"Leave the corners of your field." Photo by photosteve101 via cc
Shabbat Service is a weekly bit of Torah-inspired do-gooding, brought to you by Repair the World and our grantee-partner American Jewish World Service (AJWS). Read on to see how these ancient stories can apply today. Seem far fetched? Check it out:
The story: In this week’s double parsha (Torah portion), Acharei Mot-Kedoshim, God shares a powerful statement with Moses. God says, “Speak to the whole Israelite community and say to them: “You shall be holy, for I – Adonai your God — am holy.” God follows this statement with a whole bunch of laws on sacrificial worship, respecting elders and – interestingly – how to treat the poor. Specifically, God commands two things:
1. “When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap all the way to the edges of your field…you shall leave them for the poor and the stranger.”
2. With regards to legal justice, “You shall not render an unfair legal decision: do not favor the poor or show deference to the rich.”
The takeaway: What does it mean that God included two statements about interactions with poor people in this larger list of holy laws? One idea it suggests is that no society can be truly “holy” without creating a space for dignity and justice for that society’s most vulnerable people. It is not enough that we just provide the less fortunate with opportunities to provide for their basic needs. We must also ensure that those people have access to the same freedoms and possibilities as every other member of society.
The “to-do”: When and wherever you can, strive for holiness by working towards providing direct aid and relief to those who need it, and working to impact long-term and systemic justice issues. Not sure where to start? Check out AJWS’ giving plan, which lets you create a personalized tzedakah plan to balance your priorities and make the most of whatever you have to give.
Read the full Torah commentary, on which this excerpt is based, over at AJWS’ website. And for more great texts, commentary and Jewish learning resources on social justice, check out the On 1 Foot database.
In a few weeks, graduating seniors – of high school and college – will don their caps and gowns, walk down the aisle, shake some hands, get their diplomas, smile for the camera and sit patiently while someone of some import delivers a commencement speech. Good—and really memorable speeches tend to incorporate humor, personal stories, amazing insights and other anecdotes intended to motivate a newly minted college grad.
You needn’t be the president, a rock star, a billionaire or a comedian to inspire others, but Repair the World wants you to share your wisdom with this year’s grads in 140 characters or less. In fact, we’ve been working up our own wishes here, and we’d love to include yours.
What do YOU wish for the Class of 2012? Use #RepairGrads12 or the form below to send your wishes to this year’s grads. Most ReTweeted wishes are eligible to win amazing prizes from Repair the World!
Send us your bits of wisdom for our latest grads in the form below or tweet us at #RepairGrads12 by May 31. Most ReTweeted wishes are eligible to win awesome prizes from Repair the World!
Are you craving a summer filled with fresh veggies, time spent outside, a chance to dig in the dirt, and an opportunity to work towards food justice – but not sure how to get there? Repair the World has got you covered. We’ve crafted three easy-to-follow recipes that will have you enjoying the tastiest local produce and contributing to a more equitable food system. Check them out and get farming!
Recipe 1: Grow it yourself
Ingredients:
- 1 small backyard, community garden plot, large container, or window box
- a good amount of soil
- a few packets of seeds or plants
- lots of water
- 1-2 videos (like this or this) explaining how to grow food in an urban environment
- A couple of clicks on Ample Harvest’s website.
Take a look at your space (or lack thereof) and decide how many vegetables and fruits you want to attempt to grow. Combine soil and seeds or plants, adding water frequently until vegetables arrive. Refer to videos as needed. Donate any excess produce to help feed hungry people with Ample Harvest (make sure your local food pantries are registered on their site!)
Recipe 2: Support a local farmer
- 1 Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) membership
- 2-3 sturdy tote bags
- 7-10 reusable produce bags
- 1 volunteer shift at your CSA
- 12 weekly trips to the farmer’s market
- 1 kitchen
Pick up your locally-grown vegetables and fruit at your CSA once a week throughout the season. (Say hello to your farmer if he or she is there!) Pack your vegetables and fruit into your tote bags and produce bags. When it’s time, do your volunteer shift and help keep the CSA running smoothly. Supplement your produce haul (with bread, cheese, eggs, honey and other goodies) with weekly trips to the farmers market. Cook in your kitchen like a veggie-loving maniac! Find recipe ideas here.
Recipe 3: Go, grow and learn
- 1 summer volunteer day on the farm with Urban Adamah
- 1 weeklong sustainable agriculture/food justice workshop with Jewish Farm School (apply by May 15)
- 1 week (or month) spent volunteering on an organic farm with WWOOF
- 1 workshop on preserving your harvest through pickling and canning led by Shoresh
Check your calendar and spread ingredients liberally throughout the summer months. Pack your overnight bags and enjoy.
What’s your recipe for creating a farming friendly summer? Let us know in the comments below or by tweeting @repairtheworld.
