I haven't written on this blog for 5 years. The five-year anniversary of leaving Dover, NH, and the 10-year anniversary of leaving Topeka, KS are both coming up in the next few months. Around this time during each of those years I was either looking for a new position or already signed on for a new position and making arrangements for the upcoming transition.
The challenges have been pretty overwhelming. There were aspects of the last year in Topeka that went well beyond anything that had come before, and it seemed that, after 22 years, it was time to leave and do some "wing-spreading" to establish myself in a new community. As much as I was told that no one was pushing me out, the pressures and dissatisfaction coming from just a few people seemed to go well beyond previous disagreements or conflict. Some of the basic approaches of my rabbinate were being challenged, and I wanted to be somewhere where that wouldn't happen and where I could again establish a productive partnership with both lay leadership and members.
That was what I had hoped to do. The path of the last 10 years has featured more of the same. I have learned to stand up for myself more than I ever did before, but finding the productive partnership for which I hoped has only happened intermittently. I remember that Rabbi Edwin Friedman, in his book GENERATION TO GENERATION, wrote that a long equilibrium in a congregation will be met with an unexpected jolt of some type that will shock rabbi and congregation out of their complacency and require action. I am not sure if it is my own perspective, or reality, that have made it seem like equilibrium doesn't last more than a week or two. Expectations have changed. Mutual respect is harder to come by. As much as some individuals may have always seen their volunteer service as a way to wield authority or power, it feels like it happens more and more with each passing year. It makes the position of rabbi or any clergy person harder to enjoy, and it makes congregational life much less of a refuge than it should be.
Yes, I do remember vividly the conflicts of which my parents spoke in the congregations in which they were involved and in which they participated often and with devotion, often without much reward. By the time they were both in their 80s, they were still serving in a significant way, whether it was my father creating a Brotherhood/Sisterhood page for the Temple bulletin or my mother serving as Sisterhood president for four years when she was in her late 70s and early 80s.
I wonder if my choice to serve smaller congregations was the right one, because the comfort for which I had hoped at the beginning of my rabbinate has never really materialized. Life has been, and still is, a struggle, in terms of finances, in terms of really feeling a sense of stability, and in terms of being a part of a community that really lives values like compassion, cooperation, and caring and fostering a welcoming and warm ambience.
I appreciate the support of immediate family (Rhonda and Adam, and now Juli) and other extended family and, even with the challenges that still emerge, there are friendships and positive ties we have picked up along the way. Some memorable moments would not have happened had we not moved around just a bit.
I appreciate those who have encouraged me being me, especially in my music. The recognition and affirmation does come here and there. The trick is sustain the desire to create even when the affirmation is not forthcoming. I am trying.
As much as I have been able to recreate some of my community involvement in each place, there aspects of that participation for which I now have no real outlet. Real interfaith ties have always been important to me. I am trying, and even if it is just with a few individuals, I hope that will materialize. A group doesn't have to be large to bring fulfillment.
I suppose that life never really turns out like one might expect. I am trying to stay on top of everything as much as I can, but I know I can't do it alone.
When I was diagnosed with high blood pressure in 1978, my dormitory and the dean's office told me I was going to need to leave and find an apartment. The doctor at the university health service who was treating me was impatient and unsupportive for a time. I told my parents about how despondent I was about this new reality of my life, and that I didn't know what to do. My dad told his son, the rabbinic student, "Well, you can pray."
So why didn't I think of that????
Still a favorite quote from the prayerbook comes to mind to end this reflection....
Prayer invites God to let the Divine presence suffuse our spirits, to let God's will prevail in our lives. Prayer cannot bring water to parched fields, nor mend a broken bridge, nor rebuild a ruined city; but prayer can water an arid soul, mend a broken heart, and rebuild a weakened will.
(Gates of Prayer, CCAR, 1975, page 152).
Friday, March 25, 2016
Friday, June 10, 2011
The Spirit Rested Upon Them - June 10, 2011
Shabbat Shalom!
“Would that all of God’s people were prophets,
That the Eternal would put the divine spirit upon them!”
So said Moses when his assistants, Eldad and Medad,
exhibited signs of being touched with God’s RUACH- SPIRIT
at the same time that the Israelite elders, the “official leaders,”
had received a touch of God’s spirit from Moses.
Joshua (Israelite leader-in-training) urged Moses to stop Eldad
and Medad, but it was his call of concern that elicited Moses’s declaration
that all people should be touched with the RUACH of God.
