Ode to Tikun Olam

The Talmud states,
“Do not be daunted by the enormity of the world’s grief.
Do justly now, love mercy now, walk humbly now.
You are not obligated to complete the work,
but neither are you free to abandon it.”

As a child, I grew up
in the shadow of a burning cross
In a town along the Hudson
Where the factories had gone dark

The bullies in the playgrounds
Told me that Jews were
just Negroes turned inside out (but not so politely)

The nice kids
dressed in white shirts and dress pants
on their way to church
told me Jews had killed Jesus

A few bloody noses on both sides of the line (one shouldn’t cross)
No one turning the other cheek, I learned a few lessons along the way

My father, a man for all seasons
told me that one’s character
was measured by the extent
that one’s actions and principles align.

In April of ’65, my father died
a few months before I turned fourteen
A few months before he turned forty-four

Imagine a mushroom cloud of an A-bomb
Arising from our chimney
The fallout lasting for decades
We moved away

Somewhere in the Seventies
I surfaced, and my vision cleared
I met the one
We settled down
And I got to work

Son of a social worker and a science teacher,
A mix of pop’s logic
and my mom’s insight and empathy
The blend served me well
Supporting those who help others

My work, although behind the scenes
has always been in support of a mission

In my lifetime, the missions have;
attacked racism through shared experiences
Found safe homes for kids in foster care
Bathed, fed, dressed, and cared for
those children who, through disease or a twist of fate, were incapable of caring for themselves

I have worked with amazing people, leaders in their fields
Who helped families under siege from Crack and HIV
find medical and mental health services, find housing and support.

I am most proud of my work bringing disparate federation members together to leverage their resources and serve the healthcare needs of women, children, and families through emerging technologies.

I was fortunate to find myself in the world of conservation, which brought back lost memories of my father leading us down trails under canopies of trees, past waterfalls, sometimes on hands and knees up boulders, and finally to summit the crest of the mountain to find the hawks and eagles elegantly gliding below us.

When I look back over the last three scores and 10 years I am very grateful that I have had the opportunities I’ve had. 
The opportunity to construct and realize a shared vision of new ways to empower and care for those in need, enlighten, educate, inspire, and engage those few with the means and desire to support the missions that have helped so many.
This life has been in pursuit of righting the wrongs I have witnessed, helping others align their actions with their principles, and contributing to the work to repair the world through these efforts. 

Tikun Olam