Jewish Musings Monday, Sept. 16, day 345 since Oct. 7

[hollygail]

What’s on your mind — how to make kugel? This week’s Torah reading? Life goals? Prayer? We are all engaged in weight loss/weight maintenance journeys and we are all Jewish or at least interested in Judaism. We like to eat, we like to discuss. It is our goal here to provide each other support on our journeys, to share experiences, to call on our rich cultural heritage and texts, and to help each other grow spiritually.

Some of us take weekly turns starting the thread:

Holly
Lee
Louise
Lynne
Peachy

And for those of you that stop by to read this thread without posting — you are welcome to, but you are also welcome to chime in. Don’t be shy!

[hollygail]

One of the rituals described in this week's Torah portion, Ki Tavo, is that every third year, Israelites must set aside the tithe (10%) of their yield, and they must give it to the Levite, the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow. (26:12–15)

One takeaway is this: When Jews celebrate, we must remember those who are less fortunate. The passage from Deuteronomy imagines that the Israelites who tithe have already become prosperous. The tithe reminds us that Jews must give to the most vulnerable in society; in those days, it would have been people alone, people without a "champion" to watch over them, namely, the fatherless, the widow, the Levites who had no land of their own (because their job had to do with the religious rituals) and the non-Jews living among them. While it would be great to imagine a society without those who are poor and on the fringes, the Torah is very realistic about how society works. Such people will always be with us, and therefore we will always have responsibilities to them.

In your life, what are some things you've done to take care of people who need help of any kind?

I've volunteered at a Rape Crisis Center which provided volunteers to accompany raped women to the hospital and/or to the police, among other things. I've marched for equal rights for different categories of "underdogs" in society. I've contributed to funds that support women's issues. I've taken part in demonstrations against killings of innocents. I have worn safety pins and buttons and other types of paraphernalia supporting individuals with various types of needs, including a "yellow ribbon" demanding the release of hostages taken on Oct. 7. The list goes on...

[gazelle18]

Most of my “help” was at the organizational level , raising money, recruiting board members, etc. I am actually interested at this time of my life in doing more “hands on” type of service.

[louise]

For many Christmases I help with gift distribution at an organization with an emergency food pantry. I have also helped to sort and pack food there and to sort clothing. I guess I could throw in my volunteer week in Israel in January. I also donate to our synagogue organization helping refugees and asylees.

[lee058]

Good morning everybody. Hope you are all well and SAFE! Please pray for Israel.

Re today's topic: I have done a variety of volunteering for many causes over the years, and plan to keep it up as possible.

Part of being Jewish is being responsible for repairing the world; we may not be able to change everything all at once, but if we all do something, it does make a difference.

Have a peaceful day, Lee