Dear Friends, family and colleagues,
The Jewish New Year has begun. This is the time of renewal, and it is part of our tradition to focus on Tikkun Olam, repairing the world.
If you have given one time in the past, or if you have never contributed to this project, would you consider doing so now?
We are edging ever closer to our goal of $4,600 that is needed to send Ricardo and two confidants to Fray Bartolomé de las Casas in the 1st or 2nd week in November. We currently have $1,800 in the account, which means that we need $2,800 (60% more) to reach our goal within the next three weeks.
This is the essential first step towards developing the chili pepper project in Chajmaic and we need to do it on time, in order to stay in sync with the planting season. As written in the previous update, Ricardo’s trip to Fray is necessary in order to oversee the name transfer for Olivia’s land, to view the land for the chili pepper project, and to negotiate with the owner of the land to rent a portion of it for the chili pepper project for the people of Chajmaic. Ricardo will negotiate price, size, and length of rental.
At Rosh HaShanah, our Rabbi Suzie Jacobson, gave a sermon referencing Rabbi Jill Jacobs’ book, There Shall Be No Needy: Pursuing Social Justice through Jewish Law and Tradition. She taught us of the importance for those of us who have privilege in society to use this power for good.
Rabbi Suzie explained that there are three basic human principles: (1) the dignity of human life: an injury to one individual is an injury to all; (2) a commitment to lessening inequalities and oppressive disparities; and (3) that community has a responsibility to the individual and vice versa.
As our sage rabbi told us, together we can make a life of compassion, justice and goodness.
You can donate through GoFundMe or receive a tax donation by writing a check to Sowing Opportunities, via our fiscal agent, Temple Tiferet Shalom of the North Shore.
If you have contributed recently, thank you. You are making this important work possible. May God bless you for all of your contributions, prayers, and support. You are actively participating in the creation of this peace and social justice work – the work of repairing the world.
Blessings and thanks,
Fern and Ginny
