June 3rd is our final Shabbat Beineinu on the UWS (until September).
RSVP today.
Let's celebrate Shabbat together with friends, great music and delicious food.
Looking forward to seeing you there.
Friday evening marks the 35th day of the Counting of the Omer. We are finishing 5 weeks leaving only two until we receive the Torah - the most precious gift and most awesome obligation.
Week five was dedicated to humility. We have been asked to reflect on our capacity to be humble. What are the obstacles that keep me from being humble? Does it separate me from others or bring me closer? We have been given an opportunity, an invitation to imagine our humility being a source for building something lasting.
This 5th quality, part of each of us and (supposedly also part of God) is a tool for building strength between us and others.
Mekor Ha'Chayiim, Source of Life, as we make our way into Shabbat let us take time to reflect on our humility, the things that get in the way of being our best self, and let us share some of that truth with others. Let the truth be pointed back onto us to help us to deepen our humility and ultimately use it to grow.
Shabbat shalom u'mevorach,
Laurie
5.20.16 Make Room
It's a beautiful day and it's going to be a gorgeous evening. Join Beineinu and Congregation Mt. Sinai for a Shabbat celebration UNDER THE BRIDGE. 6:30pm, Brooklyn Bridge Park - BYOPicnic (Scroll down for full details.)
A little (big and important) Torah:
I tend to have an opinion and something to say about pretty much everything. However, this Shabbat, I am going to give the space to a very important voice, Chief Executive Officer of the New Israel Fund, Daniel Sokatch's. Please read his piece from May 19th, and the article from Ha'aretz, Israel and Palestine without Absolutes (included at the end). Share with others. It's provocative and reinforces the critical need to make room for multiple narratives and multiple truths in order to create real change and achieve real progress in Israel.
Continue the conversation by joining us on June 2nd for THIS PLACE, at the Brooklyn Museum of Art:
This Place explores the complexity of Israel and the West Bank, as place and metaphor, through the eyes of twelve internationally acclaimed photographers. (Scroll down for specific details).
Shabbat shalom u'mevorach - may Shabbat be filled with rest and blessing,
Laurie
A little (big and important) Torah:
I tend to have an opinion and something to say about pretty much everything. However, this Shabbat, I am going to give the space to a very important voice, Chief Executive Officer of the New Israel Fund, Daniel Sokatch's. Please read his piece from May 19th, and the article from Ha'aretz, Israel and Palestine without Absolutes (included at the end). Share with others. It's provocative and reinforces the critical need to make room for multiple narratives and multiple truths in order to create real change and achieve real progress in Israel.
Continue the conversation by joining us on June 2nd for THIS PLACE, at the Brooklyn Museum of Art:
This Place explores the complexity of Israel and the West Bank, as place and metaphor, through the eyes of twelve internationally acclaimed photographers. (Scroll down for specific details).
Shabbat shalom u'mevorach - may Shabbat be filled with rest and blessing,
Laurie
The Hope is Still Here, We Just Have to Make Room for It
19 May 2016
What a day in Israeli politics. What a day for Israel. After last year’s elections, Prime Minister Netanyahu cobbled together the narrowest of majorities: a coalition government of 61 seats, the bare minimum needed to govern. This was hardly an ideal situation; the defection of a single coalition member could result in the government falling and new elections. So it was no surprise that, from the moment the coalition was formed, rumors circulated that a new deal was in the works: Prime Minister Netanyahu was said to be in talks with opposition leader Isaac Herzog, leader of the Labor Party, the senior partner in the Zionist Union — the second largest Knesset faction — about Labor entering the coalition to form a broad national unity government. In recent weeks, those rumors reached fever pitch, and then the news broke: despite significant internal opposition on both sides, talks were indeed taking place about Labor joining the government.
