Would you like to help combat the misconceptions of who and what Jews are in the eyes of the rest of the world? If you are planning a trip abroad this summer for yourself, or for a high school or college student in your family, consider a Jewish program instead of traveling as an international tourist.
Tourism is fun, but neither the food nor the shopping will be any better than San Francisco’s, and you will be bludgeoned by the value of the dollar. Instead, volunteer for American Jewish World Service, or Costa Rican Adventures, or my organization, ViviendasLeón: Housing for León. You will not only come home with great photos of active volcanoes and 16th-century colonial architecture, but you will quite possibly have a life-changing experience for yourself and the people you help.
Since 9/11, the need to reach out beyond our own community has never been more acute because at its most basic level, ecumenism is a simple act of survival. Even so-called Jewish Hollywood can’t hold back the tide of pernicious images of Jews like those on display in Mel Gibson’s, “The Passion of the Christ.” Those images have found their way into millions of homes worldwide.
It is imperative that the Jewish community reaches out to the rest of the world with the same determination the religious right does. Bemoaning the fact that our government is not doing enough to aid the developing world is a pastime we can no longer afford to indulge in. While liberals wait for the resurrection of Franklin D. Roosevelt, Christian fundamentalists are sending armies of the faithful to every corner of the globe with food, medicine, clothing and a theory of biblical prophecy that does not a tolerant world make. The Mormons alone have more than 55,000 missionaries in 160 countries.
In contrast, the number of Jews who commit themselves to actively participate in international aid efforts — as Jews — is minuscule.
Changing attitudes about who we are is often not very complicated. It’s about showing up. Several years ago I was asked to do a lecture/demonstration on Jewish culture at a high school in the heart of Appalachia. Before entering the classroom, the teacher said to me, “Just remember, the only thing these kids know about Jews is ‘You killed our Lord.'”
I proceeded to give the class a glimpse into Jewish life from Chassidism to the Russian Revolution. The kids were great. They took in my presentation with rapt attention. But the most important thing I imparted to them was that we are not some collective, malevolent force, but living, breathing human beings.
I have had similar experiences over the years, from Oslo to Lublin. The kind of experiences you will have with any of the organizations I mentioned above.
Today I work on economic development projects in Nicaragua through ViviendasLeón, a nonprofit international development organization that builds housing and encourages environmentally sustainable development. You might remember Nicaragua. Our government’s actions there were a precursor to our invasion of Iraq. We ran a covert war to bring democracy and economic prosperity to Nicaragua. It is now a
democracy, and among the poorest countries on the planet.
Nicaragua’s economic despair makes it ripe for any and every jingoistic theory that comes along — including theories of Jewish world domination. Nevertheless, the leading candidate for the fall presidential election, Herty Lewites, is Jewish. If he wins, he is going to need all the help he can get from the greater Jewish community.
My hope is that we can shine the light of tikkun olam, repairing the world, on the Nicaraguan people, and on the developing world as a whole. That is why I am organizing a two-week Jewish community delegation in August, through ViviendasLeón, to help build a preschool in a rural community outside of León. I am also working to have the delegation meet with Lewites and let him know that his country is not alone. To get involved: (510) 482-9806, [email protected] or www.viviendasleon.org.
The world is a dangerous place. But we can diffuse the danger by promoting tolerance and good will through concrete action that lifts people out of their hopelessness. It’s the smartest, wisest, thing we can do for them — and for us.
Albert Greenberg is associate director of ViviendasLeón: Housing for León. He is one of the founders of Traveling Jewish Theatre and serves on the board of Kehilla Community Synagogue and the East Bay Jewish Community Relations Council.
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