Serpent-like tongues of orange and blue and then red hot, ravaged and annihilated everything in its path. The Holocaust, Painted Fire, the ominous inferno that swallowed up humanity.

In recent years I have been able to see another painted fire emanating from this horror, a fire that glows and crackles with hope.

Like the pillar of fire and pillar of smoke characterized in the biblical book of Exodus, the guiding spirit through the desert leading into the Promised Land another pillar of incandescent embers is poking us, prodding us.  To me, that guiding spirit is the concept of Tikkun Olam, a principal of Judaism, which means
acts of loving kindness to help repair the world.  Today, more than ever, we need the lessons of the Shoah as catalysts providing momentum to affect change.  Whether you are Muslim, Christian or Jewish - 'social actions' and 'social justice' to better our world are equal to all.  

Burning Question to ponder, discuss, resolved, and pledge to help repair this world.

Elsa Wachs