Caring for Each Other: Tikkun Olam on Thanksgiving
By Ziva Swire
With Thanksgiving celebrations right around the corner for many of us in the US, it’s a time folks will gather with family and friends, to be thankful for what we have, and find ways to give back. Regardless of where you are or if you’re celebrating, these are some principles that anyone can get behind at this time of year. The moments we find to be thankful also serve as a reminder of the injustice that exists in our world, and the importance of centering Tikkun Olam, repairing the world, in our everyday lives. Incorporating principles of Tikkun Olam in your MHWOW program is a great way to infuse any event with Jewish content and at the same time, use your position in your community and your giving power (with Moishe House support!) to do something meaningful and inspire others to engage. Whether you’re celebrating Thanksgiving or simply reveling in the month of November, here are some virtual and in-person program ideas to energize your gatherings this month and engage further with the world around you. Thanksgiving especially reminds us of issues of food insecurity as many folks gather around abundant dinner tables. You may choose to highlight food insecurity, as several ideas outline below, or focus on a different issue you find relevant to your Tikkun Olam efforts. Any of these ideas can be easily paired with the events you’re already planning, or may inspire a program of its own!
Learn About and Participate in Mutual Aid
Mutual aid is based on resource sharing and otherwise meeting the needs of your community. Learn more about mutual aid by joining a Mutual Aid 101 course on November 23 at 5pm ET and reading up on mutual aid basics. Learn with a group or teach your participants, then get involved in a local mutual aid network or develop a mutual aid project together to best support your community.
Join a Food Benefits Access Phone Bank
Many families are in need of access to food year-round and countless families have found themselves with new needs due to the COVID-19 crisis. Gather a group to phone bank with Repair the World and Hunger Free America on November 29 at 1pm ET to help connect people with food assistance programs. Sign up here to participate.
Explore Local & Virtual Service Opportunities
Repair the World offers countless volunteer opportunities in cities across the United States and virtually. Gather a group to attend a program that speaks to you or get connected to a local organization to increase your impact at this year’s Friendsgiving dinner.
Learn Together
Esther Mohadeb’s 2019 Friendsgiving Shabbat and canned food driveUse your program as an opportunity to learn together about food justice or utilize other Serve the Moment resources to engage in important discussions that can lead to change. Take a moment around the dinner table to not only be thankful but prompt yourself and your community to ground your direct service efforts in important foundational knowledge.Let these ideas inspire you not only this month but every month. Engaging in Tikkun Olam is caring for one another and fighting for justice, something we must all do together year-round.
Mutual aid is based on resource sharing and otherwise meeting the needs of your community. Learn more about mutual aid by joining a Mutual Aid 101 course on November 23 at 5pm ET and reading up on mutual aid basics. Learn with a group or teach your participants, then get involved in a local mutual aid network or develop a mutual aid project together to best support your community.
Many families are in need of access to food year-round and countless families have found themselves with new needs due to the COVID-19 crisis. Gather a group to phone bank with Repair the World and Hunger Free America on November 29 at 1pm ET to help connect people with food assistance programs. Sign up here to participate.
Repair the World offers countless volunteer opportunities in cities across the United States and virtually. Gather a group to attend a program that speaks to you or get connected to a local organization to increase your impact at this year’s Friendsgiving dinner.
