So here is the challenge: write an article about a TBA
Social Justice Team meeting and not make it sound like meeting notes. Okay, let's give it a shot.
Our second meeting started with our fearless facilitator,
Rabbi Stern, reading a passage from Alice Walker: "It was June Jordan who
wrote 'We are the one we have been waiting for.' We are the ones we've been
waiting for because we are able to see what is happening with much greater
awareness than our parents or grandparents, or ancestors could see." With the intent of
helping us see the opportunity in front of us, the Rabbi's reading was met a
range of reactions, from overt head nods to quiet anticipation.
In these formative stages of the Social Justice Team, we are
sifting through brainstormed lists of social injustices that exists in our
world - lists that are all too long. I
think we have two early goals. The first
is to identify a single issue that this team to engage. And just as importantly, the second goal is
to build a shared vision of what kinds
of activities are doable and how impactful those activities may be.
The first goal is tough.
From violence to discrimination to inequalities, there are so many
potential topics that need more of society's attention and action. How can we possibly narrow our focus to one
issue? The task seems daunting, but
Rabbi Stern has a process. We brainstorm
topics then we each individually or with family members evaluate and rank these
based our own perceptions of which issues we think are important and which
issues we think we can make a difference.
Fulfilling this goal spurs thoughtful discussion where everyone is heard
(by the way, it is not late for more voices to be heard if you can join the next
meeting).
Our second goal, creating a shared vision for what this
Social Justice Team can do, is equally challenging but in a different way. This discussion revolves around the desire to
create realistic, measureable and achievable objectives. Understandably it is hard to create
objectives when we don't know our issue yet.
On the other hand, we are asked to evaluate these issues with a lens
that asks us what can we be successful without yet defining what success is. This time we had thoughtful conversation on
what 'doability' means.
So after two meetings, the TBA Social Justice Team finds
itself on a journey. Deciding what the
Social Justice Team want to do will take patience, openness, discussion and
resolve. Whether we identify an issue
that affects people on an individual by individual basis or an issue that
impacts an entire community, it is clear that this team and this congregation
has an exciting and awesome opportunity to make a difference.
For those who have
attended these meetings, I hope you too will share your thoughts. For those who have yet to attend, I hope you
will share your thoughts as well. Leave
your comments and advance our dialogue.
