JewsByChoice.org

Every year the JRF runs an email based Omer learning program focused on some aspect of Tikkun Olam. I think its a great way of plugging into Jewish tradition as well as doing some Jewish learning. I think there is something here for most of us, so I don’t think it matters whether or not you identify as a Reconstructionist.

Anyhow, it’s something I sign up for every year and so I thought I should mention it here on the site.

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Tikkun Hanefesh V’Olam – Growing the Soul: Self, Community and World

Beginning on the eve of the second day of Pesach, we are instructed by our tradition to count the days of the “Omer” until the fiftieth day, which is when the first barley crop would be harvested. It is also the Jewish holiday of Shavuot when, according to our tradition, the Jewish People received the Torah at Mt. Sinai. The counting of the Omer is a bridge between Pesach and Shavuot – between a moment of liberation and a moment of self-definition and direction at the beginning of our evolution as a religious civilization. It is an opportunity to deepen our study and close the gap between ideas and action for the tikkun (rebalancing, repair) of the challenges we face in our world.

Beginning in 2005 through the Departments of Tikkun Olam/Social Justice and Congregational Relations’ PEARL initiative, hundreds of participants and commentators from JRF congregations, RRA rabbis and RRC faculty, and the larger Jewish world, have participated in the JRF On-Line Omer Study Initiative!

The 2010 JRF Omer Learning Initiative, (part of PEARL, http://www.jrf.org/PEARL) highlights resources, teachings, and wisdom gleaned from the Reconstructionist movement and our organizational partners, on topics connected to Tikkun Hanefesh V’Olam – Growing the Soul: Self, Community and World. This approach to tikkun (repair, balance, holistic) is a centuries old integrated Jewish approach to healing and fully realizing one’s life (physically, emotionally, intellectually and spiritually) while being actively engaged with the healing and well-being of the community and world we are part of.

The areas of focus in this year’s initiative compliment the previous years’ where the focus was in the areas of Jewish wisdom, hunger, sustainability and a wide-range of social justice issues. Indentifying the the areas of focus has come from various congregational relations and tikkun olam department surveys of our clergy, lay leaders, and past-participants, in concert with areas we at JRF have seen our member congregations and havurot struggle with, ask for help and resources from us the most, or grow and thrive in- as we strive to building sacred communities of meaning, connection and dynamic Jewish life.

This year, the teachings arrived in one electronic packet at the beginning of each week and ongoing learning took place through the accompanying study listserve. To participate, please register in advance using the links below or at http://www.jrf.org/omer/2010

Omer Project: "A House of Prayer for All Peoples": Diversity in Growing Sacred Community Thu. Apr 1, 2010

Omer Project: Spiritual direction : "Growing God-ward" Wed. Apr 7, 2010 12:00 PM ET 

Omer Project: Sustainable Living 3.0 Wed. Apr 14, 2010 12:00 PM ET 

Omer Project: Varieties of Spiritual practice Thu. Apr 22, 2010 12:00 PM ET 

Omer Project: Liturgy and Prayer Thu. Apr 29, 2010 12:00 PM ET 

Omer Project: Growing Self and Community through Creativity and the Arts Thu. May 6, 2010 12:00 PM ET 

Omer Project: Growing Spirituality in Education: Learning Across the Lifecycle Thu. May 13, 2010 12:00 PM ET

Omer Project: Tikkun L’eyl Shavuot: Torah:Study as a path to Growing and Rebalancing Self, Community and World Tues. May 18, 2010, 12:00 PM ET

The Omer Learning Initiative resources from 2005 to date can be found at http://jrf.org/omer/home

You’re fantastic, Avi! I will definitely participate!

Thanks Chris, I’m glad you like! Creating a space to share this sort of information is a major motivating factor behind the JBC.org project!