Tikkun Olam

There is a concept in Judaism called "hakarat hatov," which means recognizing the good that someone or some group has done you.  The JDC, Joint Distribution Committee which is one of the greatest humanitarian organizations globally, aiding Jews as well as non-Jews in need all over the world, is fulfilling this important Jewish ethical concept after the devastating typhoon which decimated the Philippines, by sending emergency relief supplies : food, materials for shelter, medical supplies as well as provisions to ensure clean water and sanitation supplies to where they are needed most in the Islands. So how is this disaster aid "hakarat hatov," recognizing the good someone has done? Because there is a historical connection between the Jewish people and the Philippines and Filipinos: around 70 years ago, Philippine president Manuel Quezon together with the Jewish Frieder family which owned cigar factories in Manila, saved one thousand Jewish refugees from Nazi Eur...

Not continuing yesterday's post yet, because a short time ago my daughter posted photos of herself speaking at the Federation event in San Diego.  Remember, the JDC (who funds Federations) paid for her trip to the States to speak at their Board in New York to be an advocate for disability awareness and accessibility.  When I saw these pictures, I knew I had to share them with my readers. Her long, three-month trip to the States is drawing to a close. Thank G-d, she was with us here at home for the entire month of November, and then on and off with us in Florida for our family Bar-Mitzvah.  Where did the time go?  She returns to Israel this week, back to her little Tel-Aviv apartment, hopefully not waterlogged from last week's storm.  Back to fighting for good health care, for doctors willing to help her and give her new therapies, for her Kupah   (HMO) to pay for those therapies, for her lawsuit to finally be settled (who knows how long it will take), f...

(I wrote this the day we returned from Florida, December f24th, 2012. I just published it today, 1 January 2013). It has been over a month since I have posted on this blog. So many things have happened.  We just yesterday returned from our "vacation" to Florida, for our biggest family event since my eldest daughter's wedding.  My only sister, my niece and her new husband, also flew down from New York for this event.  What was the occasion? Our eldest grandson, who has Down Syndrome, became a Bar-Mitzvah.  But this was only the tail end of the entire three months of family activities. First, I don't even remember if I wrote about my daughter's visit to the States.  I might have mentioned it in a previous post, but now, let me elaborate: my daughter was invited by the JDC ( Joint Distribution Committee ) to speak at their board meeting in New York.  They bought her ticket to the States, with a return to Israel in January, in their kindness, allowing her t...