Make the World Better on Black Friday

Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving is ironically known to be a popular time for people spend tons of money purchasing even more things although just spent time being thankful for what they had the day before. In the U.S alone it was said that $626.1 billion was spent on Black Friday in 2015, that is an estimated $805.65 per person (Amadeo, Kimberly 2016). I think this is a sign that we may need to change in our priories and we can probably learn from others how we can do that.

The World Jewish Relief agency gives us an example of practicing tikun-olam by trying to make the world better on Black Friday and launched a campaign to help poor Jews living in Moldova, Belarus, Ukraine, and Georgia called “Lack Friday” to draw people’s minds from extra martial things that they most likely don’t even need to those who could use more help (Oryszczuk, Stephen 2016). The campaign will feature pictures of Jews in need of warm food, a home, and relational support with the request that people choose to give on Black Friday instead of just focusing on the deals they can get. People will be able to give £5 (which is about 6.18 US dollars) for a food card, fuel to stay warm in the winter, or a visit from a homecare worker (Oryszczuk, Stephen 2016).

We don’t have to go to another country to practice tikun-olam if we don’t live where that nonprofit is working we can find nonprofits to donate to online. We can still shop on Black Friday but be disciplined enough to focus more on our true needs than our frivolous wants and shop for things that we know can help others during the sales so we can give more than we could otherwise afford. They are many ways we can let the thankfulness last and not give into greedy consumerism. Don’t let your heart turn black on Black Friday, remember to think of someone besides yourself. Don’t be afraid to give something up. “He who has pity on the poor lends to the Lord, and He will pay back what he has given.” Proverbs 19:17 practice tikun-olam and share.

References:
Amadeo, Kimberly 2016 “What Is Black Friday? Sales Trends” The Balance received from https://www.thebalance.com/what-is-black-friday-3305710
Oryszczuk, Stephen 2016 “‘Lack Friday’ campaign urges help for poverty-stricken Jews” Jewish News received from http://jewishnews.timesofisrael.com/lack-friday-campaign-urges-help-for-poverty-stricken-jews/

Picture originally found here