Why do I say, “Hineni” — “Here I am” — when it comes to Milwaukee Jewish Federation service? I believe two classic teachings coalesce in illustrating my pull.
Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi, the founder of Chabad Chasidism, emphasized that every Jewish soul is an actual portion of G-dliness. As he states in his book the Tanya, “Because they all have one Father, therefore all Jews are called veritable brothers because of the root of their souls in the One G-d. Only their bodies are separate.”
If we are all rooted in the one G-d, the more we focus on our souls and on our common links, the better we will be able to fulfill the commandments concerning relations between people.
I enjoy MJF work because it gives me an opportunity to look beyond any inauthentic differences and connect in a real way with my veritable brothers. The MJF offers a forum to bring Jews together, Jews with whom I might not otherwise get to interact.
It gives me the chance to see many unique faces and hear many unique voices. And it gives me many opportunities to fulfill commandments about human relations.
Connecting with the other souls to whom I’m intrinsically bound, alone, makes MJF work totally worthwhile. It brings me closer to my Source.
We’re a much better people when we stick together. As so beautifully stated in Psalm 133:1, “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity.” Our oneness as a people and as a community of souls is far greater than our differences.
Joshua Richman is executive director of RUACH, Inc., a Jewish arts and arts education organization; a member of Congregation Beth Jehudah; and a past winner of the Milwaukee Jewish Federation’s Benjamin E. Nickoll Young Leadership Award.
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