Wake Up and Be the Change!

by Jill Maidhof

I used to awaken to my radio every morning. I’d lay in bed and find out what happened in the world while I was snoozing, and when I felt suitably informed I’d hop up and brush my teeth.

Now I lay in bed and cherish the silence. I know that the minute I touch that dial, I’ll be subjected to my daily dose of ugliness. The world is a mess, and I’m going to steal as many minutes of blissful ignorance as I can.

The problem is that according to Mahatma Ghandi, I’m supposed to “be the change I want to see in the world.” According to my own Jewish tradition, I’m supposed to work for the repair of the world. The task is great and the day is short, so staying in bed or choosing ignorance aren’t options.

I’m supposed to work for the repair of the world. The task is great and the day is short,
so staying in bed or choosing ignorance aren’t options.

Thankfully, scientific research offers a way to live in the world and not get beaten by the blues. It’s simple: do a mitzvah on a regular basis! According to Dr. Daniel Cregg, a psychologist at The Ohio State University, “Social connection is one of the ingredients of life most strongly associated with well-being. Performing acts of kindness seems to be one of the best ways to promote those connections.” He and Dr. Jennifer Cheavens found that helping others took people’s minds off themselves, reducing worry, anxiety and depression.

We at Chai Mitzvah have always believed in the power of a good deed (The POP – Power of Passion – component, ).  In fact, carrying out a mitzvah in one’s local community has always been a component of the Chai Mitzvah experience, in addition to learning something new from a Jewish perspective, and adopting or expanding a Jewish spiritual practice. We intuited a long time ago that this was the way to lead an authentic Jewish life, benefitting both the person and their community. We’re thrilled that scientific research has caught up with us!

If you have a POP project that you would like to share, please reply below!