That RUACH – a special spirit that can inspire us,
to more deeply connect us with each other and with the world –
is always there for the taking.
Sometimes we may feel it is has disappeared, when it may be
that we simply need to open ourselves up to its enduring presence
and allow its entry into our souls.
A week ago, I was sitting at services and learning sessions
with many musical colleagues at the Hava Nashira songleaders’ workshop.
What I came to see in attending this program for the tenth time
is that each of us has a little bit of Eldad and Medad inside of us.
At Hava Nashira, that RUACH revealed itself in harmonies, in energy,
in friendship, in enthusiasm, in vocal prowess,
in talented play on an instrument
and in smiles that reflected the joy of musical moments shared.
In our community, that same RUACH may find its way into
our volunteer service to congregation or community,
sharing personal wisdom, giving tzedakah,
contributing a delicacy to an Oneg Shabbat,
offering support to a fellow congregant,
adding expertise to meet a communal challenge,
and giving a special touch to a program that can enable participants
to feel their ties to the Jewish community and the human family
more deeply than ever before.
Would that all of us would feel that RUACH upon us…and, if there are times when we fail to sense the touch of God’s spirit, would that we would know that it is still there, waiting….and ready…to take us to a holy place.
L’shalom,
Rabbi Larry
“Would that all of God’s people were prophets,
That the Eternal would put the divine spirit upon them!”
So said Moses when his assistants, Eldad and Medad,
exhibited signs of being touched with God’s RUACH- SPIRIT
at the same time that the Israelite elders, the “official leaders,”
had received a touch of God’s spirit from Moses.
Joshua (Israelite leader-in-training) urged Moses to stop Eldad
and Medad, but it was his call of concern that elicited Moses’s declaration
that all people should be touched with the RUACH of God.
That RUACH – a special spirit that can inspire us,
to more deeply connect us with each other and with the world –
is always there for the taking.
Sometimes we may feel it is has disappeared, when it may be
that we simply need to open ourselves up to its enduring presence
and allow its entry into our souls.
A week ago, I was sitting at services and learning sessions
with many musical colleagues at the Hava Nashira songleaders’ workshop.
What I came to see in attending this program for the tenth time
is that each of us has a little bit of Eldad and Medad inside of us.
At Hava Nashira, that RUACH revealed itself in harmonies, in energy,
in friendship, in enthusiasm, in vocal prowess,
in talented play on an instrument
and in smiles that reflected the joy of musical moments shared.
In our community, that same RUACH may find its way into
our volunteer service to congregation or community,
sharing personal wisdom, giving tzedakah,
contributing a delicacy to an Oneg Shabbat,
offering support to a fellow congregant,
adding expertise to meet a communal challenge,
and giving a special touch to a program that can enable participants
to feel their ties to the Jewish community and the human family
more deeply than ever before.
Would that all of us would feel that RUACH upon us…and, if there are times when we fail to sense the touch of God’s spirit, would that we would know that it is still there, waiting….and ready…to take us to a holy place.
L’shalom,
Rabbi Larry
Temple Israel Dover Annual Meeting Message - on Bamidbar - May 22, 2011
Annual Meeting Message
May 22, 2011
“I will betroth you to Me forever; I will betroth you to Me in righteousness and justice, in steadfast love and compassion. I will betroth you to me in faithfulness and you shall know the Eternal.” -- (Hosea Chapter 2, Verses 21 and 22)
In this passage from the Haftarah for this coming Shabbat, the ancient prophet Hosea declared how his people could grow closer to God, godliness, and the best of their character. The values embodied in this formula, which has found its way into wedding ceremonies and the ritual of putting on t'fillin on one's hand, are integral to the creation of a positive community. Those values include TZEDEK – righteousness; MISHPAT – justice; CHESED - goodness, steadfast love, kindness; RACHAMIM - mercy, compassion; and EMUNAH – faithfulness.
These verses from Hosea, as a Haftarah reading, correspond to the Torah reading from the beginning section of the book of Numbers, in which the Israelites were commanded to take a census of their community. Counting the people is, on one level, a process of arriving at a “sum total” of membership and population. Hosea's words teach us that being part of a community is much more than being “counted” as a number. It means finding the right path, being fair and honest in our dealings with each other, showing kindness and concern, extending our hearts to others with compassion, and acting with consistency as much as possible. As members of a congregation, and the greater community of humanity, this is our goal and mission.
