Shabbat Shalom!
When do we gain greater knowledge or have greater awareness, when our eyes are open or when our eyes are closed? When we say the Sh’ma, we are commanded to close our eyes so that we can concentrate on God and, especially, on the oneness that unites us all. We also know that, even with our eyes open, we can’t know everything. Appearances can be deceiving and don’t tell the whole story. It is like trying to evaluate a person’s character only by their words, when we know that the words may have little meaning until they are backed up by deeds.
In the Torah reading for this week, the prophet Balaam was called by Balak, King of Moab, to curse the Israelites. Instead, Balaam was allowed by God only to bless them. In the beginning of one of the sections of blessing uttered by Balaam, he declared, “Word of Balaam son of Beor, word of Balaam whose eye is true (literally in the Hebrew – whose eye is closed), word of him who hears God’s speech, who beholds visions from the Almighty, bowing low to the ground, but with eyes unveiled.” Balaam’s eyes were “unveiled,” but they were “true” BECAUSE they were CLOSED, not open. This passage teaches us about what can be seen and what can be known. Just because we think something isn’t seen – or, for that matter, heard – doesn’t mean it isn’t known or won’t be known. We reveal ourselves through our actions, no matter what we have said or done in public or private. Senator Joe Lieberman once said that, as a public figure, he tries to reach the same level of integrity in private as when he is serving in his leadership role. There is no difference. Behavior, language, and character must be consistent, because eyes that are closed or open will recognize any inconsistency.
Balaam could not curse a people that deserved blessing. In truth, everyone deserves a measure of blessing. Let us remember this as we continue to work together as a community.
L’shalom,
Rabbi Larry
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Monday, June 21, 2010
Remembering.... June 18, 2010
How do we pay tribute to our loved ones who have died?
Judaism offers rituals that help us through the initial days, weeks and months of mourning as well as the anniversaries of a death in future years. Lighting a yahrzeit candle, or simply remembering a relative who has died and considering his or her legacy, or putting a marker on the memorial wall before the Kaddish at a service at Temple Israel, can enable us to express feelings of connection and warmth that still abide with us.
In the Torah reading for this week, Chukat, the passages that speak of the deaths of Miriam and Aaron, Moses’ siblings, are brief, considering the impact that the two of them made on the Israelites. Death and the transition to new leadership were seen as a part of the cycle of community life, and the eulogizing that is not reported in the text likely took place in people’s own minds and hearts.
During our visit to the Midwest several weeks ago, Rhonda and I took the opportunity to stop by the graves of my parents at the cemetery that is in the shadow of the former site of my home congregation. We carry the memories of my parents with us all the time, but there was something special about being there and being able to put stones on their markers, and to think about what me might say to them about our life in New Hampshire, and what they might say to us in response.
I believe that we honor the memory of our loved ones not only through remembrance, but also through all that we do because of what they taught us and how they made an impact on our lives. We also have a chance, through our actions, to leave a legacy to future generations. May we do so in the best way possible.
L’shalom,
Rabbi Larry
Judaism offers rituals that help us through the initial days, weeks and months of mourning as well as the anniversaries of a death in future years. Lighting a yahrzeit candle, or simply remembering a relative who has died and considering his or her legacy, or putting a marker on the memorial wall before the Kaddish at a service at Temple Israel, can enable us to express feelings of connection and warmth that still abide with us.
In the Torah reading for this week, Chukat, the passages that speak of the deaths of Miriam and Aaron, Moses’ siblings, are brief, considering the impact that the two of them made on the Israelites. Death and the transition to new leadership were seen as a part of the cycle of community life, and the eulogizing that is not reported in the text likely took place in people’s own minds and hearts.
During our visit to the Midwest several weeks ago, Rhonda and I took the opportunity to stop by the graves of my parents at the cemetery that is in the shadow of the former site of my home congregation. We carry the memories of my parents with us all the time, but there was something special about being there and being able to put stones on their markers, and to think about what me might say to them about our life in New Hampshire, and what they might say to us in response.
I believe that we honor the memory of our loved ones not only through remembrance, but also through all that we do because of what they taught us and how they made an impact on our lives. We also have a chance, through our actions, to leave a legacy to future generations. May we do so in the best way possible.
L’shalom,
Rabbi Larry
Friday, June 11, 2010
Holy Moments June 11, 2010
Shabbat Shalom!
We are dedicating our new Tree of Life at our Shabbat Service on
June 11 (tonight) in memory of Lorraine Goren, who tirelessly worked
for our congregation and community. Already, several Temple families
have chosen to add a leaf to the tree to mark special milestones in
life, knowing that there may be other landmark events to come that will
also find their way onto the tree. This is one way to note that
certain times and moments in life are special and even sacred (KADOSH).
In the Torah portion for this week, Korach, possibly a relative of
Moses and Aaron, challenged the authority of the Israelite leaders by
claiming that, if all the Israelites were holy, how could Moses and
Aaron put themselves above everyone else? We know that true
leadership carries with it responsibility and requires an ability to
adapt and change. Torah commentator Yeshayahu Leibowitz saw Korach’s
assertion about the holiness of the Israelites to mean that “we have
achieved our goal and nothing more need be demanded of us” to be holy.
It was as if he was saying, and even boasting, “I am already holy and
don’t need to change.” Yet, what the Torah actually says (based on
from Leviticus Chapter 19, which includes the phrase, “Love your
neighbor as yourself) is “BE HOLY, for I, the Eternal your God, am
holy.” Holiness is about becoming, not being – it is a goal, not a
present state. Leaders and people like Korach think they have nothing
to learn from anyone or any new experience. Leaders and people like
Moses and Aaron see their own imperfections, lament the need to stand
firm in the face of overwhelming opposition, and are willing to learn
something new to move along the road towards greater effectiveness and
even holiness.
Every milestone in life gives us a new opportunity to take note of
who we are and where we are at any given moment, and where we want to
be in the future. Marking a special occasion in any way makes that
moment KADOSH, sacred, reminding us that embodied in our celebrations
is an admission that we can continue to learn and grow along our life’s
journey. May we continue together on this path of “becoming” in unity
and hope!
L’shalom,
Rabbi Larry
We are dedicating our new Tree of Life at our Shabbat Service on
June 11 (tonight) in memory of Lorraine Goren, who tirelessly worked
for our congregation and community. Already, several Temple families
have chosen to add a leaf to the tree to mark special milestones in
life, knowing that there may be other landmark events to come that will
also find their way onto the tree. This is one way to note that
certain times and moments in life are special and even sacred (KADOSH).
In the Torah portion for this week, Korach, possibly a relative of
Moses and Aaron, challenged the authority of the Israelite leaders by
claiming that, if all the Israelites were holy, how could Moses and
Aaron put themselves above everyone else? We know that true
leadership carries with it responsibility and requires an ability to
adapt and change. Torah commentator Yeshayahu Leibowitz saw Korach’s
assertion about the holiness of the Israelites to mean that “we have
achieved our goal and nothing more need be demanded of us” to be holy.
It was as if he was saying, and even boasting, “I am already holy and
don’t need to change.” Yet, what the Torah actually says (based on
from Leviticus Chapter 19, which includes the phrase, “Love your
neighbor as yourself) is “BE HOLY, for I, the Eternal your God, am
holy.” Holiness is about becoming, not being – it is a goal, not a
present state. Leaders and people like Korach think they have nothing
to learn from anyone or any new experience. Leaders and people like
Moses and Aaron see their own imperfections, lament the need to stand
firm in the face of overwhelming opposition, and are willing to learn
something new to move along the road towards greater effectiveness and
even holiness.
Every milestone in life gives us a new opportunity to take note of
who we are and where we are at any given moment, and where we want to
be in the future. Marking a special occasion in any way makes that
moment KADOSH, sacred, reminding us that embodied in our celebrations
is an admission that we can continue to learn and grow along our life’s
journey. May we continue together on this path of “becoming” in unity
and hope!
L’shalom,
Rabbi Larry
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