With spring in the air and sunshine stretching into the late afternoon, now is the perfect time to get outside for a beautiful bike ride. Good thing May is National Bike Month – a month dedicated to celebrating transportation on two wheels.
Whether you’re a daily cyclist, a weekends-only biking warrior, or a two-wheeler newbie, National Bike Month offers the opportunity to hop on the saddle, enjoy the fresh air, and do something good for the environment (remember: bikes don’t pollute like cars) and your own health (hooray for free exercise!) while having a great time. Here are some ways to plug into National Bike Month and kick your May into high gear.
Commute by bike to school, to work, or wherever! Let your bike bell ring proudly on May 9th for the official Bike to School day. And check out Google Maps’ bicycling directions option to find a safe and easy riding route.
Join Hazon for a bike ride. This Jewish sustainability organization runs short, medium, and long-distance bike rides in New York, California, Israel, Colorado and – starting this year – across the whole country! Aside from being super-fun, the rides raise money for Jewish and environmental causes. Find out how you can join a Hazon ride here.
Hook into a Bike Month event in your area. Search by zip code to find an official bike event near you.
Donate your used bike to Bikes for the World, Recycle-A-Bicycle or another charitable organization, and help make biking an accessible option for everyone.
Learn the Rules of the Road. When you’re on a bike, knowledge equals power – and safety! Always wear a helmet and check out the other basic rules of the road to make sure you’re geared up for a fun ride from start to finish.
Donate to or volunteer with Transportation Alternatives, Bike NYC, Bike Portland, or another great organization working to make city biking – and other types of eco-friendly urban transportation – more accessible to all.
Need more inspiration? Check out the cute video on finding love through biking below. Then, let us know how you plan to celebrate National Bike Month by tweeting @repairtheworld or leaving a comment below.
Today, May 1st, is May Day, also known as International Workers’ Day – a day meant to honor everything that workers’ contribute to society, and to promote workers’ rights. All around the country, people are gathering to celebrate International Workers’ Day in a variety of ways. Some are planning to skip work, school, shopping and banking in an effort to demonstrate what life would be like without workers. Others are planning to march in honor of workers’ rights.
There’s another way to celebrate today as well – by getting ready for Thank a Youth Worker Day on May 3. That’s right! Just two days after May Day, another celebration is scheduled – this time in the form of a national day of thanks for anyone – paid or volunteer – who works on behalf of children. That includes teachers, babysitters, youth group leaders, camp counsellors, soccer coaches, mentors, tutors, music teachers, swim coaches, Hebrew school instructors and more. Every day, youth workers help build strong kids and vibrant communities. They stay late after school, lend a listening ear when there’s a problem, encourage us to be our best, and provide the advice and guidance we need to grow and thrive. May 3rd is their day to shine.
Do you have someone who makes (or made) a difference in your life? Take today as the perfect opportunity to figure out how to thank them for everything they do. Check out 50 ways to say thanks here – everything from sending an e-card or gift to organizing a thank you flash mob. How will you celebrate International Workers’ Day and Thank a Youth Worker Day? Let us know in the comments below or by tweeting @repairtheworld.
Gleaning fruit to fight hunger with Food Forward and GOOD.
Happy Monday! Hopefully the sun is shining where you are today. To get the week started off right, here is your weekly round up of inspiring service and social justice posts from around the web.
The Huffington Post shared a super-inspiring article about how five small-town teens made a big, positive impact on the world’s malaria problem.
Tablet published a powerful essay about two transgendered Jews who found strength and meaning in Jewish tradition.
Hands On Blog – file this under awesome: Disney’s most beloved princesses recast as volunteer heroines.
GOOD teamed up with a Los Angeles based nonprofit called Food Forward to fight hunger through donating tens of thousands of pounds of fruit gleaned by volunteers. Check out their video about it.
Sustainablog shared a video celebrating the way the Energy Star program has changed the world. Ever wondered what that little Energy Star sticker on your fridge or washing machine really means? Find out here.
Shabbat Service is a weekly bit of Torah-inspired do-gooding, brought to you by Repair the World and our grantee-partner American Jewish World Service (AJWS). Read on to see how these ancient stories can apply today. Seem far fetched? Check it out:
The story: This week’s parsha (Torah portion), Tzaria-Metzora, talks about menstruation (yes, the Torah discusses *lots* of fascinating topics!). Particularly, it covers the uncomfortable-to-think-about notion that, according to the Torah, a woman is rendered “ritually impure” by her period. (Read the passage here in Leviticus 15:19-24).
As this week’s dvar tzedek author, Sigal Samuel writes, “In addition, women in Israelite society were likely forced to withdraw from the public sphere during their periods [in part] because of their impure status—which prevented them from entering sacred spaces or eating sacred foods.”
