September Message from the New Lawyer Division Board
Schwartz Semerdjian
Shanah Tovah/Happy Jewish New Year, all!! Jews around the world just celebrated the New Year with apples and honey, and kicked off our season of holidays (of which there are many coming up!) After the new year, I generally like to reflect on what I hope to accomplish in the coming year, as many people, both Jewish and goyim, tend to do. However, this time around, I am making a conscious effort to not focus on what I can accomplish, but on how I want to feel by next year.
In Judaism, one of the core values we are taught is “tikkun olam”, which roughly translates to “repairing the world.” It is in the spirit of tikkun olam that many charity drives are organized, and many volunteer projects are planned. When we practice tikkun olam, we are taught not to focus on what you are doing, but on how you are doing it—with compassion, love, respect, dignity etc.
However, sometimes I find myself feeling that I am going through the motions of tikkun olam only for myself—to make myself feel good about volunteering, not for the benefit of the people I am supposed to be helping—and I realize that is not how I want to feel. I am sure many of us have felt this way before. We work very hard on a daily basis, and sometimes do not have much more to give outside of work, our families, and other responsibilities. We do what we can do, and that is amazing! But if you find yourself feeling like me, wanting to give a little more, in a way that focuses more on the community rather than yourself, I urge you to join me in thinking about how you can give, not just what you can do. Every action matters.
Smile at a stranger, buy lunch for the person behind you in the drive-through, close the office early on a Friday so that everyone gets a little more time to spend with their families and friends. Tikkun olam is not one dimensional. For those that donate food or toiletries for people in need—thank you, we need that. For those that donate their free time to mentor students—thank you, we need that too! And for those that want to find a different way to practice tikkun olam, consider signing up to be an Attorney Supervisor for University of San Diego’s Name and Gender Marker Change Clinic!
USD’s Name and Gender Marker Change Clinic helps transgender folks file a petition to change their name and/or gender marker with the Court. Many people do not have access to legal services, and the court system is confusing. The Clinic helps make one facet of the process easier, by filling out those forms for clients and explaining the process to change your name and/or gender in California. Law students run the clinic and fill out the forms, and attorneys supervise the process and answer any questions clients may have. The New Lawyer’s Division will be doing a takeover of the November 10th Clinic, from 6-8pm on Zoom. If you are interested in volunteering as an Attorney Supervisor, look out for the link to sign up in the coming days! A training will be held for new attorney volunteers on October 7th, as well.
I know I have turned this post into an advertisement for our next event, but it is still about tikkun olam, I promise! I was a former chair of the clinic, and I have never felt more joy, empathy, compassion, or respect than when I was working with the clinic. I respected the individuals who bravely chose and still choose to put their true selves out in the open in a scary, and often unwelcoming, world. I felt compassion and empathy for our clients and for my colleagues who helped run the clinic and make the service a reality for so many people. And I feel a profound sense of joy knowing that every time another person decides to embrace exactly who they are, the world is better for it.
No matter what you do to practice tikkun olam, try to focus less on the what and more on the how—how you are treating others, how the work makes you feel, and, most importantly, how the work makes others feel. I promise that your work will be much more fulfilling that way. And if you are looking to try something new, sign up for the clinic! Repairing the world happens one person at a time.
With love,
Riley
