Leah at Beit Sefer

In a session with educators at the URJ Biennial last week (a huge convention of Reform Jews including all types of professionals and members,) the presenter suggested that Judaism needs to be meaningful, relevant and distinctive to us and our students.   One example of a distinctively Jewish spin on a universal concept that he mentioned was Tzedakah.  The Jewish concept of Tzedakah is slightly different from that of “charity.”  His point was that Tzedakah is a mitzvah, and that we as Jews feel that giving and doing Tzedakah is an imperative, not a choice.  
Tzedakah derives from the word “tzedek” which means “justice.”  There is a phrase in the Torah (not this week’s portion) “Tzedek, tzedek tirdof.”  “Justice, Justice, you shall pursue.”  When we give or do Tzedakah, we are pursuing Justice.  We are working to balance and create a more just world by giving and doing what we can.
  
For those of you who are not celebrating with family and friends on Christmas, please join me, my family, and some other TBI families to do what we can to bring balance to a unjust world   This is a great opportunity to introduce our children to doing mitzvot, and giving of ourselves to help others.   The Pomona Valley Christian Center, needs volunteers for packing, delivering, and serving the Christmas Meals.  Here are the details in case you can join us: