"To be a teacher in the right sense is to be a learner.  I am not a teacher, only a fellow student."  (Soren Kierkegaard)

As you read these words I am off to Nicaragua (Managua and Jinotega) to participate in a medical mission (12/2-12/11) . This mission is a joint effort of members from our Beth Sholom family, St. Paul Lutheran Church in Pine Grove Mills, PA (State College) and the University of Michigan Hospital in Ann Arbor, MI.

The nurse, nurse practitioners, physician’s assistant, and physician will see patients in a clinic near Jinotega (near the mountains) and Lake Apanas for 4 days (Monday-Thursday) . This talented crew includes Amy Hertz, Mindy Lipson, and Rhonda Brody. Each of us will be assigned an interpreterter. Beyond the honored calling of schlepping medical supplies, other team members include a pharmacist, a lab person, an artist who will be our historian (Robin Salant, fellow student of Torah from Midtown), an educator, a melodica-playing Rabbi (I really wanted to squeeze in the squeezebox...small, but not small enough! But a melodica makes pretty cool music and is a lot more practical), a computer person (Russell Scheinberg), a social worker (team leader) and a PhD student (Aaron Joyal). The non-medical team members will provide entertainment, check clients into the clinic and obtain a medical history and vital signs for each patient. One other bit I'll be doing as the team Rabbi - in the evenings when we return from doing clinic I'll be facilitating some learning around texts connected to responsibility and tikkun olam; some wonderful material from the American Jewish World Service (check out toranon1foot.org - great website).

After our first night at a hotel in Managua, we will be staying at 2 different orphanges- the first one is in Jinotega where we will stay for the next 6 nights (houses older children ages 6-16 & is an hour away from the clinic) and then we will travel and stay at the Los Cedros orphanage (younger children- babies and toddlers) which is nearer Managua and the beach (off the coast of the Pacific Ocean) for free time, Shabbat services, debriefing, shopping  (pottery studio , etc.), and a bit of R&R before returning home.
 
Shabbat morning Dec 3 we will visit the local Jewish Cemetery accompanied by our new friends Mr. and Mrs. Gerald Smith... they will give us a rich history lesson, we'll have a short Shabbat service, and we'll be on our way to Jinotega.  On Friday Dec 9th as we work our way back to Managua with a picturesque lunch stop and pottery studio visits.. we are invited to a Friday night Shabbat Dinner in the city of Granada-- about 30 Jewish folks are living in Granada and the President of the Congregation has invited us all to dinner with his congregation too!!  Very exciting to connect with Jews in Nicaragua! Who are they, where do they come from, how do they nurture their sense of Jewishness?

We are bringing all the medical supplies including medications.  All of the supplies, plus some of the wish list items for each orphanage (formula, shoes, clothes, etc.) are be packed in several very large plastic storage bins about the size of a duffel bag; these bins will count as a second piece of luggage for each of the Memphis team members. We are all looking forward to the trip - getting to know each other and sharing a unique experience and doing a bit of world-mending. Some perspective: Haiti is the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere. Nicaragua comes in at #2.

As a rabbi, I decided to go because I have the strong feeling that my fellow team members and I will learn some important things, lessons that aren't gleaned from opening books - teachings that that make their way into opened hearts. While this mission is not an official shul activity, I thought it was important to share this with you for a few reasons. First of all, a few of our members are here together. Secondly, here is a powerful expression of social action, and an exciting partnership between Jews and Christians planting the seeds of hope. Thankfully, the spirit of Rabbi Tarfon (2nd Century sage) is tagging along, gently reminding us that while the need we will encounter is staggering - it's about doing our part. Teams have gone to Jinotega before us and, hopefully, many future missions will follow. I feel tremendously honored and blessed to be a part of this awesome sacred opportunity. In the second paragraph of the Aleinu we read the phrase 'letaken olam b'malchut shaddai - to fix the world under the dominion of God...' How do we do that? One can of food in the bin at a time, one medical mission at a time, so many opportunities for all of us to make a difference. Please pray for the success of our efforts.