But yesterday it all fell apart. Instead of turning to Labor, the Prime Minister offered the Defense Ministry to Avigdor Lieberman, leader of the Yisrael Beteinu (“Israel is Our Home”) party, the only far-right wing party currently in the Opposition. Lieberman, who formerly served as Foreign Minister, is a hardliner who has called for the death penalty for terrorists, for Israel to rid itself of parts of the country in which most Arab Israeli citizens reside, and for the beheading of Arab Israeli citizens who are deemed insufficiently loyal to the state. He has also called for the bombing of Egypt’s Aswan Dam, and for the toppling of the Palestinian Authority.
As I write this, it is still unclear whether or not this latest deal will go through. And some pundits have commented that this all may be an elaborate shot across the bow of the IDF, after the current Defense Minister (no liberal himself) defended the right of the IDF top brass to speak their minds about their concerns over growing racism and extremism in Israeli society. Either way, the political landscape in Israel is once again shifting, and yet another voice of extremism, intolerance, and divisiveness seems poised to assume one of the most powerful positions in the land.
It is against this troubling background that I want to draw your attention, for a moment, from the headlines to the grassroots. Because underneath the radar, tens of thousands of Israelis are working to change their reality, to protect liberal democracy and to build a truly shared society. Aside from newsletters like this one, their stories often go unnoticed and unremarked on. But as you in the NIF community know, their stories are an inspiration, a reason not to give up a hope, and the most powerful antidote I know to the sense of despair that results from just reading the headlines on days like today. In that spirit, I want to share with you a recent op-ed written by my friend Avrum Burg, and his friend Ghaida Rinawie Zoabi. In it, they describe the spirit that animates them, and the thousands of other Israelis working, every day, to build a truly shared society, an Israel that they – and we who support them – can be proud of.
From Ha'aretz: Israel and Palestine Without Absolutes
From Ha'aretz: Israel and Palestine Without Absolutes
5.13.16 Holy Brothers! Holy Sisters!
FEED THE HUNGRY ON MAY 21st, 8:00am (scroll down for details)
WE realize it's an early morning program on a Saturday
AND it's VERY IMPORTANT
YOU will literally be saving lives.
Parashat Kedoshim
Leviticus 19:1-20:2-27
Jackpot! Score! High-five! Yes! Winner! These are all natural responses to the opening of this Torah portion. It's right there in black and white, whether it is written on parchment or paper. We ARE holy because God is holy. We have been singled out for holiness. We have an automatic status of holiness simply because God is holy. According to verse 2, holiness is not something we have to work for to achieve. Holiness is not something set aside only for certain people. Everyone, every-one IS holy by virtue of the fact (belief) that God is holy. Woo hoo!
Finished and done!
Holy brothers and sisters, if only it were truly that simple. Yes, the portion opens with God telling Moses (to tell the Israelites) that we are holy because God is holy. However, the rest of the Torah portion is basically a list of commandments that must be obeyed in order for the holiness to be activated and maintained.
Kedoshim takes me all the way back to the first Torah portion, B'reishit, the story of Creation. God creates humans in God's image with certain God-like abilities. We have God-like abilities because God is God. In this Torah portion we are also singled out by God, from all other creations and given this tremendous power and opportunity. The part that excites, intrigues and inspires me most, is how humanity is given life. God breathes into the nostrils of human being and life is activated. We are the living vessel for God's breath.
Humanities first breath is literally God's breath. This breath is filled with possibility. And then, we have a lifetime to decide how to use our breath. Will we create or destroy (like God)? Will we honor or disregard? Will we elevate or degrade? Will we care for or ignore? Will we defend or be silent? Will we choose to love and live through the lens that everyone, every-one is created in the image of God with God-like abilities?
Kedoshim is asking us to revisit our pledge. No matter what, the status of holy is ours. We are born with it and it's our forever.
God reminds us of the different ways to nurture and uphold this unique and very awesome gift. We must honor our mothers and fathers. Actually the text says "fear" (literally; "be in awe of"). We must keep Shabbat. We must treat others the way we want to be treated. There it is, that golden rule. The teaching that has permeated every culture, every society, every community around the world. Everyone, every-one believes (at least claims to believe) that everyone, every-one should be treated the way she/he wants others to treat her/him.