In the context of worship or a life cycle event like a wedding, to which the Hosea passage is connected, we have an opportunity to experience joy and connection on a meaningful and even deep and intense level. Prayer, all by itself, has the potential to connect us intimately with God and with the world around us. Life-cycle events, from birth ceremonies to bar/bat mitzvah celebrations, weddings to funerals, draw us closer together. At all of those gatherings, if we open our hearts to the moment, we may feel betrothed and bound to one another as a holy community, where the only capital that matters is spiritual capital and where conflict melts away and only our commonalities remain.
It was in that spirit of positive community that I recently asked congregants to share with me their thoughts about Temple Israel – offering a chance to say something good at a time that many might consider trying and difficult. Here are some of the sentiments voiced by Temple members: “More than a group tied to a building, we are a community.” “Temple Israel is an open and welcoming community.” “Temple Israel Dover is a haven…a refuge…a place where I can meet my friends….at least once a week I feel blessed, especially with the rabbi’s blessing and kind words.” One of our congregants said to me last week at the Nosharama of her 45 minute drive to get here, “It’s a schlep, but I come because I like being here.”
Being a community based on righteousness, justice, kindness, compassion and faithfulness means creating and sustaining a culture of honor, where we look at the glass as somewhat full rather than mostly empty, seeing the good that people do. Sustaining a culture of honor means making this MAKOM KADOSH, this holy space, a place of apology and forgiveness for words or actions that cause hurt, even if they were inadvertent. In that spirit, as I do every Yom Kippur, I now offer my apologies for words or actions that may have caused hurt or misunderstanding. Creating a culture of honor means that a spirit of righteousness and justice should pervade all that occurs here, where openness and respect are the hallmark of the relationships between all members of the congregation. This is a place where we should recognize and teach that the most important power that we have is not the power to control another person or a group, but the power that we can develop within ourselves to change the world for the better.
Throughout the last year, I have spoken and written almost weekly about community. One of the congregations at which I interviewed said that their goal was to create “sustainable sacred community,” which can be realized not only in the Temple building but anywhere members gather. Our “roving havdalah” services demonstrated how our community comes alive wherever we are, because Temple Israel Dover is, first and foremost, a Jewish community that, like many others, strive to be sustainable and sacred. The Hosea passage about “betrothal” is one of the best biblical statements about sacred partnership, which is what unites us in our efforts to sustain Jewish life and a Reform Jewish presence in the New Hampshire Seacoast.
“Reform Jewish presence” is an important phrase when mentioning Temple Israel, and not only because it is mentioned in the by-laws and noted on the plaque on the wall outside the office. It represents an approach to Judaism that makes Temple Israel Dover unique. I didn’t know how unique it was until I had to explain the difference between the Chabad Lubavitch approach to Judaism as compared to the principles of Reform Judaism in one of my interviews when a 6th grader asked why Chabad and Reform seem to be in conflict all the time. I told him that I don’t see them always at odds, but that they do have different missions: Chabad seeks to encourage all Jews to do mitzvos in the context of their understanding of Orthodox Judaism. Reform Judaism encourages its members to do mitzvot which they believe are meaningful, creating a personal spiritual path in the context of shared community.
I want you to know that Reform Judaism offers us connections to an even larger community of like-minded people who seek the type of Judaism that we seek and live here in New Hampshire. Over the last year, consultants from the Union for Reform Judaism have actively supported our congregation behind the scenes and in person. They care about Temple Israel Dover and its members and about the future path of this congregation. Financial Consultant David Katowitz, Rabbis Rex Perlmeter and Sue Levi Elwell, and congregational representative Ruth Goldberger have all been to our state - and David and Sue to our Temple – in the past 13 months. They have offered their best wisdom and counsel to provide a foundation for decision-making at Temple Israel Dover. Last June, the URJ East District executive board came to our congregation for Shabbat worship. They were very impressed at the spirit that we exude in prayer and conversation. In December, there will be a URJ biennial convention in the Washington, D.C. area – and someone from Temple Israel Dover should be there to demonstrate the special spirit that flows from this community.
Being a community based on righteousness, justice, kindness, compassion and faithfulness means looking at all the good we do with a feeling of joy and hope inside, and seeing the smiles in the photos of Temple life as representing a sense of community that is very real and that is worth preserving and continuing to nurture and grow. This is what I have tried to do every step of the way in my service with the Board, committees, the Religious School, in our worship, in study, and in the general community. I know that I couldn’t do these things without the support of important partners: committee chairs and members; our Temple president Carole Krassner, who will be among the Shem Tov/good name recipients at the Jewish Federation of New Hampshire annual meeting on June 12; other board members; the Religious School faculty and our students who represent our future; the Temple Israel Singers; and our dedicated Temple administrative assistant, Tammy Fascetta, whose presence in the office is invaluable for the knowledge, insight, perseverance and good humor that she brings to her position. You can and should continue to rely on Tammy in the weeks and months to come. As always, Rhonda is there with me at every step, helping me face every challenge, encouraging me to do what I always try to do – to make Judaism come alive in positive ways in Temple events and programs.
Being a community based on righteousness, justice, kindness, compassion and faithfulness is a goal that I now leave to you as I continue my transition to try to apply Hosea’s words to another congregation that is very far from here. It has been an honor to be with you for five years along a shared Jewish journey – and may you continue upon your path with a sense of mutual respect, honor and blessing. To that, I trust that we all will say…AMEN.
L’shalom,
Rabbi Larry
May 22, 2011
“I will betroth you to Me forever; I will betroth you to Me in righteousness and justice, in steadfast love and compassion. I will betroth you to me in faithfulness and you shall know the Eternal.” -- (Hosea Chapter 2, Verses 21 and 22)
In this passage from the Haftarah for this coming Shabbat, the ancient prophet Hosea declared how his people could grow closer to God, godliness, and the best of their character. The values embodied in this formula, which has found its way into wedding ceremonies and the ritual of putting on t'fillin on one's hand, are integral to the creation of a positive community. Those values include TZEDEK – righteousness; MISHPAT – justice; CHESED - goodness, steadfast love, kindness; RACHAMIM - mercy, compassion; and EMUNAH – faithfulness.
These verses from Hosea, as a Haftarah reading, correspond to the Torah reading from the beginning section of the book of Numbers, in which the Israelites were commanded to take a census of their community. Counting the people is, on one level, a process of arriving at a “sum total” of membership and population. Hosea's words teach us that being part of a community is much more than being “counted” as a number. It means finding the right path, being fair and honest in our dealings with each other, showing kindness and concern, extending our hearts to others with compassion, and acting with consistency as much as possible. As members of a congregation, and the greater community of humanity, this is our goal and mission.
In the context of worship or a life cycle event like a wedding, to which the Hosea passage is connected, we have an opportunity to experience joy and connection on a meaningful and even deep and intense level. Prayer, all by itself, has the potential to connect us intimately with God and with the world around us. Life-cycle events, from birth ceremonies to bar/bat mitzvah celebrations, weddings to funerals, draw us closer together. At all of those gatherings, if we open our hearts to the moment, we may feel betrothed and bound to one another as a holy community, where the only capital that matters is spiritual capital and where conflict melts away and only our commonalities remain.
It was in that spirit of positive community that I recently asked congregants to share with me their thoughts about Temple Israel – offering a chance to say something good at a time that many might consider trying and difficult. Here are some of the sentiments voiced by Temple members: “More than a group tied to a building, we are a community.” “Temple Israel is an open and welcoming community.” “Temple Israel Dover is a haven…a refuge…a place where I can meet my friends….at least once a week I feel blessed, especially with the rabbi’s blessing and kind words.” One of our congregants said to me last week at the Nosharama of her 45 minute drive to get here, “It’s a schlep, but I come because I like being here.”
Being a community based on righteousness, justice, kindness, compassion and faithfulness means creating and sustaining a culture of honor, where we look at the glass as somewhat full rather than mostly empty, seeing the good that people do. Sustaining a culture of honor means making this MAKOM KADOSH, this holy space, a place of apology and forgiveness for words or actions that cause hurt, even if they were inadvertent. In that spirit, as I do every Yom Kippur, I now offer my apologies for words or actions that may have caused hurt or misunderstanding. Creating a culture of honor means that a spirit of righteousness and justice should pervade all that occurs here, where openness and respect are the hallmark of the relationships between all members of the congregation. This is a place where we should recognize and teach that the most important power that we have is not the power to control another person or a group, but the power that we can develop within ourselves to change the world for the better.
Throughout the last year, I have spoken and written almost weekly about community. One of the congregations at which I interviewed said that their goal was to create “sustainable sacred community,” which can be realized not only in the Temple building but anywhere members gather. Our “roving havdalah” services demonstrated how our community comes alive wherever we are, because Temple Israel Dover is, first and foremost, a Jewish community that, like many others, strive to be sustainable and sacred. The Hosea passage about “betrothal” is one of the best biblical statements about sacred partnership, which is what unites us in our efforts to sustain Jewish life and a Reform Jewish presence in the New Hampshire Seacoast.
