Category: Relationships

Shabbat Shalom

As part of our recent CCAR* cultural trip to Israel, we visited Polyphony, an organization dedicated to teaching music to young people, Arab and Jew, together.  One of the great gifts of humankind is Western Classical Music.  The message of this school is that this music belongs to all of us; We all have access to this beauty, regardless of our backgrounds, and through music, we can come together sharing this exquisite high art form.

The following is a clip produced by Polyphony promoting their important work.  It is a message of hope and building bridges through the common language of music.  Watching the young students perform works of the Masters was inspirational and a wonderful way to welcome Shabbat.

Shabbat Shalom

*CCAR- Central Conference of American Rabbis

Shabbat Shalom

We still believe that there is a better place, a promised land, and the way there is through the wilderness.  There is no way for us to get from here to there, except by joining hands, marching together. (Mishkan Tefillah, adapted)

If you can, be at the rally in New York this Sunday to express solidarity as a first step toward achieving the values that are at the center of Judaism and America.  Together as the Jewish community of the United States with all others of goodwill, we will overcome forces of hatred and bigotry.  There is much work to be done and miles to go before we sleep.  Together we can get there.

Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening

By Robert Frost

Whose woods these are I think I know.
His house is in the village though;
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow.

My little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farmhouse near
Between the woods and frozen lake
The darkest evening of the year.

He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there is some mistake.
The only other sound’s the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake.

The woods are lovely, dark and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.

Shabbat Shalom

 

A Thanksgiving message from Toldot

So, it turns out that maybe mine is not the only family described as dysfunctional.  Family dynamics have always been difficult.  Toldot shares unique stories of the tensions that can exist, based on things like sibling rivalries, deception, favoritism, and selfishness.

We can see ourselves and our own family of origin in Toldot, even if not quite as extreme as portrayed here or in other cultural storytelling such as Game of Thrones, Succession, and an almost countless list of movies and literature.  Any story involving family draws on the deep well of our own experiences creating drama that imagination alone could never rival.

I am blessed to have a special brother.  We have found each other again after too much time apart.  He is a person I admire and respect as well as love, but it took a while for me to mature enough to put the sibling rivalry in its proper place and embrace him.  Families are complicated.

The members of a family are individuals, each with distinct personalities and gifts.  Each of us is different.  But, we can still be united in the bond that is family.  It is said that Blood is thicker than water (a saying traced back to 13th century Germany)[1]. I always knew that my brother would be there if I needed him, as I would for him, regardless of where we were.

Isaac, Rachel, Esau, and Jacob all had parts to play in the strange stories we recount in Toldot.  The drama played out in ways that left indelible stains, scarring people like blood on cloth.  Overcoming bad actions or even bad actors is a great challenge. This is a crucial message of this week’s Torah portion.   Although we are unable to control things happen to us,  we can control how we respond to them.   Events and life experiences can shape our view of the world and our relationships.  How we understand those lessons will determine our course.

This Thanksgiving, I am grateful for the blessing in my life. Today is not the day to dwell on past disappointments (unless your football team loses perhaps).  We can approach today with an open heart.  Although my brother and I will be at different tables, he and his family are present in my heart.   I hope that we all find ways to come together united in friendship, fellowship, and love.

Happy Thanksgiving!

[1]           https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blood_is_thicker_than_water