"V'ahavtah l'rei-echa kamocha." Love your neighbor (lit. "friend") as you love yourself. Hopefully it is easy to love our friends. Many rabbis expand the verse to include family members (hopefully this is easy too) and even the other, the one you don't know or perhaps haven't even met. This is where the real work happens. When we can love, care for, acknowledge, respect and value the life of the other, the stranger, then we have truly fulfilled the mitzvah of loving the other. When we can honor the one we don't know, either because we haven't taken time to get to know them or because we have decided there is something we don't like, then we have earned the right to remain vessels of God's breath.
I invite each of us to reflect on our breath and the power that we have to elevate and diminish. Let's honor every breath through the intentionality by which we engage the other. What if we greeted one another as "Holy brother" and "Holy sister". How might that create a closeness that has otherwise been difficult to establish? How might referring to one another as holy shift the way we behave? How much deeper and fuller might our personal "kedushah"/holiness be if we were to embrace with a full heart the holiness in the one who is not like us?
Let's try it and see what happens.
Holy brothers and sisters, may Shabbat be filled with blessing and rest,
Laurie
5.6.19 Entering week 3
Did you already make plans for this evening? Change them.
Join us for "Shabbat Beineinu"; musical service, followed by yummy dinner!
Everyone is welcome.
Details provided below, along with information about upcoming opportunities.
Our counting continues.
5 more weeks until we receive the Torah anew.
Will you be ready?
Give yourself the gift of making time for personal reflection and the daily exercises.
The possibilities are endless.
(Teachings provided by: Meaningful Life Center; wisdomreb@meaningfullife.com)
Join us for "Shabbat Beineinu"; musical service, followed by yummy dinner!
Everyone is welcome.
Our counting continues.
5 more weeks until we receive the Torah anew.
Will you be ready?
Give yourself the gift of making time for personal reflection and the daily exercises.
The possibilities are endless.
(Teachings provided by: Meaningful Life Center; wisdomreb@meaningfullife.com)
Thursday evening, May 5,
"Bonding in Discipline"
we counted thirteen days, which is one week and six days of the Omer.
Yesod of Gevurah"Bonding in Discipline"
For discipline to be effective it must be coupled with commitment and bonding. Both in disciplining yourself and others there has to be a sense that the discipline is important for developing a stronger bond. Not that I discipline you, but that we are doing it together for our mutual benefit.
Exercise for the day: Demonstrate to your child or student how discipline is an expression of intensifying your bond and commitment to each other.
Exercise for the day: Demonstrate to your child or student how discipline is an expression of intensifying your bond and commitment to each other.
Tonight, Friday evening, May 6,
we count fourteen days, which is two weeks of the Omer.
we count fourteen days, which is two weeks of the Omer.
Malchut of Gevurah
"Nobility of Discipline"
Discipline, like love, must enhance personal dignity. Discipline that breaks a person will backfire. Healthy discipline should bolster self-esteem and help elicit the best in a person; cultivating his sovereignty. Does my discipline cripple the human spirit; does it weaken or strengthen me and others?
Exercise for the day: When disciplining your child or student, foster his self-respect.
Saturday evening, May 7,
we count fifteen days, which is two weeks and one day of the Omer.
Exercise for the day: When disciplining your child or student, foster his self-respect.
Saturday evening, May 7,
we count fifteen days, which is two weeks and one day of the Omer.
Chesed of Tiferet
"Lovingkindness in Compassion"
Examine the love aspect of compassion. Ask yourself: Is my compassion tender and loving or does it come across as pity? Is my sympathy condescending and patronizing? Even if my intention is otherwise, do others perceive it as such? Does my compassion overflow with love and warmth; is it expressed with enthusiasm, or is it static and lifeless?
Exercise for the day: When helping someone extend yourself in the fullest way; offer a smile or a loving gesture.
Exercise for the day: When helping someone extend yourself in the fullest way; offer a smile or a loving gesture.
