Comments on: peace of my heart http://danyaruttenberg.net/2004/08/24/peace-of-my-heart/ Danya Ruttenberg's website Thu, 04 Dec 2008 05:52:34 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.2 By: Rachel http://danyaruttenberg.net/2004/08/24/peace-of-my-heart/#comment-59 Rachel Sat, 28 Aug 2004 05:47:00 +0000 http://danyaruttenberg.net/2004/08/24/peace-of-my-heart/#comment-59 Smart, cogent entry -- unsurprisingly. Thank you for this. I completely empathize with your mixed feelings about this. I think you're asking the right questions, and I'm not sure they have answers. Don't forget my favorite line from Pirkei Avot: it is not incumbent upon us to finish the task, but neither are we free to refrain from beginning it. I know it's corny and too-often-quoted, but I really do believe it. This is an insurmountable problem; but doing small things towards fixing it is at least better than doing no things at all. I like your description of your t-shirt, too. I'd totally wear that... Smart, cogent entry — unsurprisingly. Thank you for this. I completely empathize with your mixed feelings about this. I think you’re asking the right questions, and I’m not sure they have answers.

Don’t forget my favorite line from Pirkei Avot: it is not incumbent upon us to finish the task, but neither are we free to refrain from beginning it. I know it’s corny and too-often-quoted, but I really do believe it. This is an insurmountable problem; but doing small things towards fixing it is at least better than doing no things at all.

I like your description of your t-shirt, too. I’d totally wear that…

]]> By: B http://danyaruttenberg.net/2004/08/24/peace-of-my-heart/#comment-58 B Wed, 25 Aug 2004 07:46:00 +0000 http://danyaruttenberg.net/2004/08/24/peace-of-my-heart/#comment-58 The argument that people don't have a right to comment on events around them is always a slippery slope into what constitutes an authentic participant or commentator on any event. Say what you want. I deeply appreciate your hesitancy to comment on a situation that, largely, doesn't affect you in a direct way. Leftist, touchy-feely get-togethers can be sort of dopey, but maybe somebody's heart does get changed and they go on to do something else. Like Mitzvah Day at my shul: The idea is that people go and do something as a social-action mitzvah, and then they're motivated to do more. Because if it's just ONE DAY that they're engaged in that way, then that's a tragedy ... even though it IS nice that they did something for one day, and that's good, but it's not enough. If Judaism has taught me anything, it's that it's OK for God on the subject of mitzvot, social action and creating love and freedom in the world to constantly say, "Y'know what? That's great, but it's NOT ENOUGH. Keep working and get back to me." You're done when you're dead. Let's hope days like this inspire people to do more, because a 3-day festival ain't shit if it doesn't radiate goodness, if it doesn't change people. You're having the most amazing experiences in Jerusalem. The argument that people don’t have a right to comment on events around them is always a slippery slope into what constitutes an authentic participant or commentator on any event. Say what you want.

I deeply appreciate your hesitancy to comment on a situation that, largely, doesn’t affect you in a direct way. Leftist, touchy-feely get-togethers can be sort of dopey, but maybe somebody’s heart does get changed and they go on to do something else. Like Mitzvah Day at my shul: The idea is that people go and do something as a social-action mitzvah, and then they’re motivated to do more. Because if it’s just ONE DAY that they’re engaged in that way, then that’s a tragedy … even though it IS nice that they did something for one day, and that’s good, but it’s not enough.

If Judaism has taught me anything, it’s that it’s OK for God on the subject of mitzvot, social action and creating love and freedom in the world to constantly say, “Y’know what? That’s great, but it’s NOT ENOUGH. Keep working and get back to me.”

You’re done when you’re dead.

Let’s hope days like this inspire people to do more, because a 3-day festival ain’t shit if it doesn’t radiate goodness, if it doesn’t change people.

You’re having the most amazing experiences in Jerusalem.

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