Tikvah means Hope

I’ve had a credo for a long time that guided my actions: “I live to serve.”  Helping others and trying to add meaning to my life was important to me. I consciously followed a basic tenet of Judaism called Tikkun Olam, translated means to repair the world and leave it better than you found it. I started volunteering in high school at a state institution for severely disabled adults. Some of you may remember Willowbrook, the state institution whose exposure made Geraldo Rivera famous. The conditions were horrific. I’ll never forget walking into a ward where a number of residents were walking around naked, peeing on the floor ,no tables or chairs, no games or books, and the employees sitting in a room separated by a window looking into the room.  Though at the time it seemed our work was futile, I still felt I was making a difference. That experience led me to a career in special education with which I taught for a number of years.

After moving to California, I went into corporate learning and development. I still found meaning in my work but felt I needed to do something for a broader community.  Besides volunteering for political campaigns, I started volunteering at my temple, called Congregation B’nai Tikvah.  Tikvah means hope. I started by rejuvenating the brotherhood group. Then I followed my passion and started a house band we called the Tikvah Tones.

Though that work was satisfying, it wasn’t until I joined the board at Holden high school that I felt I could make a difference.  Holden is an alternative school for adolescents who were failing the public education system. My oldest son was one of those kids.  We were a bit desperate when we found Holden.  They worked miracles with him as with all of their students. My son got his diploma and continued his education.  Since then I referred a few others to Holden, all who did very well.

I was so grateful to the school, I wanted to pay it forward. I joined their  board of trustees at a time of financial challenges for them.  After a year or so,  I became board president for a number of tough financial years.   Those years were gratifying even though I felt we were often on the verge of closure due to low enrollment. Unfortunately during my watch I wasn’t able to make a big difference on the fiduciary side, but I believe I at least kept a vision and sense of hope alive.  Now, seven years later, there is full enrollment with a waiting list and they are financially healthy.

By paying it forward, sometimes you don’t get to see what your labors produce in the short term.  I read about the first Peace Corps volunteers in Nepal.  A few of them planted some apple trees in the hope they propagate. Well, 50 years later, apple orchards are everywhere.

After Holden, I went on to become the president of the board of my temple, B’nai  Tikvah.  The name means Community of Hope. As president,  I had the privilege of helping our rabbi of 33 years retire and hire a new one.  I also presided over a shrinking membership and reduced revenue.  I tried new approaches to fundraising,  focusing the board’s attention on innovative ways to bring new members,  and above all,  keep a sense of hope for the future.  It’s a tough job to take on, given the constant demands by different people who have their opinions of how to run a temple.  I used to joke at the temple blood drive that I have no more blood to give so good luck finding any in me.  But all told,  it was a labor of love.  I cared about the community and they cared right back.  Now four years later,  I’m getting back so much more than I gave. Since my diagnosis, the love that has come from the community has been incredible . I didn’t know what difference I made until sometime after when congregants I hardly knew would come over to me at services to provide wonderful feedback.

Paying forward has really reaped such incredible benefits for me. It’s all  the more sweet because I never had any expectations for return.  My passion was to serve,  which was my reward. Everything else is alchemy, turning my desire into gold. This is how I worship and live my faith.

More to come…