4.29.16 Counting Up to Receive and Reclaim
Hope your seder was filled with meaning and joy. Have you figured out ten new ways to eat matzah? Personally, my favorites are (oldies and goodies); my abba's fried matzah (with syrup) and plain matzah with cream cheese and jam. As you are thinking about matzah, what better time to register for the upcoming Shabbat Beineinu on May 6th? Celebrate Shabbat and replenish your chametz with music and friends. Scroll down for details.
Passover is hard work. One would think we might deserve a break and just have some time to relax and just be. Oh no, that is not the case at all.
The second night of Passover begins a journey towards receiving and reclaiming Torah. It's called counting the Omer (a measure of barley). We count seven weeks ending at Shavuot (which literally means "weeks") - the holiday that celebrates the giving of the Torah. According to the Torah,Leviticus 23:15–16, we could just count one, two, three...all the way to forty-nine. But, that would be mundane and Judaism is anything but mundane (right?). The Kabbalists (Jewish mystics) certainly thought it would be far more meaningful and more fulfilling to live a life immersed in deep spirituality. So instead of just counting one, two, three...forty-nine, we are given seven qualities to reflect upon in preparation for receiving and reclaiming Torah.
1. Chesed - "Lovingkindness"
2. Gevurah - "Discipline"
3. Tiferet - "Beauty"
4. Netzach - "Eternity"
5. Hod - "Splendour"
6.Yesod - "Foundation"
7. Malkuth - "Nobility"
Each of the seven weeks is dedicated to one of the qualities and the intersection between that specific quality and itself and the other six. Doing this inner work will enhance the journey to Shavuot and make us more ready to receive and reclaim Torah. This first week is dedicated to Chesed, "Lovingkindness". Am I generous with my love? Is it unconditional? Can I expand my Chesed?
There are many many many contemporary writings and exercises available to support our effort and guide our reflection. The following comes from Simon Jacobson, Meaningful Life Center (see details below for how to subscribe).
Mekor Ha'Chayiim, Source of Life, as we make our way into Shabbat and closer to receiving and reclaiming Torah, may we be mindful of the personal chametz (that which makes us puffy - stuck, unaware and closed) we are shedding during Pesach, so we may do the inner work necessary to draw closer to becoming our best selves.
Shabbat Shalom and Happy Counting!
Laurie
Passover is hard work. One would think we might deserve a break and just have some time to relax and just be. Oh no, that is not the case at all.
The second night of Passover begins a journey towards receiving and reclaiming Torah. It's called counting the Omer (a measure of barley). We count seven weeks ending at Shavuot (which literally means "weeks") - the holiday that celebrates the giving of the Torah. According to the Torah,Leviticus 23:15–16, we could just count one, two, three...all the way to forty-nine. But, that would be mundane and Judaism is anything but mundane (right?). The Kabbalists (Jewish mystics) certainly thought it would be far more meaningful and more fulfilling to live a life immersed in deep spirituality. So instead of just counting one, two, three...forty-nine, we are given seven qualities to reflect upon in preparation for receiving and reclaiming Torah.
1. Chesed - "Lovingkindness"
2. Gevurah - "Discipline"
3. Tiferet - "Beauty"
4. Netzach - "Eternity"
5. Hod - "Splendour"
6.Yesod - "Foundation"
7. Malkuth - "Nobility"
Each of the seven weeks is dedicated to one of the qualities and the intersection between that specific quality and itself and the other six. Doing this inner work will enhance the journey to Shavuot and make us more ready to receive and reclaim Torah. This first week is dedicated to Chesed, "Lovingkindness". Am I generous with my love? Is it unconditional? Can I expand my Chesed?
There are many many many contemporary writings and exercises available to support our effort and guide our reflection. The following comes from Simon Jacobson, Meaningful Life Center (see details below for how to subscribe).
Mekor Ha'Chayiim, Source of Life, as we make our way into Shabbat and closer to receiving and reclaiming Torah, may we be mindful of the personal chametz (that which makes us puffy - stuck, unaware and closed) we are shedding during Pesach, so we may do the inner work necessary to draw closer to becoming our best selves.
