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Cheshvan is Jewish Social Action Month
October 18, 2006Comments (0) | Add | E-mail this to a friend
“Mr. President, I rise today to announce the launching of the first Jewish Social Action Month—a month where Jews around the world will be encouraged to engage in good works and service to their communities.
Throughout the month—and every year in the second month of the Hebrew calendar, Cheshvan, from here on out—Jews from across the globe will be encouraged to perform acts of loving kindness to their neighbors, regardless of faith.” - Senator Joseph Lieberman (D-CT), Congressional Record (Senate): November 3, 2005
Yoseph Abramowitz and Aryeah Green came up with the idea for "Jewish Social Action Month" to encourage Jews across the world to delve into the Jewish textual and cultural tradition of social action, and find ways to give of themselves to create change and better the world.
With the backing of the Government of Israel’s Ministry for Israeli Society and World Jewish Community, the Jewish month of Cheshvan (October 23-November 21, 2006) was declared an annual international celebration dedicated to the Jewish values of tzedek, chesed and aryevut (justice, kindness, and social responsibility) to be practiced by the entire Jewish people throughout the world.
The month of Cheshvan is traditionally called Mar-Cheshvan, Bitter Cheshvan, because it is the only month in the Jewish calendar which is entirely absent of holidays. On the High Holy Days we reflect on our past year and commit to improving and doing better in the coming year. Next comes Sukkot, and we leave the shelter of our homes and enter temporary dwellings, reminding ourselves both of the historic Jewish journey through the wilderness and the reality that there are many people in the world today lacking in shelter and basic necessities.
The month of Cheshvan, while absent of traditional holidays, is an opportune time to dedicate ourselves to the foundational Jewish value of social justice; a time to take our thoughts and promises from the High Holy Days and implement them, progressing from words to action.
Isaiah 1:16-17 says, “…Cease to do evil; learn to good. Devote yourself to justice…” At this time of year, we reaffirm the historic tradition of the Jewish people to commit ourselves to repairing and advancing the world. As we enter Cheshvan, we now have the opportunity to remove the mar, the bitterness, and replace it with powerful and significant social action.
Thoughts in this “Learn Something New” derive from information found on www.socialaction.com. SocialAction.com is a Hillel partner agency. Visit their website to learn more information about Jewish Social Action Month and what you can do to improve the world this year.
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