Get ready for Omer POP-portunities!

Have you seen the Chai Mitzvah blog, Why Chai Mitzvah is not an Educational Program, written by our Executive Director Audrey Lichter? If not, stop right now and read it, THEN come back to this entry!

As you see (now that you’ve read her blog) Audrey does a great job of distinguishing Chai Mitzvah from other text-based Jewish programs. Simply put, Jewish literacy is an important secondary goal for us. Our primary goal is to inspire you to connect with individuals and organizations in your Jewish community and we do this by helping you to remember, uncover and discover what arouses your Jewish passion. What subjects interest you? What causes compel you? What moves your spirit? And how can you tap the POWER of that PASSION to make a positive difference in your life and the life of your Jewish community?

As a quick example I, like everyone I know, was wrestling with how to support Ukraine. Inspired by Audrey’s call to action, I thought about my own Jewish passions and decided that I wanted to contribute through a Jewish organization. I’m passionate about celebrating ethnic, religious and racial differences, so the organization would need to reflect that value. This led me led me to Hadassah, the women’s Zionist organization, because its medical teams provide care to anyone in need. It took less than aminute to find out that the first Hadassah doctors have been on the ground in Poland since early Marchand a second team arrived last week. I tapped the power of my passion to make a contribution enabling the organization to continue and to enlarge the scope of their work with Ukrainian refugees.

My story may not resonate with you, as we are, each of us, differently motivated. You may be passionate about women’s reproductive rights or early childhood education. You may wish to tap the power of your passion with others, rather than alone as I did. One thing is certain: your Jewish way will be the right way. Let us know about your passion – reply below to share your story with Chai Mitzvah!

– Jill Maidhof

P. S. Get ready for Omer POP-portunities! Join us each day, beginning with the first day of the omer (Sundown, April 16). Follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and read about the spiritual aspect of each day of the omer with suggestions for opportunities to reflect each sefirah through independent projects.