tikkun olam—Repair the World

On July 7th, 2017, on what would have been Khalid’s 38th birthday, we dedicated the Khalid Jabara Tikkun Olam Library at B’nai Emunah Preschool. This space now houses over 900 children’s books and family resources that illuminate ideas of justice, compassion, empathy, diversity, and social change.

Tikkun Olam, a Jewish concept that dates to the 3rd century, expresses our obligation to “repair the world.” As early childhood educators, we know that the first three years of life are essential to the development of compassion and empathy. We know that a future of understanding, a future of compassion, a future of peace begins with society’s smallest members, and as educators of these small humans, it is not only our job, but our great privilege, to guide them as they develop into empathetic and powerful agents of social change. Our library is our place to teach and tell stories - it is our hope that it will turn your children into social justice superheroes.