Shabbat Shalom and Happy Counting!
Laurie
|
|
4.21.16 A little Passover
Passover begins tomorrow evening with Shabbat. Many will be seated with family and friends around tables featuring a seder plate, piles of matzah, cups of salt water, bottles of wine and bowls of charoset(the wine, nut and date mixture that represents the mortar - odd that something so yummy is the symbol of tragedy - perhaps this makes it "easier" to retell the story every year?). And of course, also on the table, will be Haggadot (pl for Haggadah, the book used to tell the story).
We greet one another with hugs, kisses and warmth, get settled in our chairs (perhaps with a pillow for reclining), and begin retelling the story of the Exodus of the Israelites from Egypt. We retell our story of transformation from slavery and oppression to liberation and freedom.
So far, I have attended 94 seders (that's 2 per year for 47 years). From the time I can remember, which is around age 5, this was my favorite holiday. My family hosted for over 35 years. The same core group of people attended and a lot of the same conversations took place. So many amazing memories. But, there is one that resides at the top of the list. My parents sent my sister and I to Jewish Day School as did some of their friends who were also at the Seder. The parents were convinced that all of the Hebrew in the Haggadah could be sung. Nothing gave them more pleasure than hearing us sing in Hebrew. When we were young, we argued relentlessly that some were actually not songs and just Hebrew. But, our parents would not let up. Ultimately, we would give in and essentially make up melodies for the Hebrew content. We would sing and they would be grinning from ear to ear. Eventually, we stopped arguing and automatically launched into song.
As I got older the meaning of the rituals played a more significant role in the seder and I began approaching the different pieces of the seder more seriously and with more intentionality (as opposed to just reading the words). The order of the Seder, The 4 Children, The 4 Questions, the obligation for each of us to see ourselves as if we were slaves in Egypt, the teachings of the rabbis, The 10 Plagues, the promise of "next year in Jerusalem", each component represents historic and contemporary challenges.
Passover is still my favorite holiday and also the most challenging.
"Egypt" is still happening today. Throughout the world (even in America), slavery, violence, oppression, genocide, hunger, poverty, inequality and injustice against humanity are a reality. Passover is the time to pause and focus. It is the time to retell our story, acknowledge the wrongs of society and reclaim our commitment to "liberty and justice for all." Our efforts can create change in the lives of others. Perhaps someday, when we sit down to Seder, we will just be telling the story of what happened and no longer of what's happening.
Where will each of us lean?
May your Seder be filled with meaning (and sweet/yummy charoset, games, stories and questions).
Mekor Ha'Chayiim, Source of Life, may we have the courage to use our freedom to help free others.
Shabbat shalom u'mevorach, (a restFULL and blessed Shabbat), Laurie
Lean into justice and make something happen.
A note from Rabbi Jonah Dov Pesner, Director, Religious Action Center: As we relive the story of the Exodus of the Israelites from Egypt, our Passover seders are filled with moments of sadness, somber reflection and even a taste of bitterness. These heavy moments, however, are matched by moments of joy and celebration as we similarly experience the redemption and liberation of leaving bondage for the Promised Land.
We cannot ignore the many parallels between the Israelites’ journey thousands of years ago and social injustices of today. We encourage you to use one of the RAC’s many haggadah inserts to incorporate themes of racial justice, environmental justice and more into your holiday observance.
4.15.16 JOIN THE WRESTLING TEAM
"WRESTLING JERUSALEM"
Written and performed by Aaron Davidman
"Set in America, Israel and Palestine, WRESTLING JERUSALEM follows one man’s journey to understand the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Davidman’s solo performance is a personal story that grapples with the complexities of identity, history and social justice. Giving voice to over a dozen different characters, the play sheds light on one of the most entrenched conflicts of our time." http://www.wrestlingjerusalem.com/
Last night I had the privilege of seeing this play. Aaron weaves together the stories of 18 different characters. For the first time I felt multiple narratives were being portrayed with equal weight and equal validity. Multiple truths were able to stand together and have the opportunity to be equally visible. See it!
