.
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Rabbi Gideon Sylvester
Rabbi Gideon Sylvester is the United Synagogue’s Rabbi in Israel. Prior to making aliyah, he served as Rabbi of Radlett United Synagogue. Rabbi Gideon has also worked as an adviser at the Office of the Prime Minister of Israel and teaches Torah and Human Rights in Jerusalem. He tweets @GideonDSylveste
