The month of Cheshvan, which this year corresponds to Monday, October 23 through Tuesday, November 21 on the Gregorian calendar, is known in Jewish tradition as a time of bitterness (mar Cheshvan) since it has no holidays. A global network of young Jewish activists is trying to change that — and they're succeeding. The group KolDor, whose name means "every generation" or "voice of a generation," believes that the Hebrew calendar should reflect essential Jewish values and proposes to devote Cheshvan to a central tenet of Judaism, tikkun olam, or repairing the world.

Jewish Social Action Month (JSAM) was inaugurated last year and has rapidly gained momentum. It has been adopted by a wide range of social-action organizations in Israel and Jewish organizations in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, Australia, Mexico, Brazil, South Africa, and elsewhere. UJA-Federation of New York, a core supporter of KolDor, is funding community-service and social-action projects that range from joint youth projects in New York, Israel, and Ukraine; creating a wildlife habitat in Long Island; and an internship program for teens at the Bukharian Jewish Museum in New York.

If KolDor members have their way, the Hebrew month of Cheshvan will officially become Jewish Social Action Month in Israel and around the world. The initiative was launched at a special Knesset session on October 24, 2006, where it was endorsed by several members of Knesset.

KolDor member Yossi Abromowitz, who recently made aliyah from Boston, told the Knesset that JSAM would unite the Jewish people, highlight positive Jewish values, and catalyze countless acts of social action and social justice. KolDor leader Moti Cristal said that JSAM's goal is to raise awareness of and enhance the importance of social action, as well as to recognize the many organizations and individuals who work for the good of others.