Repair the World: Pittsburgh

On Wednesday night, after a shocking and turbulent election, on the 78th anniversary of Kristallnacht, the “Night of Broken Glass,” I was reminded of a mythical Kabbalistic tale. The story is known as Shevirat Ha Kelim, the “Shattering of the Vessels,” and is the basis for the Jewish concept of tikkun olam, “repair the world,” which also happens to be the name of the non-profit that I am lucky enough to be a fellow with this year.

The story of the broken vessels narrates that G-d created light via ten vessels, which illuminated the darkness and were meant to make the world a more perfect, lighted place. The vessels were sent out into the world but on the journey, the fragile vessels shattered and the pieces were scattered like stars dotting the darkness. Humankind was created to collect the sparks of light and reassemble the fragments into a restored vessel. As the story tells us, when all of the vessels have been recreated, tikkun olam, the repair of the world, will be complete.

Does it feel like we are moving in the direction of gathering fragments of light from all corners of the world? Does it feel like we are piecing together these vessels? Do we feel united and empowered and ready to repair the world?

To me, it feels like we are entering into utter darkness, but not the tranquil kind that fills a bedroom before a peaceful slumber. It seems as though seeking and finding shards of light in a fragmented world is becoming more and more difficult.

The results of this election have instilled fear into the hearts of many. Some fear violence, others the rise in hatred and bigotry. Are we regressing? Would it be so shocking to wake up tomorrow and see broken glass scattered in front of storefronts and places of worship, or are we collectively holding our breath, waiting for it to happen? Was it shocking to see the disturbing display of anti-Semitism already appear on vandalized buildings in Philadelphia?

"Every cell in my body wanted to scrub off this blanket of darkness and paint on a lighter hue with my Crayola watercolors. All the nerves in my hands wanted to pull out every tightly coiled strand of hair for its disobedience. I hate racism because at 4 years old, I learned that I was bad, because I was black."

Want to be a 2016-17 Repair the World Fellow? Click here to apply by May 31st!

1. When you start the year sporting the same swag

2. When you pose together in front of your new house before a night on the town! 

3. When your alma mater has their Alternative Spring Break with you and you couldn’t be more proud

4. When you finally get a Nicholas Sparks novel during the edu crew event, Blind Date with a Book

5. When everybody is engaged in conversation at a Shabbat dinner and your mom is leading your table’s conversation

6. When you’re volunteering at an MLK event at the Kelly Strayhorn Theater but gotta strike a pose first

7. When you reach 2,000 page likes on Facebook!

8. When you’ve been gardening in the rain on the sidelines of the Pittsburgh Marathon for a few hours

9. When you get to lead service for 100+ students who came out for the University of Pittsburgh’s Make a Difference Day (PMADD)! 

10. When the fellows are heading to the workshop to make a difference

11. When you learn about what is in some of your favorite snacks with your issue area educator

12. When a fellow from a previous year comes back and supports you

13. When you have a very successful first Cocktails with a Conscience event as a cohort

14. When you form partnerships that you know will last, like a “Repair the World Reserve” coffee at Zeke’s!

15. When you pack all this food for those in need with the Jewish Relief Agency

16. When you have a free breakfast for the community during MLK Weekend

17. When you are demo-ing a house with Open Hand Ministries (before/after)

18. When it’s cold and snowing but over 500 people come out for your Jewish community Purim festival

19. When you help Assemble, a STEAM-based after-school program, put on a “Circuit Circus”

20. When you take part in Good Deeds Day to do service with community members in a greenhouse

Bonus: When you reach the top of the Monongahela incline! 

Consider making memories like these (and many more!) as a fellow with Repair the World! Applications are due by May 31, so get them in quick! CLICK HERE TO APPLY: http://bit.ly/1tEFseZ 

(photo from mic.com)

A few days ago, I stumbled upon a mic.com article documenting a woman posing in front of a mural while ignoring a sleeping man at her feet. The mural reads, “STAND HERE AND THINK ABOUT SOMEONE YOU LOVE!”

Initially, I scrolled to the article, read it in shock, and kept on scrolling. After a few seconds, I acknowledged that I was still in a state of disbelief and disappointment and felt compelled to reflect on it.

As you can see, both women in the picture show complete disregard for the human soul laying on the ground. While this image only shows a moment in time and they may very well have acknowledged him before or after the photo was taken, I am going to assume they did no such thing, unfortunately.

My potentially judgmental assumptions don’t come from thin air. Since joining Repair the World: Pittsburgh in 2014, I have learned of and noticed similar senses of both purposeful and unintentional ignorance in social justice work. Just as the women above are painfully ignorant to the man at their feet, many folks are hesitant to acknowledge certain realities, especially their own roles, within micro-moments and larger systems of supremacy, privilege, access, and all levels of injustices. And while I am immersed in this work, I am not exempt from this either.

In many parts of Pittsburgh and across the world, we are insulated within our own alcoves of perceived safety, comfort, and ease. Many of us have the privilege of starting and stopping the work involved in pursuing social justice whenever we choose. And for those living the injustices, such as the man struggling with homelessness in the photo, they have no such luxury.

The personal and professional struggles that take place can prompt us to only go half-in. In other words, the mental, emotional, and spiritual difficulties of coming to terms with the fact that we sometimes play a part in creating such harsh realities for ourselves and others can prevent us from giving our entire self to the work, which is typically a requirement. This can be problematic in many ways.

For example, if we are pursuing a justice that benefits everyone, shouldn’t we be able to take every action possible to positively contribute to the pursuit? Shouldn’t we be able to openly and honestly listen to and respect everyone’s needs in the process? While the woman in the photograph apparently wants to show her friends on Instagram that she can love others, is it possible for her to show the same love to the deserving person sprawled at her feet?

Social justice work is hard - it forces us to take a good, hard look at ourselves, the social constructs around us, and all of the wrongdoing and complexities woven within each.

Here at Repair, we follow the Jewish value of questioning ideas, concepts, and systems on a consistent basis. This means we are to think critically, deeply, and selflessly about everything we involve ourselves in, even if we find that we are in the wrong about certain things. Part of the Repair the World oath is to “accept the privilege to serve in solidarity.” We must actively accept and honor this privilege in the right way. If we are on the outside of justice, we are not blameless.

Our individual goals and the goals of our shared society should be to pursue and achieve a type of justice that benefits everyone. And if we are able to stand up, think, and show people that we are able to love, that love should apply to all, always.

Written by Becca Sufrin, Education Justice Team Leader of Repair the World: Pittsburgh.