Rabbi Min on Derech Eretz

Basic Jewish Value #11:  The mission statement of Jewish Family Service of New Mexico reads: “Guided by Jewish values, we offer targeted social services that help preserve and improve the quality of life for New Mexicans.” What are these Jewish values? How do they help guide the day-to-day work that we do at JFS? When new employees join the staff of JFS, they are introduced to eighteen of these basic Jewish values.

The Jewish value of derech eretz refers to acting with proper respect, consideration and kindness, and practicing common decency. A person with these characteristics is known in Yiddish as a “mensch”. A mensch is a particularly good person with the qualities one would hope for in a dear friend or trusted colleague.

A mensch is someone to admire and emulate someone of noble character. The key to being 'a real mensch' is nothing less than character, dignity, and a sense of what is right, responsible, and decorous.

Jewish Family Service staff are called upon to act this way every day, especially when dealing with some clients whose life problems may seem insurmountable to them, resulting in impatience, anger or overwhelming sadness. In all JFS programs, staff members often have to dig deep into their own emotional resourcefulness in order to respond to the needs of challenging clients while respecting their dignity and honoring the difficulties of their life situations with courtesy.

Rabbi Min Kantrowitz
Director, Jewish Community Chaplaincy Program

Los Alamos Jewish Community Needs Help

Update 3 - Los Alamos Las Conchas Wildfire:  A wildfire continues to threaten Los Alamos and the surrounding communities. People in the Los Alamos Jewish community (and others, of course) may need assistance.

As of about 6:00 pm, KOB and other news sources report that

• The fire has grown to almost 70,000 acres.
• The entire town of Los Alamos has been evacuated.
• The wildfire is about 3% contained.
• LANL will remain closed until further notice.
• Gov. Susana Martinez is declaring a state of emergency in New Mexico regarding the use of fireworks.
  

If you are able to help, please contact
Rabbi Jack Shlachter
of the Los Alamos Jewish Center
(505) 500-2668

At last report, Rabbi Jack is in Santa Fe to coordinate any assistance needs for the Los Alamos Jewish community. The needs are unknown right now, but may include housing and other short-term support.

Additional ways to help include:

• Chabad of New Mexico (in Albuquerque) invites all evacuees to Shabbat Dinner, this Friday Evening, July 1st, 2011, at Chabad of New Mexico, 4000 San Pedro NE, Albuquerque, NM.  Please RSVP for the Friday night dinner to 505-880-1181, or email chaim@chabadnm.org.
• Help Los Alamos Website: http://helplosalamos.com/
• Facebook page for prospective volunteers: https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=185907981465459
• American Red Cross in New Mexico: http://redcrossalbq.org/index.php?pr=Donate

Los Alamos Jewish Community Needs Help

Update 2 - Los Alamos Wildfire:  A wildfire is threatening Los Alamos and the surrounding communities. People in the Los Alamos Jewish community (and others, of course) may need assistance.

As of 8:25 pm, KOB states that

• The fire has grown to over 60,000 acres.
• The entire town of Los Alamos was evacuated by 7:20 p.m. Monday after receiving reverse 911 calls.
• LANL will remain closed at least through Wednesday.

If you are able to help, please contact
Rabbi Jack Shlachter
of the Los Alamos Jewish Center
(505) 500-2668

At last report, Rabbi Jack is in Santa Fe (LANL is shut down at least through Wednesday) to coordinate any assistance needs for the Los Alamos Jewish community. The needs are unknown right now, but may include housing and other short-term support.