The takeaway: Thousands of years after the time of Torah, many girls and woman – especially in developing countries, still find that menstruation is a barrier to their inclusion in school and society. As Samuel writes – feminine hygiene products are not always available or affordable and, “for millions of girls, school attendance suffers as a result. According to an Oxford University study, in rural Ghana, many girls miss up to five school days each month because of their periods.” Meanwhile, menstruation is still considered taboo in many developing nations. For more information, check out this article in the New York Times and watch the video below:
Seth Goldman, President and TeaEO of Honest Tea. Photo courtesy of Honest Tea.
What happens to a bottle after it gets recycled? Well, on Monday, April 30 in New York City, tens of thousands of bottles and cans will be deposited in bustling Times Square…in a massive blue recycling bin (think: 30-foot-tall)
And what does tea that’s just a tad sweet, with a lot of soul have to do with it? It’s all part of Honest Tea’s new campaign to boost recycling rates called – what else – “The Great Recycle.” The eco-friendly beverage company hopes to recycle 45,000 bottles and cans in their big blue bin next Monday – the same number of products they sell everyday in NYC. Meanwhile, they plan to give away great prizes to participants and raise awareness about the importance of recycling.
Seth Goldman, the President and “TeaEO” of Honest Tea, is also a board member here at Repair the World (and an all around cool guy). Seth found the time amidst preps for The Great Recycle to speak with Repair the World about where those 45,000 bottles will end up, what businesses can do to encourage sustainability, and his own deep commitment to tikkun olam.
Can you tell me about the inspiration behind The Great Recycle?
As a company, we’re always looking for ways to connect with consumers and have them connect with our mission. We’re also mindful of our role as a business in encouraging people to think about sustainability. We’ve done other sustainability projects before – like our Honest Kids program where kids send in their used drink pouches and our partner organization TerraCycle upcycles them into things like tote bags and pencil cases.
Tonight marks the beginning of Yom Ha’atzmaut, Israel’s version of July 4th, which celebrates the country’s declaration of independence in 1948.
Repair the World partners with eight excellent organizations doing diverse, cutting-edge tikkun olam work in Israel. So in honor of the country’s birthday, we thought we’d take the opportunity to give those orgs the shout out they deserve! Check them out below:
B’tzedek Life: This organization’s mission is to develop leadership for social change and social justice amongst youth and young adults in Israel and Jewish communities internationally. B’tzedek means “in justice,” and it lives up to its name by providing service learning programs and the nine-month LIFE leadership development program in Israel and India for college grads. Find out more here and apply for the LIFE program here. (The 2012 deadline is July, 31.)
BINA: Love Tel Aviv, coexistence work, and social justice? Check out BINA’s Neighborhood project which places young people in struggling neighborhoods near Tel Aviv where they live, volunteer, and study together. Read an interview with a former participant here, and apply for BINA’s programs here.
Livnot U’Lehibanot: “To build and be built” is the motto of this long-standing Israeli organization. (They’ve been around since 1980!) Join them in Tzfat for a four-week Galilee Fellowship for meaningful volunteering, hiking, learning through nature, and spirituality workshops. They also offer several other volunteer programs. Check them out and apply here.
Ma’ase Olam: Be a part of the social revolution in Israel! This organization promotes the value of volunteering, and their 10-month service learning program places participants from Israel and the Diaspora in communities in the social periphery of Israel for meaningful service opportunities. Learn more about their programs here and apply here.
NISPED: The Negev Institute for Strategies of Peace and Development, is a non-profit association which promotes peace and development, focusing on the centrality of the civil society. Their service-learning program brings together Arab-Bedouins and Jewish young-adult volunteers from around the world, offering participants the chance to live and volunteer in the Bedouin city of Rahat, while integrating actively in the community’s daily life and culture. Learn more here.
Otzma: This organization offers a 10-month program for Jewish adults ages 20-26 to live and volunteer in Israel in a variety of settings. Participants work in 3-4 different communities throughout the program. Apply here for the 2012-2013 season, which begins in August.
Tevel B’Tzedek: This Israel-based non-profit’s name translates to “The Earth, In Justice,” and they live that value by promoting social and environmental justice. Their mission is to create a community of Israeli and Diaspora Jews engaging in the urgent issues of global poverty, marginalization and environmental devastation through long-term service programs in India and Haiti. Find out more here and apply to join their program here.
Yahel: The word means “illuminate” in Hebrew, and this organization does just that. Participants join a 9-month service learning program that works with the Ethiopian community in Gedera, south of Tel Aviv. The program combines hands-on volunteer work with in-depth learning and cultural immersion. Find out more here and apply here (The 2012 deadline is May 25.)
How are you celebrating Yom Ha’atzmaut? Let us know in the comments below, or by tweeting @repairtheworld.
Repair the World works to inspire American Jews and their communities to give their time and effort to serve those in need. We aim to make service a defining part of American Jewish life.
