Tikkun Olam

So, I had been waiting for the "perfect" moment to present the boys with an unbelievable letter written to them by the mayor of Hamamatsu, Japan (where a significant portion of the money they raised at the Spaghetti dinner went). We began our last Hebrew School session with discussion of Tikkun Olam and the idea of repairing the world. I provided them with a visual of a broken glass that we must put back together-- or a broken and fragmented globe that is awaiting our "work" of finding different pieces and making them fit and ultimately gluing them back together to great one whole. I told them that is our goal as Jewish people in this world to try hard to put back together a "broken but beautiful" world.

I asked the boys if they have ever tried to "repair" the world or something that happened in this world and they both immediately said "our spaghetti dinners, right?" We talked about the spaghetti dinner and then Charlie asked why we had to discuss it for so long-- a perfect question to bring back to our last Hebrew School lesson on reflection. So, we discussed reflecting on different things we do and have done and talked to the boys about the likelihood of them doing more good things if they take time to reflect on the good they have already done; likewise if they do something "not so good" and reflect on it, they are more likely not to do that same thing again. So the gift of reflection became noted once again.

I then read the boys the letter from the mayor of Hamamatsu, a most gracious letter that incidentally tells the boys that from across the ocean, they are trying to make the world a better place and how special that is.

We (Phil and I and the boys) talked for a very long time about the spaghetti dinner, reflection, and this notion of Tikkun Olam-- We talked about how sometimes problems seem really big and we feel really small and unable to fix the problems. I did a visualization exercise with the boys where I told them to imagine them living somewhere where they don't have food for many days and are so hungry and so are lots of people around them... and then one little boy walks by and gives each of them a sandwich, and the boy didn't have any more than what he gave them-- did that sandwich make a difference to them? Both boys were adamant that YES those sandwiches made a HUGE difference to them. So, they were then reminded (or taught) of the value of even doing the little things we can-- because every little bit does make a difference... to someone....

A start to our Tikkun Olam unit and a beautiful start to some incredible dialogue.....