“Reform Jewish presence” is an important phrase when mentioning Temple Israel, and not only because it is mentioned in the by-laws and noted on the plaque on the wall outside the office. It represents an approach to Judaism that makes Temple Israel Dover unique. I didn’t know how unique it was until I had to explain the difference between the Chabad Lubavitch approach to Judaism as compared to the principles of Reform Judaism in one of my interviews when a 6th grader asked why Chabad and Reform seem to be in conflict all the time. I told him that I don’t see them always at odds, but that they do have different missions: Chabad seeks to encourage all Jews to do mitzvos in the context of their understanding of Orthodox Judaism. Reform Judaism encourages its members to do mitzvot which they believe are meaningful, creating a personal spiritual path in the context of shared community.
I want you to know that Reform Judaism offers us connections to an even larger community of like-minded people who seek the type of Judaism that we seek and live here in New Hampshire. Over the last year, consultants from the Union for Reform Judaism have actively supported our congregation behind the scenes and in person. They care about Temple Israel Dover and its members and about the future path of this congregation. Financial Consultant David Katowitz, Rabbis Rex Perlmeter and Sue Levi Elwell, and congregational representative Ruth Goldberger have all been to our state - and David and Sue to our Temple – in the past 13 months. They have offered their best wisdom and counsel to provide a foundation for decision-making at Temple Israel Dover. Last June, the URJ East District executive board came to our congregation for Shabbat worship. They were very impressed at the spirit that we exude in prayer and conversation. In December, there will be a URJ biennial convention in the Washington, D.C. area – and someone from Temple Israel Dover should be there to demonstrate the special spirit that flows from this community.
Being a community based on righteousness, justice, kindness, compassion and faithfulness means looking at all the good we do with a feeling of joy and hope inside, and seeing the smiles in the photos of Temple life as representing a sense of community that is very real and that is worth preserving and continuing to nurture and grow. This is what I have tried to do every step of the way in my service with the Board, committees, the Religious School, in our worship, in study, and in the general community. I know that I couldn’t do these things without the support of important partners: committee chairs and members; our Temple president Carole Krassner, who will be among the Shem Tov/good name recipients at the Jewish Federation of New Hampshire annual meeting on June 12; other board members; the Religious School faculty and our students who represent our future; the Temple Israel Singers; and our dedicated Temple administrative assistant, Tammy Fascetta, whose presence in the office is invaluable for the knowledge, insight, perseverance and good humor that she brings to her position. You can and should continue to rely on Tammy in the weeks and months to come. As always, Rhonda is there with me at every step, helping me face every challenge, encouraging me to do what I always try to do – to make Judaism come alive in positive ways in Temple events and programs.
Being a community based on righteousness, justice, kindness, compassion and faithfulness is a goal that I now leave to you as I continue my transition to try to apply Hosea’s words to another congregation that is very far from here. It has been an honor to be with you for five years along a shared Jewish journey – and may you continue upon your path with a sense of mutual respect, honor and blessing. To that, I trust that we all will say…AMEN.
L’shalom,
Rabbi Larry
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Untroubled and peaceful - May 20, 2011
Shabbat Shalom!
“I will grant you peace in the land, and you shall lie down untroubled by anyone.” This declaration from Leviticus Chapter 26 verse 6 offered the Israelites reassurance about their life in the land they were about to enter. They were told that they would know that peace if they kept the divine commandments and walked in godly paths.
Yesterday, President Barack Obama discussed an approach to peace in that same land, which focused on the pre-1967 borders between Israel and the neighboring countries, borders that were actually armistice lines from Israel’s War for Independence in 1949. As I understand it, the President suggested that those borders be used as a basis for arriving at a final peace agreement that would include the creation of a Palestinian state, with “land swaps” as a mechanism for creating flexibility and reassuring Israel and the Palestinians on rights and security. President Obama also commented, “For the Palestinians, efforts to delegitimize Israel will end in failure. Symbolic actions to isolate Israel at the United Nations in September won't create an independent state. Palestinian leaders will not achieve peace or prosperity if Hamas insists on a path of terror and rejection. And Palestinians will never realize their independence by denying the right of Israel to exist…. As for security, every state has the right to self-defense, and Israel must be able to defend itself -- by itself -- against any threat. Provisions must also be robust enough to prevent a resurgence of terrorism, to stop the infiltration of weapons, and to provide effective border security. The full and phased withdrawal of Israeli military forces should be coordinated with the assumption of Palestinian security responsibility in a sovereign, non-militarized state. And the duration of this transition period must be agreed, and the effectiveness of security arrangements must be demonstrated.”
