People are Suffering... Just Not Here, Right?

Last night, I attended an event through an organization called This World, run by Rabbi Shmuley Boteach. Originally, the title of the event was, “Why does G-d Allow Good People to Suffer?” However, they changed it to, “Where was G-d in Haiti?”

The people who spoke – Rabbi Shmuley, author Marianne Williamson and Pastor David Beck, along with moderator David Suissa – all had fascinating things to say that were heartfelt and meaningful. However, I did notice something as we were talking about suffering and how G-d makes us suffer: They were reluctant to mention the pain and suffering here in the United States.

When I got furious and asked them about this, I was addressed with, “We never said that,” and the point was quietly and quickly dismissed. Perhaps I was filled with angst, partially because I didn’t have much of dinner. But the fact of the matter was that I had to say it. How can you be so concerned about the suffering of people you don’t know when the people sitting right next to you are struggling to even afford groceries? I may have seemed like I was getting carried away, but I had to say it.

Ari pointed out to me that yes, many countries across the world have more problems and difficulties than we do here as Americans. But the fact of the matter is that we are not helping people in our own backyard. All over America, people are losing their jobs and homes. They are unable to get proper medical care. Americans are falling apart.

Marianne pointed out when she was speaking that, as Americans, when an emergency happens, we roll up our sleeves and make sure to get involved and help. And yet, with the day-to-day problems of the world, such as the starvation of children all over, we turn a blind eye.

Yes, but I think there’s a worse thing that we turn a blind eye to: We ignore the suffering in the world around us, in our own backyards. We give hundreds of thousands of dollars to aid in Israel, in Africa, Chile, Haiti and other countries throughout the world. Yet there are people in America that are starving and people who are struggling to survive.

There are great organizations here, such as family services, food banks, soup kitchens, health care clinics and more in our own neighborhoods that could use the help and donations that people are willing to offer. They are strapped for cash and provide services that members of our own communities need. In many recent crises, many of these places haven’t been getting the money they need – and, in the Jewish community, lots of these different organizations lost a ton of money to a horrible man you may have heard of, named Bernie Madoff. It's years later, and they are still struggling to survive.

Many times, when you hear of people giving charity, it’s for organizations far away. In fact, the donation seems to be done far away from the problem – think about the different charity balls that are hosted for causes. Do people usually see what they’re supporting in their fancy garb and eating delicious food, while others are going hungry?

Ari was telling me last night that Jews believe in “repairing the world,” so therefore we help everyone, and our healing should never be limited. I agree, that we should give as much as we can. But what do we do when we heal everyone else, but your next-door neighbor is in desperate need? How can we claim to heal the world if we can’t heal our own worlds where we live?

I think people should try it. Go and work at a local soup kitchen. Give food to a person with a sign off of a freeway. Treat your neighbors with dignity and respect – heck, if you want to, make them some cookies or something. Relieving suffering should start at home. As a lady last night said to me when I told her about my issue with this, “You should clean up your own backyard first.” And sometimes, this means taking care of yourself before taking care of everyone else – after all, how can you truly help the world if you can’t help yourself first?

There is a phrase, I’m not sure where it comes from, but it says something such as, “Charity begins at home.” Giving should start here, in America, where people who you may not be able to see need help the most. Think about this next time you ask someone, “How are you?” Ask them how they really are. It’s a place to start.

There’s no recipe today, but here are some song lyrics as food for thought. This song is probably one of my favorites by Michael Jackson. He didn’t write it, but the lyrics say a lot:

I'm Gonna Make A Change

For Once In My Life

It's Gonna Feel Real Good

Gonna Make A Difference

Gonna Make It Right...

As I Turn Up The Collar On

My Favorite Winter Coat

This Wind Is Blowin' My Mind

I See The Kids In The Street

With Not Enough To Eat

Who Am I, To Be Blind?

Pretending Not To See Their Needs

A Summer's Disregard

A Broken Bottle Top

And A One Man's Soul

They Follow Each Other On

The Wind Ya' Know

'Cause They Got Nowhere To Go

That's Why I Want You To Know

I'm Starting With The Man In The Mirror

I'm Asking Him To Change His Ways

And No Message Could Have Been Any Clearer

If You Wanna Make The World A Better Place

Take A Look At Yourself, And Then Make A Change

I've Been A Victim Of

A Selfish Kind Of Love

It's Time That I Realize

That There Are Some With No Home

Not A Nickel To Loan

Could It Be Really Me

Pretending That They're Not Alone?

A Willow Deeply Scarred

Somebody's Broken Heart

And A Washed-Out Dream

They Follow The Pattern Of

The Wind, Ya' See

Cause They Got No Place To Be

That's Why I'm Starting With Me

I'm Starting With The Man In The Mirror

I'm Asking Him To Change His Ways

And No Message Could Have Been Any Clearer

If You Wanna Make The World A Better Place

Take A Look At Yourself And Then Make A Change

I'm Starting With The Man In The Mirror

I'm Asking Him To Change His Ways

And No Message Could've Been Any Clearer

If You Wanna Make The World A Better Place

Take A Look At Yourself And Then Make That...

Change!

I'm Starting With The Man In The Mirror

I'm Asking Him To Change His Ways

No Message Could Have Been Any Clearer

If You Wanna Make The World A Better Place

Take A Look At Yourself And Then Make The Change

You Gotta Get It Right, While You Got The Time

'Cause When You Close Your Heart

Then You Close Your...Mind!