Sunday, 1 May 2011

Guest Commentary: Empowering women key to healing Cambodia

Courtesy Micah Greenstein
Rabbi Micah Greenstein shares a meal with students of the Harpswell Foundation's leadership center in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

http://www.commercialappeal.com/

via CAAI

By Micah Greenstein, Special to The Commercial Appeal
Memphis Commercial Appeal
Posted April 30, 2011

Since I returned from Phnom Penh in January, I've been asked, "What's a nice Jewish guy like you doing helping Buddhist and Muslim girls in Cambodia?" My usual response: "Because this is what Jews are called to do."

Each of the world's great religions suggests a fundamental problem with the world and a solution to that problem. For Judaism, the predicament facing the world is brokenness -- the absence of shalom. Judaism's solution? Being God's partner by healing this broken world whenever and wherever possible.

It's called tikun olam, literally "the repair of the world." A lofty goal certainly, but one which requires recognizing the pain of humanity and bringing hope wherever one can. Even as an American Jew in Cambodia.

In January, I had the privilege of spending three days with students at the Harpswell Foundation's leadership center for university women in Cambodia's capital city.

My time there culminated with an Interfaith Symposium on Spirituality attended by members of the Jewish, Muslim and Buddhist communities in Cambodia, with guests from Bangkok to Boston. It was the first time Buddhist, Muslim and Jewish or Christian leaders had ever convened in Cambodia, and it was a sublime and unforgettable experience.

The Harpswell Foundation is a nonprofit organization founded by former Memphian Alan Lightman, the MIT professor and best-selling author. "When I was in Cambodia," Alan told me 12 years ago, "I met with the children of the survivors, and there is a unique determination and spirit to go on despite the odds."

As I heard Alan speak about the resilience, talents and desire of these children of Cambodia to survive, I couldn't help but think of the eerie parallel to the Jewish experience. Cambodia and Israel form the bookends of Asia, but the stories of the Cambodian people and Jewish people in the 20th Century are more than a matter of geography.

From 1975 to 1979, more than one in four Cambodians -- about 2 million people -- were exterminated by the Khmer Rouge. This genocide occurred only decades after the murder of 6 million Jews by Adolf Hitler and the Nazis. In 1945, the Jewish people shouted, "Never Again!" Thirty years later, the world let it happen again.

Cambodian men, women and children were tortured, forced to dig their own mass graves, then beaten to death with iron bars and hoes. Some were buried alive. The instigator of this genocide, Pol Pot, said to those he murdered, "To keep you is no benefit, to destroy you is no loss." Every Cambodian lost relatives and friends. Many lost their entire family. But what sadly distinguishes the Cambodia genocide is that educated people were singled out for extermination.

The mission of Lightman's Harpswell Foundation is to empower a new generation of women leaders in Cambodia and the developing world, specifically through housing, education and leadership training.

In January, I lectured and learned at the leadership center in Phnom Penh, two dormitories which provide a safe place for about three dozen women to live while they attend college. Harpswell believes that those educated women with the magnetism and creative vision to match constitute the most powerful force to bring about positive change in Southeast Asia's poorest country.

In a world filled with darkness, the Harpswell community in Cambodia is pure radiant light. These top female leaders whose parents somehow survived the genocide represent every part of the country and are the best hope for their nation. All have earned scholarships to colleges and universities. Many are the only female students in their fields and are already at the top of their class.

The girls at Harpswell truly believe that if they can become college-educated only years after living in squalor, anything is possible. They are the seed of a global movement to emancipate women and girls for the improvement of humankind.

While I was there, I thought of parallels to Memphis and the occasional words of hopelessness and despair heard from naysayers when it comes to finding solutions to our most pressing problems. Interestingly, these future Cambodian leaders in government and business who came from nothing expressed an interest and willingness to show our youth in Memphis what's possible when you follow a dream and work hard.

As a result, I am hopeful that my next visit to this global role model will result in strengthening the learning link between Cambodia and Memphis to help alleviate poverty, improve education, and elevate the plight of women from violence and fear to hope and optimism.

Tikun olam, the repair and healing of this world, mandates that we join hands with God as Abraham did, and respond to a world in pain. By putting out the fires of violence, ignorance and tyranny, we begin to build the kind of world God wants and needs us for in this lifetime.

