Shabbat Shalom!
The Torah reading for Feburary 27, Tetzaveh, speaks of "kindling lamps regularly/continually." What we do for Temple Israel - and also for the general community - is like what our ancestors did when they lit ancient menorah and the Neir Tamid/Eternal Light in the Tabernacle and Temple. They kindled those lights to sanctify the place where they worshiped God, but the ritual was mostly for their benefit, to make them feel special and to involve them in a crucial and special task. Most anything we do for our families and community has a sanctity all its own. In light of my message below, praise for all of us at the times when we reach inside, to the deepest part of ourselves, so that we can give our best to others.
A Congregational Psalm
Praise to You, Eternal One, who inspires us to serve and enables us to grow through our service.
Praise for those who bake and cook, buy and share.
Praise for those who chair meetings and committees, offering direction for our future paths.
Praise for those who hand out prayerbooks, who shelve library books, and who study in and learn from textbooks.
Praise for teachers who impart their knowledge and experiences and also learn from their students.
Praise for students who contribute their knowledge to discussions and their spirit to their class.
Praise for those who create budgets, read spreadsheets, take minutes and make motions and vote based on wisdom and conscience.
Praise for those who fashion flyers, publish newsletters, and create art that is displayed in a prominent place on the wall!
Praise for those who attend worship, share insights, sing and say prayers with fervor and feeling, and schmooze with friends and newcomers at an Oneg Shabbat.
Praise for those who continue a family legacy through their membership and those who begin a new tradition by joining our congregation.
Praise for those who gaze at the animals on our grounds or enjoy the sight of a rainbow through the windows on a rainy day.
Praise for those who give of their time, their energy, and their resources and their ingenuity to enable the congregation to thrive.
Praise for those who attend when they can and those who care about our community’s well-being even when they can’t be with us.
Praise for those who offer their constant support and those who step forward at a crucial moment when their help is needed.
Praise for all of us, young in age and young at heart, for all that we have given and for all that we will continue to give for the good of Temple Israel!!!!
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Giving...Higher and Higher - February 18, 2010
Shabbat Shalom!
Giving is an act that can be selfless, anonymous and purposeful, or touched by personal motives to make a public statement. It can be voluntary or required, with both resulting in providing much needed assistance or support. Giving can be in the form of money, items, time or an act of kindness. The reward for giving may be a name on a list or a deep and private feeling of satisfaction or fulfillment.
In the Torah reading for this week, T’rumah, the Israelites were commanded to give, “as their hearts moved them," personal items of value that could be used in the building of the Mishkan, the Tabernacle, the Israelites’ portable house of worship. The root for T’rumah means to “raise up” or to be at a high level. Our contributions or donations to worthy causes do have the potential to raise us up – to enhance our integrity, to exalt our character, and to take us to a place where we have a divine perspective of the equality of all people and the importance of fulfilling their needs as much as we are able.
Giving can begin in our own community, and then extend to the entire human family. What we contribute can demonstrate our awareness regarding the needs of people around the world as well and reflect the empathy that can move us to acts of generosity. May all that we give serve to exalt our vision and raise our hopes for a better world.
L’shalom,
Rabbi Larry
Giving is an act that can be selfless, anonymous and purposeful, or touched by personal motives to make a public statement. It can be voluntary or required, with both resulting in providing much needed assistance or support. Giving can be in the form of money, items, time or an act of kindness. The reward for giving may be a name on a list or a deep and private feeling of satisfaction or fulfillment.
In the Torah reading for this week, T’rumah, the Israelites were commanded to give, “as their hearts moved them," personal items of value that could be used in the building of the Mishkan, the Tabernacle, the Israelites’ portable house of worship. The root for T’rumah means to “raise up” or to be at a high level. Our contributions or donations to worthy causes do have the potential to raise us up – to enhance our integrity, to exalt our character, and to take us to a place where we have a divine perspective of the equality of all people and the importance of fulfilling their needs as much as we are able.
Giving can begin in our own community, and then extend to the entire human family. What we contribute can demonstrate our awareness regarding the needs of people around the world as well and reflect the empathy that can move us to acts of generosity. May all that we give serve to exalt our vision and raise our hopes for a better world.
L’shalom,
Rabbi Larry
Friday, February 12, 2010
Truer Words - February 12, 2010
Shabbat Shalom!
“You must not carry false rumors….Keep far from a false charge.”
Both of these statements from Exodus in this week’s Torah portion, Mishpatim, direct us to be honest and accurate in our communication. Our words and actions, even ones that seem crystal clear, have a possibility of being misinterpreted. When I have offered comments to news reporters over the years, I have always hoped that the quote I gave would be put in a proper context. In speaking with a friend, family member, congregant, or community member, I try to be sure that I am using my words in such a way as to convey the desired intent. That is why I take great care with the words I write, and hope that, if I have made an incorrect word choice, I (or a proofreader) will catch it before I send it out!
