Rosh HaShanah Thoughts On Public Service

Rosh HaShanah Thoughts On Public Service

The last two months has left our City in pain, in confusion and has increased the growing distrust of elected officials in our community and nation. It makes us all wonder why anyone would enter public service as a public official and face the negative attacks, distrust and lack of privacy that surrounds elected office.

On this Rosh HaShanah, let me offer the concept of "Tikkun Olam" as a platform for healing, for moving our city forward and for helping us all recover from our negative views of public servants we may have developed as a result of recent events.

Tikkun Olam is a Hebrew phrase that means "repairing the world" (or "healing the world") which suggests humanity's shared responsibility to heal, repair and transform the world. As Jews, we are called upon to “Repair our World”, Tikkun Olam. Tikkun Olam has always been one of my favorite Jewish concepts ever since I converted to Judaism more than 20 years ago.

I know that Tikkun Olam was in my mind when I decided to run for public office two years ago and I try to keep it in my mind as I do my work to improve public education in our community as a new member of the Community College Board. And, I know that Tikkun Olam is in the hearts of our best elected officials as they do their work on the City Council, our Board of Supervisors, on school boards, in Sacramento and in Washington. I loved that Todd Gloria’s first thing he did as Interim Mayor was to call his parents, who he said taught him to leave things better than how he found them. That’s practicing Tikkun Olam.

For those of us who live in San Diego, it is Tikkun Olam that we should look for as we select a new Mayor in November. I will look for a Mayor that can “Repair” our city and who can promote a social policy agenda that protects those who are disadvantaged.

Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, in his book “To Heal a Fractured World”, tells us that: “We are here to make a difference, to mend the fractures of the world, a day at a time, an act at a time, for as long as it takes to make the world a place of justice and compassion, where the lonely are not alone, where the poor not without help...”

Rabbi Sacks argues that in today’s religious and political climate, it is more important than ever to return to the essential understanding that “it is by our deeds that we express our faith and make it real in the lives of others and the world. Our life is a journey and that our small acts, day by day can mend fractures in the world.” He also reminds us that “happiness, as opposed to pleasure, is a matter of a life well lived, one that honors the important, not just the urgent.”

From this book and from other books about the concept of happiness like the “Happiness Manifesto by Nic Marks, we are reminded that our life satisfaction increases with altruistic activity, according to one study by as much as 24%! Several studies have shown that the best predictor of happiness is the sense that you have purpose in your life. So it is through public service, through Tikkun Olam, that we can become a better and a happier community.

 On this Rosh HaShanah, I hope that all of us, of all religious faiths, will come to value public service and remember that it comes in all sizes and shapes and is different for each of us. I am grateful to be given the opportunity for public service. I am grateful to be able to translate my passion for education into small day by day actions that may help others gain a better education so that they can in turn help repair our world.

I am hopeful that on this Rosh HaShanah, that the few scandalous stories about fallen elected officials do not turn us negative toward public servants and public service. If we can keep the spirit of Tikkun Olam in our hearts and look for that spirit in those who serve us in elected office, we can move forward to “Repair our World” and our city. L’Shanah Tovah.