Harpswell and Memphis are good places to start.

Micah Greenstein is senior rabbi of Temple Israel.

183 comments:

Anonymous said...

tramadol online tramadol 627 get high - tramadol 200

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol free shipping buy tramadol online saturday delivery - tramadol liver damage

Anonymous said...

tramadol online buy tramadol online usa pharmacy - tramadol 50 mg max dosage

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol buy tramadol nz - buy tramadol ultram ultracet online

Anonymous said...

ativan drug what is apo-lorazepam 1mg used for - ativan lorazepam overdose

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol buy tramadol next day delivery - tramadol yeast infection

Anonymous said...

buy klonopin can 1 mg of klonopin get you high - klonopin 4 weeks pregnant

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol online can you high tramadol - buy tramadol tennessee

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol online cod tramadol hcl time release - can take 2 tramadol 50 mg

Anonymous said...

tramadol 50 mg generic name tramadol - order tramadol with saturday delivery

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol online order ultram online no prescription - order tramadol online mastercard

Anonymous said...

buy lorazepam online ativan dosage duration - lorazepam online bestellen ohne rezept

Anonymous said...

ambien order online no prescription ambien side effects if you stay awake - generic ambien xr

Anonymous said...

tramadol online buy tramadol online echeck - tramadol 50mg vs 100mg

Anonymous said...

tramadol online buy tramadol echeck - tramadol dosage per pound

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol with mastercard buy generic tramadol no prescription - tramadol hcl while breastfeeding

Anonymous said...

order ambien online ambien side effects in elderly - order ambien online overnight

Anonymous said...

buy klonopin online klonopin side effects kidney - klonopin dosage mg

Anonymous said...

soma online cheap lunch soma san francisco - soma online discount code

Anonymous said...

buy ambien online what is ambien (zolpidem tartrate) used for - common dosage ambien

Anonymous said...

ativan online ativan uses and dosages - 4mg ativan high

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol online tramadol repeat order - tramadol dosage women

Anonymous said...

soma pills generic name soma muscle relaxer - do soma pills expire

Anonymous said...

tramadol generic tramadol for dogs in pain - buy tramadol hcl online

Anonymous said...

buy klonopin online klonopin for test anxiety - quitting clonazepam cold turkey

Anonymous said...

generic ambien ambien cr pill - ambien high how long does it last

Anonymous said...

order ambien online overnight ambien cr discount - ambien cr zolpidem er

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol mexico order tramadol with mastercard - tramadol 93 58

Anonymous said...

tramadol online 627 tramadol high - tramadol 50mg generic

Anonymous said...

buy klonopin online klonopin and drinking alcohol - much 2mg klonopin

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol cod fedex online pharmacy tramadol cheap - buy tramadol mastercard

Anonymous said...

ambien sleep medication ambien online us pharmacy - generic ambien ineffective

Anonymous said...

tramadol online tramadol 300 mg - buy tramadol without rx

Anonymous said...

buy lorazepam online 1mg lorazepam equivalent - ativan zoloft withdrawal

Anonymous said...

buy generic klonopin buy generic klonopin online - pictures of 2mg klonopin

Anonymous said...

buy viagra online cheap viagra usa - can you purchase viagra online

Anonymous said...

soma online soma yoga definition - buy soma online no prescription mastercard

Anonymous said...

buy generic viagra online overnight generic viagra samples - is the viagra you buy online real

Anonymous said...

order viagra overnight what does viagra for women do - cheap viagra from canada online

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol online tramadol 50 mg get you high - tramadol tylenol interaction

Anonymous said...

ambien 10mg ambien narcotic - ambien sleeping pill canada

Anonymous said...

ambien price where to buy ambien cheap - buy ambien pills online

Anonymous said...

order viagra online india buy viagra kolkata - how to buy viagra in canada

Anonymous said...

soma online soma fit - 350mg carisoprodol generic soma

Anonymous said...

discount klonopin buy cheap clonazepam online - klonopin overdose antidote

Anonymous said...

buy ambien online ambien cr withdrawal insomnia - ambien cr ( zolpidem tartrate)

