Written By: Sam Aaron
When I was asked if I would be interested in writing a blog post for the AishLit community, I was thrilled. Why? Because I love this community and any opportunity that I have to give back to this community gives me a sense of fulfillment. It really does feel good to give something back, especially when you’ve received so much. And that, in-and-of-itself, is a beautiful thing. I guess we as human beings are programmed to not only take, but also to give. And that’s part of the reason that I’m writing this blog post with such a sense of fulfillment.
So let’s talk about some of the great experiences that I‘ve had and also things that I’ve learned from the AishLit community that have spurred me to want to give back so much. These things can range from the forging of relationships, to wonderful social experiences, to notable amounts of personal growth that I’ve personally experienced. One such example of personal growth was the integration of Tzedakah into my life. For those of you who do not know what “Tzedakah” is, it’s a Hebrew word meaning “justice” or “righteousness”, but commonly used to signify charity. So, for now, let’s think of Tzedakah as, quite simply, an act of charity. Before coming to AishLit and meeting with Rabbi Jack and his wonderfully friendly wife Shira, I didn’t have a strong sense of charity. I mean, I would do small things such as keep granola bars in my car for homeless people whenever I see hungry people on the street…but I never had a large sense of charity in my life that would make profound differences in the world. AishLit has changed that. Now, I try to give so much more than just granola to those in need. I made a pact (based off of what I learned at AishLit) to donate substantial amounts of money to various charitable causes. Now THAT’S making a difference. A lot more difference than what some granola can do.
If you haven’t had an opportunity to spend some time with Jack and Shira, I urge you to get up and do it NOW. You’ll quickly gain a community, new friends, different positive outlooks on life, and knowledge that you didn’t possess previously. And anybody would tell you that these things can really enrich one’s life.