2.17.17 Prayer for Peace

A poem about peace:

O God!  Set a Light in My Heart

O God!

Set a light in my heart
And a light in my tongue
Set a ligh tin my ear
And a light in my eye
A light behind me; and a light in fron of me
And set a light above me

O God!
Give me light.
(From the Muslim Tradition, Al-Ghazali,  Ihyd, Ulum al-Din, Part 1, ninth book. Translated by Shira Elqayam)

Mekor Ha'Chayiim, Source of Life, as we move into Shabbat may we be mindful or the capacity of our inner light.  May we use our light to bring light and love to others.

Shabbat shalom,
Laurie

2.10.17 Who decides? Pharoah? God? You & me?

      LET'S DECOMPRESS TOGETHER - SHABBAT BEINEINU TONIGHT AT 6:30PM - DETAILS BELOW

Join the HIAS MARCH this Sunday:

HIAS, the refugee agency of the Jewish community, is rallying on Sunday, in Battery Park, 11:00am-1:00pm, to demand that America's doors are reopened to refugees fleeing violence and persecution. In the shadow of the Statue of Liberty we will honor a symbol of freedom and welcome for many generations of immigrants. The NYC rally is the flagship action in a national Jewish Day of Action for Refugees. Click to find information about other actions around the country.

Let's talk about power.  It seems to be on a lot of people's minds.  It might even be accurate to say it's on the minds of our whole country.  A lot has been happening over the past couple of weeks and it's likely that a lot more will continue to happen.  Regardless of where each of us falls on the political spectrum, regardless of the labels we choose or intentionally don't choose to identfy ourselves, regardless of our beliefs, we can and should (I rarely use "should"), get involved in the conversation of power.  Who has power?  Who doesn't?  What support power?  What challenges power?  The questions around power are endless.

This week's Torah portion, B'shalach is a fantastic launch pad into this conversation.  We find ourselves at the end of the Egypt saga.  Pharoah, no God, no Moses - one of them, or is it all of them, has finally released the Hebrews from bondage and 600,000 people are now fleeing the land where they have been enslaved for 400 years.  600,000 Hebrews are following Moses to somewhere.  Their first stop, the Sea of Reeds.  They come to the edge of the waters and immediately panic and begin shouting at Moses for taking them out of Egypt.  "Why did you take us out of Egypt, only to die in the desert?"  This will happen over and over and over again.  God comes to the rescue, this too will happen over and over and over again, and parts the Sea with the use of Moses' staff.  The waters split and stand at attention like two ginormous (it's a word) walls.  The Israelites begin to cross.  At the same time, Pharoah changes his mind (Or did God finally release the grip on Pharoah's heart?) and commands his entire army to chase after them and bring them back.  

The Israelites are now half way across when the Egyptian soliders enter the dry land of the Sea.  The moment the Israelites step out of the dry sea onto dry land, the walls of water tumble down hard and consume every Egyptian soldier and horse.  They all drown.  The Israelites watch this and at that moment the price of freedom is confirmed. They begin to sing a song recapping the events that unfolded in the Sea and then turn and begin a celebration of their freedom. FINALLY!

There is no denying that in the Torah, God has ALL of the power.  God has ALL of the power OVER everyone and everything.  God has ALL of the power and is NOT shy about using it.  God determines the fate of everyone and everyting.  Commentators from centuries and even hours ago have debated the Why?  What?  and When? of God's power.  You and I are also entitled to evaluate and interpret for ourselves.  That is a powerful and beautiful part of our tradition.  That was then.

Today, things are different.  Today, we have ALL of the power.  We/humanit have ALL of the power OVER everyone and everything.  Of course not all humans have equal power.  Some have more than others.  Some have none. But, human beings have the responsiblity of caring for and determining the fate of the OTHER.  We can choose to include an element of that which is holy, larger than us, God or not.  We live within contemporary society - layered into the fabric of America - separating "Church and State".   We work, play and live within the laws and enjoy/benefit from all of the freedoms.  For this I am grateful.  This past week I began serving on a jury and am realizing that this role illustrates the shift from Torah to now more than any other situation.  A jury determines the fate of the OTHER, not the attorneys and not even the judge.  A jury holds power over the OTHER.  It is initmadating and awe full.  

Mekor Ha'Chayiim, Source of life, as we move into Shabbat, may we all be mindful of the power we have over the OTHER.  May we always be mindful of using our power with care, integrity and grace.

Shabbat shalom,

Laurie

2.3.17 BE KIND

be kind
It's simple.
be kind
It's easy.
be kind
It's free.
be kind
It (can be) fast.
be kind
It matters.

That's the whole Torah.  "The rest is commentary."*

*Famous quote from Rabbi Hillel in response to a man who challenged him by asking; [You think you are so smart Rabbi], "Tell me the whole Torah on one foot."  Full quote:  "Love your neighbor/other.  The rest is commentary."

CHECKING IN:  have you taken on the "3 a day challenge"?  3 acts of kindness every day (at least 2 for people you don't know)

AND...
PURIM IS COMING. It's going to be GREAT!
DON'T MISS THE PARTY!(scroll down for details)