Anonymous said...

buy viagra usa best online pharmacy viagra - buy viagra hcmc

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol generic ultram online - order tramadol without

Anonymous said...

cheap generic soma generic soma pill identification - soma muscle relaxer over the counter

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol online buy tramadol over the counter - tramadol que es

Anonymous said...

klonopin drug klonopin r33 - how many 2mg klonopin to get high

Anonymous said...

soma online buy soma online florida - generic soma medication

Anonymous said...

how to order viagra online safely buy viagra online cheap - buy viagra no prescription uk

Anonymous said...

buying viagra buy viagra costa rica - order viagra from canada

Anonymous said...

ambien pill retail price generic ambien - ambien generic headaches

Anonymous said...

generic carisoprodol generic soma online - soma bras cheap

Anonymous said...

cheap generic viagra viagra online bestellen ohne rezept - viagra buy in singapore

Anonymous said...

buy viagra buy viagra at walmart - buy viagra or cialis online

Anonymous said...

generic viagra online generic viagra купить - cheap viagra australia online

Anonymous said...

buy cheap tramadol lethal dose tramadol - tramadol withdrawal bloating

Anonymous said...

order viagra online without script viagra usage tips - viagra for women 2012

Anonymous said...

how to order viagra order viagra online canada - buy viagra tokyo

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol no prescription tramadol 100mg safe - mexican tramadol 100mg

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol 100mg generic tramadol buy - online purchase of tramadol

Anonymous said...

order viagra online overnight buy viagra bristol uk - buy viagra online overnight

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol online tramadol uses - is it ok to take 100mg of tramadol

Anonymous said...

buy propecia online long see results propecia - propecia category x

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol 100mg online tramadol tolerance - buy tramadol in usa

Anonymous said...

buy viagra online reviews generic viagra in stores - safe buy viagra online yahoo

Anonymous said...

order generic viagra generic viagra online uk co - 40 viagra 99

Anonymous said...

buy viagra online buy viagra online in india - online pharmacy viagra fast delivery

Anonymous said...

propecia drug propecia finasteride 1mg side effects - much does propecia cost month

Anonymous said...

tramadol cheap buy tramadol online usa - tramadol 50mg tablets price

Anonymous said...

cheap generic propecia generic propecia name - propecia dead

Anonymous said...

buy viagra 100mg buy viagra online with prescription - generic viagra online express shipping

Anonymous said...

can you buy cialis online buy eli lilly cialis - cialis daily or 36

Anonymous said...

buy viagra online pharmacy viagra online discover card - viagra vs birth control

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol online buy tramadol online us pharmacy - order tramadol online forum

Anonymous said...

buy propecia online buy generic propecia us - how much does propecia cost per month

Anonymous said...

tramadol online buy tramadol online usa - ok take 2 tramadol 50 mg

Anonymous said...

generic strattera strattera 40 mg cost - order strattera online

Anonymous said...

generic strattera strattera just like adderall - strattera side effects dizziness

Anonymous said...

how to buy viagra online viagra online consultation - buy viagra online women

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol india tramadol ultracet dosage - does tramadol hcl 50 mg contain acetaminophen

Anonymous said...

tramadol 100 mg tramadol withdrawal effexor - order tramadol 50mg

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol online buy tramadol spain - buy tramadol safely

Anonymous said...

buy cialis no prescription canada order cialis online with prescription - online apotheke cialis 20mg

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol illegal buy ultram online - tramadol 50mg buy online

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol buy tramadol generic ultram - ultram-tramadol online

Anonymous said...

buy generic tramadol online best place buy tramadol online reviews - tramadol for dogs dosage usa

Anonymous said...

buy generic propecia propecia gyno - propecia side effects ejaculation

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol cash on delivery tramadol 50 mg for cramps - tramadol for dogs arthritis

Anonymous said...

buy generic tramadol tramadol withdrawal runny nose - tramadol hcl 50 mg nausea

Anonymous said...

cheap tramadol tramadol-no-prescription.us - tramadol dosage 100 lb dog

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol online reviews tramadol 50 mg norsk - tramadol-no-prescription.us

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol tramadol hcl snorting - purchase tramadol cod

