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FINDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR TIKKUN
OLAM On any day of the week, you will hear or see many signals for tikkun olam. Pay attention! If someone is teased in class or on the playground, don't join in. Offer a word of kindness. When you see someone carrying heavy packages, or someone stumble and fall, don't look the other way. Provide a helping hand. When you are finished eating, don't leave a mess. Clean up after yourself. Our tradition teaches us to care for God's creations. To teach children this important lesson, our sages tell a story about the first person, Adam. One day, as Adam tried to pick some cherries, the branch they hung from pulled itself high above his reach. The very same thing happened when he went to the plum, peach, and pear trees. Finally, Adam realized that people cannot take without giving. So he watered the trees and pruned their dead branches. The next time Adam reached for a ripe fruit, the branch lowered before him as if to shake his hand. What opportunities do you have to give to God's other creations? In what ways do these creations give to you?
Perhaps you can tutor a younger student like the girl in
the picture, or run errands for a neighbor who is ill.
Talk about these and other opportunities with friends and
teachers. Together, you can find ways to add goodness to
the world.
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You don't have to wait until you're an adult to make a
difference in the world. As a member of the Covenant, you
too have the responsibility of tikkun olam.
