"It is not incumbent upon you to complete the work, but neither are you at liberty to desist from it." (Pirkei Avot, 2:21)
The phrase Tikkun Olam literally means "repairing the world." As Jews, we strive to participate as partners with God in this holy work. The concept of Tikkun Olam originates in Kabbalah, with the 16th Century mystic, Isaac Luria. According to Kabbalah, in order to create space for the world, God needed to contract. That contraction is called tzimtzum. God then created vessels to contain the Divine light. However, God's light was too dynamic and many of the vessels shattered, scattering shards all over creation. Kabbalists believe that these shards are broken pieces scattered around our world. And, that it is our purpose to gather the lost light. That is the entire purpose of the mitzvot, commandments. Looking at the world around us, the brokenness can be overwhelming and paralyzing; but our tradition teaches us that inaction is not an option. At Community Synagogue of Rye, we have countless opportunities to do small things that can make a big impact. Click here for our list of B'nei Mitzvah project ideas. If you are interesting in doing a Mitzvah, sign up below. |
Request for Mitzvah - Pick up Donated Foods at Whole Foods and Bring to Carver Center on Scheduled Saturday Mornings
We are looking for strong individuals to pick up a large amount of donated food at Whole Foods on any Saturday morning listed below and bring it to the Carver Center. The Dinner at Noon team will meet you at the Carver Center and bring the food in to distribute to residents gathered for a meal. The food gets picked up at the Whole Foods loading dock in back of the store. Large plastic crates get rolled down a ramp to your car. Ideal for a team of two. Its a huge amount of food and will fill a large car. Let us know if you can perform this Mitzvah. Deborah Golub - deborah_golub@ymail.com Schedule 2020: 3/14|4/25|6/6 |