Building a Better World through Hard Work

It was Friday evening, when I gathered together with a group of teenagers from Temple Sinai to reflect upon the end of the week.  And believe me, this wasn’t any week!  As Shabbat began, we concluded a six-day trip to Puerto Rico.  Our teens didn’t sit on the beach all week, no, they helped build a home for a poor family who lived an hour’s drive from San Juan.  That evening our teens reflected upon their work and their many accomplishments.  They couldn’t believe that they actually constructed a floor of a family’s home!  As one teen said: “I could see with my own eyes what I constructed.  This wasn’t one meal for a hungry person or one piece of clothing for someone in need, I helped build a home where a family would live for 25 or 30 years.”

Each year, Temple Sinai travels to a far off location to do Community Service work.  We’ve been down to Memphis to package food at a food pantry and learn about Civil Rights; we’ve traveled to Israel to meet with local leaders and learn about some of the challenges Israelis face.  But, there was something special about our experience in Puerto Rico.  We teach our kids about the importance of Tikkun Olam, of the significance in our Jewish tradition to repair the world.  Yes, there are many ways to repair the world from serving meals, to delivering clothing, to advocacy work, but there is something so significant about using the power of our hands to build and create.  Our teens were awed by the power they possessed to inspire those that surrounded them.

As a rabbi, I want our teens to recognize the many gifts and possessions they possess.  Most of our teens are well off and have everything they need to survive or more importantly thrive.  I want to our teens to recognize these gifts and blessings that are a part of their lives.  But even more so, I want them to comprehend their Jewish commitment and obligation to share these gifts with those around the world who need their help and support.  We use not only our hands, but also our spirit and our hearts to achieve a better world.  We share our money, but also our gifts of a smiling face, a friendly demeanor, and a good ear.  Our teens didn’t just work with their hands, but they also stood side-by-side with local residents to hear their stories and to learn from them.  By building this home together, they also created relationships that spanned several seas and time zones.  

This was just one moment in time, one February break away from home, but I know that Rabbi Michael White, Alison Stamm, and their many parents and teachers hope that our teens will remember that building and creating a better world is our Jewish obligation that lasts an entire lifetime.