TikkunKnits Shoes: a virtual walk for peace

Slippers and shoes (and Kureyon tea cozies) were an obsession over the past few years. I’ve practically memorized the Fibertrends Clogs pattern, and gone through a couple of table top washers (our household machine is a front-loader), making the two dozen pairs distributed to family, friends and charity auctions.
Then we had the extraordinary opportunity [...]

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Going Green: reduce, reuse, recycle

Reduce or Reuse
Jewish tradition clearly prohibits wasteful consumption of resources, which violates the mitzvah (duty) of Bal tashchit (“Do not destroy”), Deuteronomy 20: 19-20. No doubt about it, this is a serious challenge to many of us interested in needle arts. We frequently have far too much of the stuff of [...]

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Starting Green: environment & the tikkunknitter

What are the possibilities for tikkunknitting? For pursuing tikkun olam through practical or creative needlework?
I’ve always wondered why it seemed so difficult for many to incorporate tikkun olam seamlessly into their lives. Most Jews profess that Judaism is a way of life, a set of values and behaviors that are right, [...]

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Inspiring Tikkunism: knittivism & the pink tank

knittivism: n 1 a doctrine emphasising vigorous or militant knitting activity, e.g. the use of knitting in mass demonstrations, urban interventions, in controversial, unusual or challenging ways, esp political, causes. 2 the systematic use of knitting for political ends. knittivist n and adj
 
“Make Knits Not War” … A while back I stumbled across the virtual [...]

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Powder Room Posts: doing something

 
When our sons were very small and prone to demonstrating the limits of their emotions, we encouraged them to exercise their juvenile right to temper tantrums – in the special space of their bedrooms. When they were a bit older, and interested in exploring all manner of scatalogical talk and expletives, we encouraged them to [...]

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Pursuing Peace: repairing the information gap

“Of all the commandments, peacemaking is the only one that we are required to rush after to achieve, as we learn: ‘Seek peace and pursue it.’ (ps. 34:15)” – Midrash Vayikra Rabbah 9:9
One who is able to protest against a wrong that is being done in his family, his city, his nation or the [...]

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Tikkun Olam: beginning the work

Tikkun olam: {te-kün o-lam} to heal, repair and transform the world (Hebrew)
“This was a favorite teaching of his [Rabbi Tarfon]: You are not obligated to finish the task, neither are you free to neglect it.” – Pirkei Avot (The Wisdom of the Fathers), 2:21
So I’m putting an end to procrastination about “going public”. Is [...]

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