01-26-CJN | Page 30

The Charlotte Jewish News- Janurary 2026- Page 30

Kids Corner

Little Hands, Big Hearts: Embracing Tikkun Olam on Martin Luther King Jr. Day

By Sara Solar
Martin Luther King Jr. Day falls on Jan. 19 this year. Dr. King, and the day that honors him, provides a wonderful opportunity to introduce your children to the Jewish value of tikkun olam or repairing the world. Dr. King’ s tireless work for civil rights embodies the idea of helping others for the greater good.
Even young children can make a meaningful difference. Start with small acts of loving kindness at home. Encourage your children to recycle, turn off the water while brushing their teeth, or help plant a tree or flowers in the backyard. Children naturally want to help, so use these opportunities to talk about why taking care of our planet is important.
Once your family has begun practicing tikkun olam at home, you can expand these acts of kindness to reach your community. Participate in a park cleanup, donate goods to a food bank, or volunteer at your local animal shelter.
Talking about tikkun olam can also lead to a discussion about mitzvot or good deeds. This new year, consider setting a family resolution to perform a mitzvah once a month, allowing your children to help decide where and how they want to contribute.
One of my favorite books to share with children is Mitzvah Pizza by Sarah Lynn Scheerger. The story follows a girl named Missy, who learns about performing a mitzvah after visiting a pizza shop that uses a“ pay it forward” system. Through her experience, Missy discovers how even small acts of kindness can have a meaningful impact on others.
As Dr. King wrote in his book
Strength to Love,“ Life’ s most persistent and urgent question is: What are you doing for others?” Let his words inspire you and your children to think about ways to repair our world. Grab a pizza, read Mitzvah Pizza, and start spreading kindness together!
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