I know that we all deal with these issues daily. We hear people make claims and tell stories about others that we don’t necessarily know are true. Judaism teaches us, when it comes to gossip, not to listen to it and, if we can’t refrain from listening to it, don’t repeat it! When words we hear are hurtful or when false accusations are made in a public way, there may be no way to take them back. The Torah is telling us this week to be careful with what we say, to dissociate ourselves from statements that are inaccurate and dishonest and from the people who made those claims, and to do all that we can to speak well of others and to find, and appeal to, the best of their character and soul. In a world where words are often used as weapons, may we try to use what we say, and do, for healing, fellowship and hope.
L’shalom,
Rabbi Larry
“You must not carry false rumors….Keep far from a false charge.”
Both of these statements from Exodus in this week’s Torah portion, Mishpatim, direct us to be honest and accurate in our communication. Our words and actions, even ones that seem crystal clear, have a possibility of being misinterpreted. When I have offered comments to news reporters over the years, I have always hoped that the quote I gave would be put in a proper context. In speaking with a friend, family member, congregant, or community member, I try to be sure that I am using my words in such a way as to convey the desired intent. That is why I take great care with the words I write, and hope that, if I have made an incorrect word choice, I (or a proofreader) will catch it before I send it out!
I know that we all deal with these issues daily. We hear people make claims and tell stories about others that we don’t necessarily know are true. Judaism teaches us, when it comes to gossip, not to listen to it and, if we can’t refrain from listening to it, don’t repeat it! When words we hear are hurtful or when false accusations are made in a public way, there may be no way to take them back. The Torah is telling us this week to be careful with what we say, to dissociate ourselves from statements that are inaccurate and dishonest and from the people who made those claims, and to do all that we can to speak well of others and to find, and appeal to, the best of their character and soul. In a world where words are often used as weapons, may we try to use what we say, and do, for healing, fellowship and hope.
L’shalom,
Rabbi Larry
Rules Preserve Life - February 5, 2010
Shabbat Shalom!
The reports about the bullying and subsequent suicide of Phoebe Prince last month in South Hadley, Massachusetts have been saddening and, in some respects, chilling. The relentless hounding and name-calling (in person and in cyberspace and on her cell phone) that the “mean girls,” in the words of Boston Globe columnist Kevin Cullen, perpetrated upon their schoolmate (supposedly for briefly dating a senior/football prayer) were totally unacceptable, but the online gloating by those same girls following Phoebe’s suicide, and their threats to anyone who would talk to authorities, sent their behavior choices far off the scale of hurtful and cruel. Presenters are going more and more into schools to discuss bullying and cyberbullying, and gossip/slander/libel are a part of that hurtful approach to others than can harm reputations and, in this case, even take a life. As we know, these examples of negative communication are not confined to the school setting.
This past Wednesday, our 7th Graders, led in discussion by Erin Sandler (my co-teacher), madrichim Andrew McDonald and Owen Shepcaro and yours truly, commented on texts from Jewish tradition that related, in some way, to this tragedy. I have included the texts/sayings below, followed by the rules that our students derived from each statement. Let us hope that we can build community based on these sayings and rules, because showing generous consideration for each other is the best way we have to be a Kahal Kadosh, a holy community.
L’shalom,
Rabbi Larry
1) Genesis 4: 9 – “Am I my brother’s keeper?”
Think for yourself. If you don’t care for others, people won’t care for you.
2) Exodus 20:13 - You shall not murder
(From the Etz Hayim Commentary: The Sages understood “bloodshed” to include embarrassing a fellow human being in public so that the blood drains from his or her face. “One may murder with the hand or with the tongue, by talebearing or by character assassination.” (a comment from a rabbi several hundred years ago).
Don’t make fun of people or bully people. Don’t ruin another person’s reputation.
3) Exodus 20:13 - You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
Don’t falsely accuse someone for something they didn’t do. Don’t believe everything you hear.
4) Exodus 20:14 - You shall not covet
Don’t be jealous.
5) Exodus 23:1-2 - You must not carry false rumors....you shall not side with the mighty to do wrong.
Don’t bully or gossip. Popular is not always right, but right is not always popular.
6) Exodus 23:9 - You shall not oppress a stranger, for you know the feelings of a stranger, having yourselves been strangers in the land of Egypt.
Don’t be mean to newcomers or strangers or hurt people’s feelings.
7) Leviticus 19:16 - Don’t deal wickedly (or go about as a talebearer/gossip) with members of your people, and don’t stand idly by or profit from the blood of (the injury or death of) your neighbor.
