Last month our friend, Rabbi Michoel Goldin invited us to Chabbad House in Teaneck to conduct a benefit instrument making workshop with his teen group. In advance we prepared kits for the construction of 35 mbiras (aka kalimbas or thumb pianos) to be donated to the children staying at Shelter Our Sisters - Bergen County's network of shelters for victims of domestic violence and abuse. A speaker from SoS gave a very moving talk about her own experience of domestic abuse while the group worked on their mbiras. Congratulations to Rabbi Goldin for his outstanding work in the community, particularly with this group of teens. Several came to the shop later in the week to help us finish up the mbiras that needed more work. This was a great example of Tikkun Olam ("repairing the world") in action.
