Guest guest Posted November 8, 2005 Report Share Posted November 8, 2005 One thing I cherish about our country is the diversity of religion. I hope that we may always have such freedom to follow and practice our religion of choice. That is why our forefathers developed a separation of church and state -- not to deny religion, but to prevent oppression of religion. Much of the 'old testament' is what Jewish call the Torah... I love the Jewish " tikkun olam " or 'repairing the world'. Here is an explanation: The concept of tikkun olam or repairing the world through social action, is one of the traditional categories of tzedakah (righteousness and justice). The word " tikkun " first appears in the book of Ecclesiastes (1:5; 7:13; 12:9), where it means " setting straight " or " setting in order. " The most notable early rabbinic source for the phrase tikkun olam is the Aleinu prayer, where the phrase expresses the hope of repairing the world through the establishment of the kingdom of God. The obligation to repair the world emerges from various Jewish sources. Some, including many of the ancient prophets, see the obligation as originating primarily from the commandment to emulate God's holiness, for, in their view, God is the model for human righteousness.1 Others see the obligation to engage in social action as arising chiefly from the Jews' historical position as an oppressed people.2 Still others believe that engaging in acts of tikkun olam is the primary means of satisfying the need to create a sense of Jewish community and identity. From this perspective the commitment to tikkun olam is a calling, a vocation, and it is unlikely that the Jews could survive, and it would be unseemly if they did, except as a community organized around values and committed to tikkun olam.3 However its wellsprings are conceived, tikkun olam is central to Judaism, and to our Adat Shalom community. The freedom that we enjoy in America provides us with an opportunity to carry out Judaism's ethical obligations. As Americans, we have the freedom to pursue courses of action of our own choosing. As Jews, this enables us to fulfill our commitment to improving our community. Acts of tikkun olam provide us with channels through which we can apply our Jewish response to contemporary issues. Adat Shalom can and should provide a link between the ethical mandate of the Jewish tradition and the desire of members of the congregation to address themselves to some of the major issues facing our society. According to the Statement of Principles of Adat Shalom, the mitzvah of tikkun olam, " obliges us to help alleviate hunger, homelessness, disease, ignorance, abuse, and political oppression among all people. In addition, we have a responsibility to preserve the health of the global ecosystem upon which all life depends. " > > > > Hey again, > > Two questions: > > I am wondering how long to avoid upper body exercise, I mean like lifting baskets of > laundry, etc. Melmed said a week or two, but he's kind of loose about stuff compared to > other surgeons. Anybody have any ideas? > > > > Secondly, I was wondering when I can stop avoiding the blood-thinning foods and > supplements and when I can slowly start cleansing.(I'm dying to have a blackberry > smoothie!) I have a good clean diet but I'd like to do what I can to help myself along. I've > watched the posts about that, and also have Rubin's book " The Maker's Diet. " I am not a > Christian and I don't agree with everything he says, but I am amazed at how many things > one can find in the Bible that are good common sense. > > > > Melinda > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 8, 2005 Report Share Posted November 8, 2005 I like how Jesus, the Jewish Messiah, boiled this all down to two simple phrases from the Torah: " You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. " and " You shall love your neighbor as yourself. " Shalom! Patty > > > > Melinda, > > I am not a Christian, either, but I find the book very practical. I can't help with the > laundry > > etc, and lifting, because I still have problems with that but it is not because of healing > > from surgery. > > > > I don't know why you couldn't start cleansing right away. Blackberry smoothies sound > > fabulous. I so miss the blackberries in Seattle - I used to jog there, and huge > blackberries > > just grew wild. I would jog, and munch on blackberries! > > I love them still. > > > > When to stop blood thinning meds is something your doctor should advise... > > > > > > --- In , " freebindi " <bindi@a...> wrote: > > > > > > Hey again, > > > Two questions: > > > I am wondering how long to avoid upper body exercise, I mean like lifting baskets of > > laundry, etc. Melmed said a week or two, but he's kind of loose about stuff compared to > > other surgeons. Anybody have any ideas? > > > > > > Secondly, I was wondering when I can stop avoiding the blood- thinning foods and > > supplements and when I can slowly start cleansing.(I'm dying to have a blackberry > > smoothie!) I have a good clean diet but I'd like to do what I can to help myself along. I've > > watched the posts about that, and also have Rubin's book " The Maker's Diet. " I am not a > > Christian and I don't agree with everything he says, but I am amazed at how many > things > > one can find in the Bible that are good common sense. > > > > > > Melinda > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 8, 2005 Report Share Posted November 8, 2005 That is a wonderful passage - whether you believe Jesus was the Messiah, or a prophet, or merely a wise man. > > > > > > > > Hey again, > > > > Two questions: > > > > I am wondering how long to avoid upper body exercise, I mean > like lifting baskets of > > > laundry, etc. Melmed said a week or two, but he's kind of loose > about stuff compared to > > > other surgeons. Anybody have any ideas? > > > > > > > > Secondly, I was wondering when I can stop avoiding the blood- > thinning foods and > > > supplements and when I can slowly start cleansing.(I'm dying to > have a blackberry > > > smoothie!) I have a good clean diet but I'd like to do what I > can to help myself along. I've > > > watched the posts about that, and also have Rubin's book " The > Maker's Diet. " I am not a > > > Christian and I don't agree with everything he says, but I am > amazed at how many > > things > > > one can find in the Bible that are good common sense. > > > > > > > > Melinda > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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