According to a classic Jewish teaching, the world stands on a tripod of study, worship/work, and caring actions. Under ordinary circumstances, our communities tend to run on the two legs of study and worship/work. The third leg of caring actions is usually shortened to save time.
Yet caring actions represent the only "leg" that can support us reliably over the long term. This is reflected in another classic teaching about a man who approached the sage Hillel, and asked to be taught the entire Torah while standing on one foot.
Hillel's response was decisive: "What is hateful to you, do not do to your counterpart. That is the entire Torah. The rest is commentary — go and learn!"
Hillel's response was decisive: "What is hateful to you, do not do to your counterpart. That is the entire Torah. The rest is commentary — go and learn!"
On the 15th anniversary of tragedies that shook our cities, our nations and our world, we remember when caring actions moved just as decisively to the forefront of our concern. In the hours, days and weeks that followed September 11th, 2001, we showed up; we volunteered; we shared; we sang; we grieved; we comforted. We bore witness and sustained each other "on one foot" of the tripod.
This 15th anniversary of 9/11/01 calls us to reconfigure our global tripod — perhaps as a tricycle, in order to move forward more effectively. The tricycle actually evolved from the first wheelchair, invented by a disabled 17th-century watchmaker named Stephan Farffler.
Can we reorganize our communities to move with caring actions as our leading wheel, while the two wheels of study and worship/work move back to supporting roles?
If we accept this challenge, we may find ourselves moving more slowly and mindfully through a frenzied world — and also more surely on the paths of kindness and justice. LEARN MORE