© Frank H. Jump
December 1st is World AIDS Day. As always, I post on this day thoughtfully. I’ve lived more than half my life with HIV. I will be fifty in March. A small miracle.
In Hebrew, the term mitzvah “has also come to express an act of human kindness. According to the teachings of Judaism, all moral laws are, or are derived from, divine commandments. – Wikipedia
If you haven’t planned one today, perform a mitzvah for someone you know who has been affected by HIV/AIDS.
To further quote Wikipedia:
The opinions of the Talmudic rabbis are divided between those who seek the purpose of the mitzvot and those who do not question them. The latter argue that if the reason for each mitzvah could be determined, people might try to achieve what they see as the purpose of the mitzvah, without actually performing the mitzvah itself.
Don’t overthink the mitzvah! Just do it!
Waiting for the big miracle. In the meantime, a mitzvah would be divine!
In memory of Wayne Fischer- a NYC school teacher & friend dedicated to AIDS awareness.
Thank you for the lesson in Judaism, Frank. We prayed this Sunday at church in advance of World AIDS Day. We were told to pray for those living with the disease and for those who loved someone who died of AIDS. My prayers are with you, Frank, that you continue to feel well. I know you are also a cancer survivor. I lost almost everyone in my family, including both parents and my husband to various forms of this disease, and so I very well understand how awful the 80’s and 90’s must have been when you lost so many loved ones of AIDS. I saw many young men in rooms down the hall from my mom when she was dying in 1988 and spoke to their parents. They were devastated as I was. I felt we were all in the same boat. I hope someday the cure is found for both HIV/AIDS and all forms of cancer.
Dear Laura- Thank you so much for your heartfelt response to my World AIDS DAY posting (and all of your past postings.) I got the idea of the “mitzvah” theme from NaBloMo (National Blog Month) and IComLeavWe International Comment Leaving Week. Check them out.
You are the consummate comment leaver. I’ve been remiss in my responses, but I truly appreciate your comments in the past.
Yeah, cancer ain’t fun, but beating it feels great. Not that I’m cocky. I appreciate every day I can be with young people and share my enthusiasm for their learning in response to my survival.
I’m sorry for your many losses. Your experiences during the late 80s seem all too familiar. We can never forget those we lost. Every day, we live for them. I think about what my friend Rick would have said on my RV trip, or how others would have responded to the beauty of the wild wild West. I’m not a “spiritual” person in the traditional definition but I have them in my heart.
Thanks again Laura, your prayers are the mitzvahs I was hoping for! Sincerely, Frank
What a wonderful blog!!! You continue to send messages that teach and support all involved!!!
Thank you Cheryl! You know us teachers, always cramming it in. ♥u jUmP!
My Dear Sweet Frank,
You did a mitzvah today by dedicated your blog to my beloved uncle, Wayne Fischer, the 1st NYC teacher to publicly disclose that he was HIV positive. As you know, I founded http://www.livingbeyondbelief.org to carry on his legacy and I and my family are most grateful for all of your support over the years. Although, Wayne left this Earth Plane in 1997, his memory lives on in the hearts and acts of those like you, who remember. Thank you Frank, for all that you are and all that you do for our community and this world. I just came from St. John’s where I spoke for World AIDS Day and I pray that this is the last time I ever have to do this, and I pray that Living Beyond Belief shuts its doors and I pray that AIDS shall be no more, but until then, I was born to be a Mitzvah. Much Love, today especially and always. Bari
Thank God for “small miracles”!!! Love you lots!
Back atcha B! ♥