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Jan 31, 2010 at 05:55 PM |
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One Mitzvah leads to another mitzvah, one sin leads to another sin….it is good to be a Tzadik, a righteous person.
These are the words of a song I learned in summer camp many moons ago. It was only later that I learned the English meaning to the Hebrew I sang with so much ruach and koach and that it was not just a camp song but a quote from Pirke Avot, the Wisdom of our Sages. While the melody does not fit with my response to the catastrophic earth quake in Haiti the words certainly do.
Many of us are going to reach out to do acts of righteousness, fulfill the mitzvah/obligation of loving kindness by giving to support the relief efforts in Haiti. It is my hope that we build on that spirit of caring and kindness not only for Haiti but in our everyday lives. After the wide variety of disasters over the last few years: 9/11, Hurricanes, Tsunamis, fires…I have been struck by the way people have come forward to unite with a sense of giving to repair the damage of these disasters, human and natural, working to make the world a better place. I have often said that I hope that the spirit of giving and team/community work in times of disaster won’t dissipate too quickly. We need to build on these moments of strength and find this gear of tzedakah in our lives beyond the immediate need. I feel that this is a gate way to solving issues of hunger, homelessness, poverty…. We have to find ways for these mitzvot to lead to others.
But Pirke Avot does not only mention mitzvah. It cautions about sin. As I have watched the situation and response in Haiti, I have been very aware of times when people have not been acting with their good inclination but rather their bad inclination. While watching the suffering in Haiti, I hear people (including myself) talk/act with a lack of patience, with frustration, anger, with a lack of respect for others/situations. As Pirke Avot cautions, each of these acts pulls a little bit of goodness or injects a little bit of negative energy into our world. Each act builds to another. Especially in these times, when there is so much pain in our world (some will say that it is always there) do we really want to/need to give any more negativity to the world?
IF we want to make the world right, if we want to be righteous people, the formula is simple…but hard to live out. As we respond to Haiti and other situations of brokenness in our lives and world, let us be conscious, considerate and active in being agents of Tikkun Olam, bringing as much positive, healing energy with all that we do. Write Comment (0 comments) |
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Last Updated ( Feb 08, 2010 at 12:04 PM )
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Jan 01, 2010 at 08:30 AM |
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In the heart of winter our Torah reading cycle connects with our agricultural calendar to bring two seemingly unconnected experiences together, Shabbat Shirah and Tu b’Shevat. Every year, we celebrate a special Shabbat: Shabbat Shirah. This is the Shabbat when we read the praise of God said/sung by our people as they crossed the Sea of Reeds on their way to freedom from years of slavery in Egypt. As we learn through Midrash, the action we celebrate is not simply standing on the shore and celebrating freedom, but the awe the People of Israel felt as they crossed the sea and understood the miracle of the water held back so they could cross. Rather than kvetch at the mucky bottom they had to walk on they took note of the beauty, the power and wonder, of the water around them.
Tu b’Shevat is the Birthday of the trees. This is the day when we count the age of a tree for the sake of orlah (we can only eat from a tree that is 3 years old or is some cases 7) and asarot (tithes we have to make an offering of a tenth of our produce to remember it is a gift from God). Before we eat the fruits of trees we have to consider our relationship to them, how we plant and care for them and thank God for their fruits.
This year these two observances are connected by more than just the calendar. This year on Shabbat Shirah/Tu b’Shevat we dedicate two areas of our campus that connect illustrate the lessons of these days. On Friday night January 29th during our service, we will dedicate our Biblical Garden in memory of Benjamin and Janice Block. This Garden filled with five of the Seven Species of Israel (we have olive, date, fig, pomegranate, grapes, but not wheat and barley) and all four of the species of the Lulav (palm, willow, myrtle, and etrog) is a passage way from one side of our campus to the other. Like the Israelites crossing the Sea we have an opportunity to stop and take notice of our surroundings as we make this passage. This Biblical Garden is filled with the natural beauty of our Land of Israel and the story of our people. It is filled with lots of sweet miracles and the sacred energy of growing things. If we focus only on our destination and don’t witness the steps of our journey [through this Garden] we can miss out and even diminish the experience of our arrival at the end.
On this night we cross this Garden to say a Thank You to those that helped us acquire this side of the Dr. Stanley Steyer Campus. We will say Shehecheyanu as we dedicate a Donor Wall and realize what this expanded space has meant to the growth of Temple Beth Shalom. This donor Wall, created by local artist Sharon Sexton, continues the theme of the fruits of our labor and our land. Added to the special species of Israel you will see depictions of oranges on the tiles. This one of a kind creation reminds us that the story of our people is planted in new soil and we enjoy the fruits of Florida and Indian River County. Like Tu b’shevat, this Donor Wall is about counting our blessings and thanking God while we enjoy the fruits of our labor.
Rabbi Michael Birnholz
Temple Beth Shalom
Vero Beach, Florida
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Last Updated ( Jan 01, 2010 at 08:32 AM )
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Dec 02, 2009 at 05:08 PM |
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December Scroll Article
“Two Jews, three opinions…” How often whether on topics of synagogue politics, ritual practice, social justice, home repair do we find ourselves in committee and uttering this line. That we listen, record and honor multiple minority perspectives is one of the dynamics of Jewish discourse that both drives us crazy and gives us incredible strength. Write Comment (0 comments) |
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Last Updated ( Dec 17, 2009 at 07:50 AM )
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