Be nice. Don’t be mean to or hurt other people.
8) Leviticus 19:18 - You shall not take revenge or bear a grudge against your people. Love your neighbor as yourself.
Forgive and forget – move forward.
9) Pirkei Avot - Sayings of the Rabbis Chapter 2, statement 8
In a place where there is no decent human being, try to be a decent human being.
Try to rise above people who are doing the wrong thing.
10) Pirkei Avot - Sayings of the Rabbis: Chapter 1, statement 14
If I am not for myself, who will be for me? If I am only for myself, what am I?
If not now, when?
You can’t care for yourself if you don’t care for others. Don’t doubt yourself.
11) I never made a statement for which I would have to turn around and check whether the person about whom I was speaking was present.
(Talmud Arachin 15b - Rabbi Yossi)
Rabbi Abraham Twerski adds, “A reliable rule of thumb is to ask, ‘Do I have to look behind more before I say it?’ If the answer is yes, don’t say it.”
Quoted in Joseph Telushkin’s A Code of Jewish Ethics: You Shall Be Holy
Don’t speak negatively of others.
The reports about the bullying and subsequent suicide of Phoebe Prince last month in South Hadley, Massachusetts have been saddening and, in some respects, chilling. The relentless hounding and name-calling (in person and in cyberspace and on her cell phone) that the “mean girls,” in the words of Boston Globe columnist Kevin Cullen, perpetrated upon their schoolmate (supposedly for briefly dating a senior/football prayer) were totally unacceptable, but the online gloating by those same girls following Phoebe’s suicide, and their threats to anyone who would talk to authorities, sent their behavior choices far off the scale of hurtful and cruel. Presenters are going more and more into schools to discuss bullying and cyberbullying, and gossip/slander/libel are a part of that hurtful approach to others than can harm reputations and, in this case, even take a life. As we know, these examples of negative communication are not confined to the school setting.
This past Wednesday, our 7th Graders, led in discussion by Erin Sandler (my co-teacher), madrichim Andrew McDonald and Owen Shepcaro and yours truly, commented on texts from Jewish tradition that related, in some way, to this tragedy. I have included the texts/sayings below, followed by the rules that our students derived from each statement. Let us hope that we can build community based on these sayings and rules, because showing generous consideration for each other is the best way we have to be a Kahal Kadosh, a holy community.
L’shalom,
Rabbi Larry
1) Genesis 4: 9 – “Am I my brother’s keeper?”
Think for yourself. If you don’t care for others, people won’t care for you.
2) Exodus 20:13 - You shall not murder
(From the Etz Hayim Commentary: The Sages understood “bloodshed” to include embarrassing a fellow human being in public so that the blood drains from his or her face. “One may murder with the hand or with the tongue, by talebearing or by character assassination.” (a comment from a rabbi several hundred years ago).
Don’t make fun of people or bully people. Don’t ruin another person’s reputation.
3) Exodus 20:13 - You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
Don’t falsely accuse someone for something they didn’t do. Don’t believe everything you hear.
4) Exodus 20:14 - You shall not covet
Don’t be jealous.
5) Exodus 23:1-2 - You must not carry false rumors....you shall not side with the mighty to do wrong.
Don’t bully or gossip. Popular is not always right, but right is not always popular.
6) Exodus 23:9 - You shall not oppress a stranger, for you know the feelings of a stranger, having yourselves been strangers in the land of Egypt.
Don’t be mean to newcomers or strangers or hurt people’s feelings.
7) Leviticus 19:16 - Don’t deal wickedly (or go about as a talebearer/gossip) with members of your people, and don’t stand idly by or profit from the blood of (the injury or death of) your neighbor.
Be nice. Don’t be mean to or hurt other people.
8) Leviticus 19:18 - You shall not take revenge or bear a grudge against your people. Love your neighbor as yourself.
Forgive and forget – move forward.
9) Pirkei Avot - Sayings of the Rabbis Chapter 2, statement 8
In a place where there is no decent human being, try to be a decent human being.
Try to rise above people who are doing the wrong thing.
10) Pirkei Avot - Sayings of the Rabbis: Chapter 1, statement 14
If I am not for myself, who will be for me? If I am only for myself, what am I?
If not now, when?
You can’t care for yourself if you don’t care for others. Don’t doubt yourself.
11) I never made a statement for which I would have to turn around and check whether the person about whom I was speaking was present.
(Talmud Arachin 15b - Rabbi Yossi)
Rabbi Abraham Twerski adds, “A reliable rule of thumb is to ask, ‘Do I have to look behind more before I say it?’ If the answer is yes, don’t say it.”
Quoted in Joseph Telushkin’s A Code of Jewish Ethics: You Shall Be Holy
Don’t speak negatively of others.
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