There is a great deal of ink in the printed media and space on websites that will be devoted to reactions to the President’s speech. Specificity on the exact borders to be established will continue to be a “hot-button” issue. The central question is this: Are enough people on each side ready to accept the other and their state as legitimate and deserving of a right to exist and thrive?
Time will tell if this new attempt to inch closer to an Israeli-Palestinian accord will bear fruit. Our hope for those on both sides of the conflict is that they will know true peace in the land and that they will lie down untroubled by anyone – not because of one side defeating the other in a war employing rhetoric or violence, but because they will come to see their common interests in a shared future. Perhaps, one day, this dream will become a reality.
L’shalom,
Rabbi Larry
“I will grant you peace in the land, and you shall lie down untroubled by anyone.” This declaration from Leviticus Chapter 26 verse 6 offered the Israelites reassurance about their life in the land they were about to enter. They were told that they would know that peace if they kept the divine commandments and walked in godly paths.
Yesterday, President Barack Obama discussed an approach to peace in that same land, which focused on the pre-1967 borders between Israel and the neighboring countries, borders that were actually armistice lines from Israel’s War for Independence in 1949. As I understand it, the President suggested that those borders be used as a basis for arriving at a final peace agreement that would include the creation of a Palestinian state, with “land swaps” as a mechanism for creating flexibility and reassuring Israel and the Palestinians on rights and security. President Obama also commented, “For the Palestinians, efforts to delegitimize Israel will end in failure. Symbolic actions to isolate Israel at the United Nations in September won't create an independent state. Palestinian leaders will not achieve peace or prosperity if Hamas insists on a path of terror and rejection. And Palestinians will never realize their independence by denying the right of Israel to exist…. As for security, every state has the right to self-defense, and Israel must be able to defend itself -- by itself -- against any threat. Provisions must also be robust enough to prevent a resurgence of terrorism, to stop the infiltration of weapons, and to provide effective border security. The full and phased withdrawal of Israeli military forces should be coordinated with the assumption of Palestinian security responsibility in a sovereign, non-militarized state. And the duration of this transition period must be agreed, and the effectiveness of security arrangements must be demonstrated.”
There is a great deal of ink in the printed media and space on websites that will be devoted to reactions to the President’s speech. Specificity on the exact borders to be established will continue to be a “hot-button” issue. The central question is this: Are enough people on each side ready to accept the other and their state as legitimate and deserving of a right to exist and thrive?
Time will tell if this new attempt to inch closer to an Israeli-Palestinian accord will bear fruit. Our hope for those on both sides of the conflict is that they will know true peace in the land and that they will lie down untroubled by anyone – not because of one side defeating the other in a war employing rhetoric or violence, but because they will come to see their common interests in a shared future. Perhaps, one day, this dream will become a reality.
L’shalom,
Rabbi Larry
Count Us Up and In - May 13, 2011
Shabbat Shalom!
The Jewish tradition of “counting up,” as demonstrated with the celebration of each year added to the history of Israel as a state, as well as through our observance of enumerating the days of the Omer between Passover and Shavuot, offer us a chance to be positive and optimistic. We can always find ways of seeing the glass half-full rather than half-empty, and of taking difficult situations and finding light even in the middle of supposed darkness.
The Torah reading for this week speaks of counting not only days, but years, first in sets of seven (for a “sabbatical year” for the land), and, cumulatively, in a set of seven-times-seven, where the 50th year is called a YOVEIL, usually translated as “jubilee.” In that year, at least in theory, land would return to previous owners, debts would be forgiven, slaves would go free. The sounding of the shofar would proclaim a DROR (a release, but often translated as “liberty”) that would commemorate this “grand equalization.” The jubilee was an admission and affirmation of our stewardship of the earth rather than ownership, where we are God’s representatives on earth, bound to treat the land – and other people – with care.
The jubilee experience must have been humbling, but it also has great meaning. Its message of equality at the end of a series of years of “counting up” could be a source of positive thinking about how we can affect the world. Thinking positive about the world and community is not always easy, but it is possible. One classroom exercise meant to teach that approach has the teacher create a sheet of paper for each student with his or her name on top. The papers are passed around the classroom with the instruction the students write on the paper a positive comment about that classmate. When asked to do so, we are able to “count up” and find the good in each other.
In that spirit, I would like to ask you to imagine that you have been given piece of paper that says “Temple Israel Dover” on top. I would like to ask you to write one positive comment about Temple Israel Dover in an email and send it to me. I will include your comments in my message at the annual meeting on May 22.
