Social Act!on

In the aftermath of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur services, I hope that we have been able to start a new year with a clean slate. There are many ways to tap into Judaism’s wisdom to add meaning to our lives. One way is by responding to the prophetic call for justice and engaging in social action.

In the temple’s foyer, we can find the social action display, listing many ways we can express Jewish teachings. We will find eight options listed on the “Tikkun Olam – repairing the world” cards. Let us know if you want to participate, and we will get back to you ASAP.

Though every project is meaningful and valuable, I want to focus on three of them: Nothing But Nets, the Katrina Mission to New Orleans, and the 363 Group.

Nothing But Nets: For just $10, we can save a life by purchasing a net which will prevent the spread of Malaria. Talk about fulfilling a mitzvah! These nets will be given to victims of the atrocities in the Sudan, in addition to other African refugees.

Katrina relief mission: If you want to participate, we need to hear from you as soon as possible. The deadline is drawing near to make plane and hotel reservations. As life has proceeded normally in Oklahoma City, residents of New Orleans continue to feel the after-effects of Hurricane Katrina. Let’s travel to the Crescent City, roll up our sleeves and get to work, doing what we can to repair the Lower Ninth Ward.

The 363 Group: We can do something closer to home by taking part with Mayflower Congregational Church’s 363 Group. Regularly on Saturdays, we have a chance to help the homeless; the 363 Group offers them a hot meal, socks, underwear, toiletries and good company. However, what we do not do is impose a religious message on them. We all meet at the Homeless Alliance, at the northeast corner of NW 3rd St. and Virginia. To participate, simply give us your e-mail; Mayflower Congregational will let us know what is needed. If you can’t make it to the Homeless Alliance, you can always contribute food and other items.

By definition, Judaism calls us to participate in our local and greater communities. We have no choice but to recognize the injustice in our world and then act to remove it from our midst. Eliminating injustice altogether is beyond our power; however, as a teaching instructs, “it is not incumbent upon us to complete the work, but we are not free to desist from it.”