Anonymous said...

tramadol cheap tramadol hcl xr - order tramadol online overnight delivery

Anonymous said...

tramadol online pharmacy tramadol high good - high with tramadol

Anonymous said...

tramadol 50mg buy tramadol online pharmacy - how to buy tramadol

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol tramadol vs oxy - tramadol online coupons

Anonymous said...

tramadol 50 mg tramadol sleep - tramadol hcl 50 mg erowid

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol online drug study tramadol generic name - buy tramadol online

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol online tramadol high review - tramadol hcl 50 mg drug interactions

Anonymous said...

order tramadol online tramadol 50 mg picture - overdose symptoms for tramadol

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol online tramadol buy - chewing 100mg tramadol

Anonymous said...

buy finasteride generic propecia doesn't work - where to buy generic propecia forum

Anonymous said...

tramadol 100 tramadol high 50 mg - tramadol constipation

Anonymous said...

viagra price viagra release date - buy viagra online new york

Anonymous said...

buy generic viagra buy viagra online - cheap generic viagra from us

Anonymous said...

generic viagra viagra online price comparison - buy viagra 100mg us

Anonymous said...

tramadol 50 mg buy tramadol cheap no prescription - tramadol overnight delivery no rx

Anonymous said...

cheap generic cialis can you order cialis online for canada - cialis online blog

Anonymous said...

cialis medication cialis questions and answers - cialis online us pharmacy

Anonymous said...

buy cialis buy real cialis online - cialis online order

Anonymous said...

generic viagra generic viagra canadian pharmacy - online pharmacy reviews viagra

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol tramadol hcl acetaminophen 650 - buy tramadol tablets

Anonymous said...

generic viagra cheap generic viagra online - purchase viagra and cialis

Anonymous said...

generic viagra information on viagra dosage - buy viagra online dubai

Anonymous said...

order tramadol buy tramadol 6914 - buy tramadol online pharmacy

Anonymous said...

viagra cost order viagra from us - buy viagra us toronto

Anonymous said...

viagra cost buy viagra on line no prescription - viagra young men

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol tramadol 50mg biogaran - tramadol hcl 50mg narcotic

Anonymous said...

cheap viagra viagra buy in bangkok - viagra buy online

Anonymous said...

cialis online usa generic cialis net - cialis 80 mg

Anonymous said...

generic cialis tadalafil cialis coupon free - cheap cialis in the usa

Anonymous said...

generic cialis order cialis online paypal - cialis no longer works

Anonymous said...

generic cialis buy cialis online uk no prescription - order cialis over the counter

Anonymous said...

generic cialis cialis kaufen - buy cialis prescription

Anonymous said...

generic cialis when will the price of cialis come down - cialis to buy online

Anonymous said...

generic cialis generic cialis viagra and levitra - cialis online fast delivery

Anonymous said...

buy cialis cheap cialis dosage - generic cialis in usa

Anonymous said...

how to buy cialis cialis price at cvs - best place buy cialis online

Anonymous said...

buy generic cialis buy cialis from mexico - best cialis online pharmacy

Anonymous said...

generic soma soma generic price - numbers soma pills

Anonymous said...

soma cost soma pill high - buy soma muscle relaxer

Anonymous said...

soma online soma 466 - soma venue san diego ca

Anonymous said...

cheap soma best place order soma - soma medication

Anonymous said...

soma no prescription buy soma cod - generic soma for sale

Anonymous said...

buy soma generic soma muscle relaxer breastfeeding - where to buy soma without rx

Anonymous said...

buy soma soma medication online - soma muscle relaxer drug test

Anonymous said...

soma drug carisoprodol (soma) buy - drug class for soma

Anonymous said...

buy retin a buy retin a gel 0.01 - where to buy retin a cream

Anonymous said...

buy soma buy somatropin usa - soma intimates discount code

Anonymous said...

soma online soma for muscle pain - buy soma online overnight delivery

Anonymous said...

buy retin a retin a cream over the counter - buy generic retin a online no prescription

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol tramadol jaw pain - tramadol dosage 200 mg

Anonymous said...

tramadol 50 tramadol 600 mg daily - tramadol 50 mg veterinary use

Anonymous said...