As we continue through the counting of the Omer, and moving to the future in general, may the increasing sunshine around us offer us a sense of optimism for the days to come.
L’shalom,
Rabbi Larry
The Jewish tradition of “counting up,” as demonstrated with the celebration of each year added to the history of Israel as a state, as well as through our observance of enumerating the days of the Omer between Passover and Shavuot, offer us a chance to be positive and optimistic. We can always find ways of seeing the glass half-full rather than half-empty, and of taking difficult situations and finding light even in the middle of supposed darkness.
The Torah reading for this week speaks of counting not only days, but years, first in sets of seven (for a “sabbatical year” for the land), and, cumulatively, in a set of seven-times-seven, where the 50th year is called a YOVEIL, usually translated as “jubilee.” In that year, at least in theory, land would return to previous owners, debts would be forgiven, slaves would go free. The sounding of the shofar would proclaim a DROR (a release, but often translated as “liberty”) that would commemorate this “grand equalization.” The jubilee was an admission and affirmation of our stewardship of the earth rather than ownership, where we are God’s representatives on earth, bound to treat the land – and other people – with care.
The jubilee experience must have been humbling, but it also has great meaning. Its message of equality at the end of a series of years of “counting up” could be a source of positive thinking about how we can affect the world. Thinking positive about the world and community is not always easy, but it is possible. One classroom exercise meant to teach that approach has the teacher create a sheet of paper for each student with his or her name on top. The papers are passed around the classroom with the instruction the students write on the paper a positive comment about that classmate. When asked to do so, we are able to “count up” and find the good in each other.
In that spirit, I would like to ask you to imagine that you have been given piece of paper that says “Temple Israel Dover” on top. I would like to ask you to write one positive comment about Temple Israel Dover in an email and send it to me. I will include your comments in my message at the annual meeting on May 22.
As we continue through the counting of the Omer, and moving to the future in general, may the increasing sunshine around us offer us a sense of optimism for the days to come.
L’shalom,
Rabbi Larry
Friday, May 6, 2011
Marking and Making Time - May 6, 2011
Shabbat Shalom!
EMOR, the Torah reading for this week, includes a complete list of the Israelite holiday calendar, including Shabbat, the counting of the Omer, Shavuot/the Feast of Weeks, the Day of Shofar Sounding (Rosh Hashanah), Yom Kippur, Sukkot, Sh’mini Atzeret (the conclusion of the fall holidays combined in many Reform congregations with Simchat Torah), and the New Moon. Judaism still offers us rituals and customs that enable us to engage in regularly making moments holy and special. Most of the above observances are about beginnings, in one way or another, or about “taking time out of life” to refresh and renew ourselves. Most of those celebrations brought the community together (a “holy convocation” means “being called together for a sacred purpose”). Hopefully, we still can hear that call to come together, not only in our many pursuits related to our ongoing activities, but also as members of a Jewish congregation.
The coming weeks present us with a variety of opportunities to congregate, as does every season of the year. A new month began this week; we will continue to “count up” as we enumerate the increasing days of the Omer; we will mark Israel’s 63 years; we will study, share our culture and customs with the greater community (at the Nosharama), join to make decisions for the future (at the Annual Meeting), and celebrate the last major festival of every Jewish year (Shavuot). This is how we, through the Jewish heritage and tradition, mark time. Please join us as we gather to continue to do what our ancestor did so long ago: to make moments special and sacred.
L’shalom,
Rabbi Larry
EMOR, the Torah reading for this week, includes a complete list of the Israelite holiday calendar, including Shabbat, the counting of the Omer, Shavuot/the Feast of Weeks, the Day of Shofar Sounding (Rosh Hashanah), Yom Kippur, Sukkot, Sh’mini Atzeret (the conclusion of the fall holidays combined in many Reform congregations with Simchat Torah), and the New Moon. Judaism still offers us rituals and customs that enable us to engage in regularly making moments holy and special. Most of the above observances are about beginnings, in one way or another, or about “taking time out of life” to refresh and renew ourselves. Most of those celebrations brought the community together (a “holy convocation” means “being called together for a sacred purpose”). Hopefully, we still can hear that call to come together, not only in our many pursuits related to our ongoing activities, but also as members of a Jewish congregation.
