Charlie Belenky is calling on progressive Jews in Memphis to coalesce around a cause: promoting mishpat (justice for all), and tikun olam (repairing the environment).
This as yet unnamed Chavurah is open to members of all congregations as well as the unaffiliated and non-observant. It’s part of a county-wide initiative and will not focus exclusively on East Memphis, or on Midtown. The goal is to include people of all ages and walks of life who share a desire to advance the principles of democratic pluralism, religious freedom, and social and economic justice.
It will coordinate with many of the organizations already hard at work on the specific issues, such as NOW, NAACP, Sierra Club, and the International Rescue Committee, supporting and co-sponsoring their events and initiatives. Another focus will be on establishing a left-right dialog within the Jewish community.
It will enable people to collectively assert their Jewish identity while participating in community-wide activities, like tree-plating, neighborhood clean-ups, and advocating for the environment, peace, and on behalf of those in need.
The inaugural meeting of the new group will be held this coming Wednesday, February 1, at 6:00 P.M. in the MJCC lobby. There will be at least one more meeting before Passover.
Charlie is a recent transplant in Memphis, having relocated here after his retirement as a lawyer in California. Upon settling in, he’s been quick to make the most of his time in Memphis. Before Thanksgiving last year, he wrote a post about his decision to move to Memphis, a city to which he had no previous connection. He wrote:
“For me retirement is not about unlimited leisure. In Memphis I am part of the Jewish community, which the anonymity of both big city living and endless travel hinder. Everyone knows of everyone and there is a sense of belonging both within your chosen shul and as part of the larger community whatever your level of observance (or non-observance).
But more important, Memphis is a place with many challenges and there is important work to be done here to heal the world (Tikun Olam). Whether you see it as poverty, race, crime, segregation, environmental or economic justice there are good people engaged in the work who are overjoyed to have you lend an oar help move the boat.”