tramadol online pharmacy buy tramadol from mexico - order tramadol with no prescription

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol online tramadol 50 mg tablets - treatment of tramadol addiction

Anonymous said...

buy retin a retin a 1 cream side effects - retin a cream how supplied

Anonymous said...

buy retin a retin a wrinkles under eye - retin a micro strength

Anonymous said...

buy cialis online cialisonline.it - cialis cheapest lowest price

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol medication how to purchase tramadol online - buy tramadol online in europe

Anonymous said...

best buy tramadol order tramadol online cheap - order tramadol uk

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol online can you really buy tramadol online - buy tramadol no rx

Anonymous said...

best buy tramadol tramadol dosage rabbits - tramadol hcl vs lortab

Anonymous said...

tramadol online buy tramadol online legal - zydol 50mg tramadol hydrochloride

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol cheap tramadol 50mg tablets price - buy cheap tramadol cod

Anonymous said...

tramadol buy signs of tramadol overdose - ultram stronger than tramadol

Anonymous said...

generic tramadol buy tramadol personal check - tramadol no prescription

Anonymous said...

cheap retin-a buy retin-a online usa - retin a micro for warts

Anonymous said...

order tramadol online cod tramadol withdrawal flu like symptoms - tramadol ultram narcotic

Anonymous said...

buy cialis online generic cialis australia - buy cialis online in malaysia

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol overnight tramadol dosage 25mg - tramadol dosage humans weight

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol tramadol online from mexico - tramadol hcl liver damage

Anonymous said...

tramadol 100 mg tramadol medication online - tramadol generic ultram 50 mg 180 pills

Anonymous said...

generic tramadol tramadol blood thinner - buy tramadol online mastercard overnight

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol overnight buy tramadol rx online - tramadol 50 mg info

Anonymous said...

cheap tramadol order tramadol online to florida - tramadol hcl 37.5-3 tab myla

Anonymous said...

tramadol online cod tramadol xr recreational - how to purchase tramadol'

Anonymous said...

Leave the minі spas, hіgh end hotelѕ, on cruisе ѕhipѕ, anԁ eѵen іn flοgging аnd nail sаlons.
Ѕit wеll or гeѕt уourself close
fіfty-fifty and so visualize thе Uѕui index symbolic repгesentatіοn at the Hara, and аnd then at each chakra all around the
Transmission channel until you rеach the hara again.
Keep a neti рot in the exhіbitог oг thе Grіmace, they get their namе fгom theiг fine,
wеbbed Cοming into court. ӏ Ne'er own tantric massage pattern you can charge what you like.

Also visit my blog post homepage

Anonymous said...

Аccоunt bасk to glіԁе path tantгic massage
can be a full аlternаtive as it іs bеsides a holistiс Method
actіng of discuѕsion.

Here is my website :: web site

Anonymous said...

xanax without a perscription xanax withdrawal symptoms how long do they last - xanax withdrawal fatigue

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol saturday delivery buy tramadol echeck - can you buy tramadol online legally

Anonymous said...

klonopin pharmacy is klonopin used for alcohol withdrawal - klonopin dosage high

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol no prescription tramadol 50mg injection - tramadol for dogs no prescription

Anonymous said...

2mg klonopin much 2mg klonopin - klonopin high last

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol online buy tramadol nz - tramadol 50 mg how long does it last

Anonymous said...

carisoprodol 350 mg soma carisoprodol effects - carisoprodol overdose death

Anonymous said...

o For, Some, years ago I truly restructured a comprehensive problem strategy additionally created color-coded
important thing hard. Zee DTH has had our own Japanese lcd tv to a par having currency celebration economy.
Eventhough beverages could possibly be best to diabetics, you possibly can find in
truth good ways to be able to stay away all forms of rather than alcohol consumption flavored coffee.



Feel free to surf to my web page: vietnamese coffee maker calgary

Aadit said...



Thanks for giving important information to training seekers,Keep posting useful information,Click below to find

Durex Condoms Online

Aadit said...

I always visit your blog.it's really informative for us..Thank you.

Durex Condoms Online

Adultslove said...

Thanks for sharing this great post Buy sex toy in India