The coming weeks present us with a variety of opportunities to congregate, as does every season of the year. A new month began this week; we will continue to “count up” as we enumerate the increasing days of the Omer; we will mark Israel’s 63 years; we will study, share our culture and customs with the greater community (at the Nosharama), join to make decisions for the future (at the Annual Meeting), and celebrate the last major festival of every Jewish year (Shavuot). This is how we, through the Jewish heritage and tradition, mark time. Please join us as we gather to continue to do what our ancestor did so long ago: to make moments special and sacred.
L’shalom,
Rabbi Larry
Saturday, April 30, 2011
Holiness in our hands and hearts - April 29, 2011
Shabbat Shalom!
During his presentation last night, Rabbi Bill Leffler presented ideas from his book,
The Structure of Religion. Among the aspects of Jewish life that he emphasized was the centrality of making moments and life holy through our behavior. The Torah portion for this week, KEDOSHIM, begins with the declaration: “You shall be holy, for I , your Eternal God, am holy.” Leviticus Chapter 19 continues with a list of ways/behaviors which can lead us to holiness. We read this portion from the Torah on Yom Kippur afternoon to remind us how we can infuse the coming year with the sanctity we sense on the High Holy Days.
I once asked Temple leaders to put some of the verses of Leviticus Chapter 19 into modern terms, with suggestions for actions (doing mitzvot) that we are attainable and relevant today. Here is their list, and you can arrive at your own interpretations as well (feel free to email me with your ideas!).
Revere your mother and father: Be patient....be respectful of seasoned leadership.
Keep my Sabbaths: attend services....rest and study at home or anywhere.
Leave the corners of your fields for the poor and the stranger: Give tzedakah, give donations to local food pantries, support agencies that provide shelter, assistance and hot meals for people in need.
You must not steal: don't take credit for someone else's ideas.
You must not act deceitfully nor lie to one another: Don't go back on your word....Be honest.
Do not oppress your neighbor: Respect differences between people.
The wages of a laborer should not remain with you overnight until morning: Pay bills and employees on time.
Do not curse the deaf, or place a stumbling block before the blind: make all programs and homes/buildings accessible as much as possible.
Judge your neighbor justly: make fair decisions.
Do not slander others: Don't gossip.
Do not seek vengeance: Don't try to get even with anyone.
Do not bear a grudge: Forgive (but not necessarily forget).
Love your neighbor as yourself: Be considerate....don't do to someone else what is hateful to you.
Treat strangers like citizens: Welcome newcomers to your community.
This “holiness code” is still very much a part of who we are as individuals and as a people/community. Let us continue to strive to make our lives and our actions sacred in the days to come.
L’shalom,
Rabbi Larry K.
During his presentation last night, Rabbi Bill Leffler presented ideas from his book,
The Structure of Religion. Among the aspects of Jewish life that he emphasized was the centrality of making moments and life holy through our behavior. The Torah portion for this week, KEDOSHIM, begins with the declaration: “You shall be holy, for I , your Eternal God, am holy.” Leviticus Chapter 19 continues with a list of ways/behaviors which can lead us to holiness. We read this portion from the Torah on Yom Kippur afternoon to remind us how we can infuse the coming year with the sanctity we sense on the High Holy Days.
I once asked Temple leaders to put some of the verses of Leviticus Chapter 19 into modern terms, with suggestions for actions (doing mitzvot) that we are attainable and relevant today. Here is their list, and you can arrive at your own interpretations as well (feel free to email me with your ideas!).
Revere your mother and father: Be patient....be respectful of seasoned leadership.
Keep my Sabbaths: attend services....rest and study at home or anywhere.
Leave the corners of your fields for the poor and the stranger: Give tzedakah, give donations to local food pantries, support agencies that provide shelter, assistance and hot meals for people in need.
You must not steal: don't take credit for someone else's ideas.
You must not act deceitfully nor lie to one another: Don't go back on your word....Be honest.
Do not oppress your neighbor: Respect differences between people.
The wages of a laborer should not remain with you overnight until morning: Pay bills and employees on time.
Do not curse the deaf, or place a stumbling block before the blind: make all programs and homes/buildings accessible as much as possible.
Judge your neighbor justly: make fair decisions.
Do not slander others: Don't gossip.
Do not seek vengeance: Don't try to get even with anyone.
Do not bear a grudge: Forgive (but not necessarily forget).
Love your neighbor as yourself: Be considerate....don't do to someone else what is hateful to you.
Treat strangers like citizens: Welcome newcomers to your community.
This “holiness code” is still very much a part of who we are as individuals and as a people/community. Let us continue to strive to make our lives and our actions sacred in the days to come.
L’shalom,
Rabbi Larry K.
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