… but neither are you free to desist [from doing all you can do]

“It is not your obligation to complete the work [of perfecting the world], but neither are you free to desist [from doing all you can do]…”

At today’s annual luncheon and awards ceremony of our client the Rhode Island Coalition for the Homeless, chair of the board Rabbi Alan Flam shared the above quotation from Rabbi Tarfon (c 70CE – 150CE).

I felt it is was particularly apt given the vote by the US House of Representatives who passed an historic but imperfect health care reform bill last night that President Obama will sign tomorrow.