Aaron enters stage right and begins rattling off the list while pointing to individual audience members.
Paraphrasing the actor (not very well but hopefully you will get the idea):
You might say it's because of the settlements.
You might say it's because of suicide bombings.
You might say it's because of Nentanyahu.
You might say it's because of Arafat.
It's because of the ultra religious.
It's because of the wall.
It's because of the tunnels.
It's because of Hamas.
It's because of the fact that they will never accept a State for the Jews.
If only the media were more balanced.
If only AIPAC would be critical of Israel.
If only JSTREET wouldn't be so critical of Israel.
If only Rabin wouldn't have been killed.
If only we hadn't killed Rabin.
It's Obama.
It's Iran.
Iran.
One of the biggest challenges is that each of us has the reason, the one reason why the situation cannot be resolved. Whether we are supporting a two state solution, a one state solution, continuing the building of settlements, ending the occupation, BDS, no NO BDS, we blame the lack of progress on that one reason. We do not seem willing to accept or at least appreciate the more reasonable and logical possibility of there being many many many reasons.
We might not be able to change peoples' minds or implement the policies we desire but we do have the ability to choose to open ourselves up to the fact that multiple factors, which at times seem to be competing with one another, impact any kind of resolution. We can choose to engage in these competing narratives without insisting that ours is the truth and the others are false. We can choose to accept the existence of multiple truths.
Perhaps this is the time to let go of being right.
Mekor Ha'Chayiim, Source of Life, as we move into Shabbat, may we use the 25 hours to replace being right with being committed to humanity.
May Shabbat be filled with wholeness and blessing.
Shabbat shalom u'mevorach,
Laurie
Written and performed by Aaron Davidman
"Set in America, Israel and Palestine, WRESTLING JERUSALEM follows one man’s journey to understand the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Davidman’s solo performance is a personal story that grapples with the complexities of identity, history and social justice. Giving voice to over a dozen different characters, the play sheds light on one of the most entrenched conflicts of our time." http://www.wrestlingjerusalem.com/
Last night I had the privilege of seeing this play. Aaron weaves together the stories of 18 different characters. For the first time I felt multiple narratives were being portrayed with equal weight and equal validity. Multiple truths were able to stand together and have the opportunity to be equally visible. See it!
Aaron enters stage right and begins rattling off the list while pointing to individual audience members.
Paraphrasing the actor (not very well but hopefully you will get the idea):
You might say it's because of the settlements.
You might say it's because of suicide bombings.
You might say it's because of Nentanyahu.
You might say it's because of Arafat.
It's because of the ultra religious.
It's because of the wall.
It's because of the tunnels.
It's because of Hamas.
It's because of the fact that they will never accept a State for the Jews.
If only the media were more balanced.
If only AIPAC would be critical of Israel.
If only JSTREET wouldn't be so critical of Israel.
If only Rabin wouldn't have been killed.
If only we hadn't killed Rabin.
It's Obama.
It's Iran.
Iran.
One of the biggest challenges is that each of us has the reason, the one reason why the situation cannot be resolved. Whether we are supporting a two state solution, a one state solution, continuing the building of settlements, ending the occupation, BDS, no NO BDS, we blame the lack of progress on that one reason. We do not seem willing to accept or at least appreciate the more reasonable and logical possibility of there being many many many reasons.
We might not be able to change peoples' minds or implement the policies we desire but we do have the ability to choose to open ourselves up to the fact that multiple factors, which at times seem to be competing with one another, impact any kind of resolution. We can choose to engage in these competing narratives without insisting that ours is the truth and the others are false. We can choose to accept the existence of multiple truths.
Perhaps this is the time to let go of being right.
Mekor Ha'Chayiim, Source of Life, as we move into Shabbat, may we use the 25 hours to replace being right with being committed to humanity.
May Shabbat be filled with wholeness and blessing.
Shabbat shalom u'mevorach,
Laurie
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)