Jewish Holiday, Tikkun Olam
Tikkun Olam for Shavuot
By Loren Berman, East Coast Regional Jewish Educator and Yitzhak Bronstein, Midwest and Southern Regional Jewish Educator
On Purim, we read the topsy-turvy story of Esther. On Tisha b’Av (the 9th of Av), we read the sad and mournful book of Lamentations. And on Shavuot – the holiday on which we celebrate the gift of Torah and its revelation – we read the book of Ruth (see here to learn more about Ruth). The Midrash reflects on the unique nature of this story: “The scroll of Ruth tells us nothing about the laws of purity or impurity, of what is prohibited or permitted. For what purpose then was it written? To teach us how great the reward is for those who do deeds of kindness,” Ruth Rabbah 2:14.
.מגילה זו אין בה לא טומאה ולא טהרה, ולא איסור ולא היתר. ולמה נכתבה? ללמדך כמה שכר טוב לגומלי חסדים
Torah can, at times, seem like a lot of do’s and don’ts. But the custom of reading the book of Ruth on Shavuot reminds us that central pillars of Torah include Chesed – acts of loving-kindness – and Tikkun Olam – doing our part to repair the world. (It makes sense, then, that Ruth (Bader Ginsburg) herself happens to be on Team Tikkun Olam!) To celebrate Shavuot through Chesed and Tikkun Olam, here are a few activities you can do, whether you are in your bedroom or safely getting some fresh air outside.