By Molly Cram, Director, House Programs

Hi friends. It’s me again, Molly, your friendly reminder that tikkun olam is a key element of Judaism. Have you heard the fun story about how the first question humans ask G-d in the Torah is, “Am I my brother’s keeper” and some think the entire Torah is an answer to that question? Spoiler alert: the answer is yes; you are your brother’s keeper.

We’ve had quite a year of tikkun olam in the Moishe-verse. Quick recap: at the start of 2019, we launched four pillars of tikkun olam. So far, 91 Moishe Houses, 26 hosts and 28 staff members have participated in one of the four Tikkun Olam Pillars. Together, we are tackling major issues like global climate change, women’s health education and anti-semitism with over 300 programs and engaging more than 4,000 people around the world. 

The next three months mark our time to highlight our final pillar: Hunger, Food Insecurity & Access to Clean Water. 

Perhaps you want to host a canned food drive like Moishe House Minsk. Moishe House Melbourne got creative and hosted a Purim party including a fundraiser for a food insecurity related local charity, which the attendees voted on. Phoenix hosted a pool party where the cost for entry was a few canned goods for a local food pantry. 

Or maybe direct service is more your thing. Check out NYC Williamsburg, who volunteered with Repair the World and a local vegetable garden. That vegetable garden coordinates with local business to distribute fresh produce. Moishe House Seattle volunteered with a local non profit to make 400 peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, used by the local organization in their nightly search-and-rescue volunteer program. 

Need a few resources? We got you-

I believe I am my brother’s keeper and I’m so appreciative this is the community I get to grapple with.