Rabbi Eleanor Steinman

Yesterday the Supreme Court of the United States heard oral arguments about the freedom to marry in this country. Now, we wait. This is a psalm I crafted in 2013 when SCOTUS heard the Prop 8 and DOMA cases and again, we waited. Please share this with attribution as appropriate.

A Waiting Psalm (an interpretation of Psalm 118)

By Rabbi Eleanor Steinman

In the narrowness of waiting  I called upon the Source of Life; the Source answered me, and set me free.

God is on my side, the side of equality and justice; I will not fear; what can another human being do to me?

God takes my part with those who help me; therefore I shall gaze upon those who disagree with me.

For it is better to take refuge in the Eternal than to put confidence in human beings.

It is better to take refuge in God than to put confidence in those sitting upon thrones.

All naysayers surround me; but in the name of God I will not allow their rhetoric to enter my consciousness.

They surround me; indeed, they surround me; but in the name of God I will pay them no heed.

They surround me like bees; they are quenched like a fire of thorns; for in the name of the Holy One I will hold fast to my belief in equality for all

You, the one I disagree with, pushed me hard that I might fall; but God helps me.

The Eternal One is my strength and song, and my faith has become my salvation.

The voice of rejoicing and salvation is in the tents of the righteous; the right hand of God does bravely.

The right hand of God is exalted; the right hand of God fortifies me in this time of waiting.

You are my God, and I will praise you; you are my God, I will exalt you.

O give thanks to the Eternal One; for God is good; God’s loving kindness endures for ever.

Amen. Selah.

The Psalmist wrote, “this is the day the Eternal has made, let us rejoice in it” (Ps. 118:24). 

Today at the CCAR convention has been dedicated to human rights. As part of raising awareness, there was Ali apanel to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the CCAR’s move to accept gay and lesbian rabbis. 25 years is both a long and short time. Rabbi Yoel Kahn opened a program called, “Celebrating change on the 25th anniversary of CCAR’s resolution on homosexuality and the rabbinate” with a history and a sharing of some of his own story while teaching Torah, his Torah. I hope that Rabbi Kahn’s words will be made available and published widely for they are and were completely inspiring, informative, and emotional.

This afternoon, Rev. Dr. William Barber II addressed the conference about a myriad of issues, voting rights, health care, mass incarceration, poverty, and the erosion of equal protection under the law. If you do not yet know about the moral Monday movement in North Carolina, time to do some research. 

The day also included a transitionin leadership of the conference. The new board was installed and Rabbi Denise L. Eger took on the mantle of the presidency of the conference. Rabbi Eger is a talented rabbi, a passionate preacher, and works tirelessly for human rigthts for all.  To say that I am proud is an understatement. המבין יבין – those who know, know. 

This was a day of much rejoicing.  I can’t wait for tomorrow.

One of the many parts of being a rabbi that I love is that no two days are alike. Take yesterday, for example. I knew the elementary school basketball team had a 3:30 game scheduled and thought it would be nice to cheer them on (and stand outside and get out of my office). I made my way over the parking lot where basketball is played as the students were warming up for the game. Fast forward about ten minutes and it turns out the other team was not going to show. A forfeit. Go BHDS Bears!

It was somehow quickly determined that myself, the BHDS principal, a parent and the coach would join in since the referee was there and we would divide the adults and students and have a pickup game. While I was ill prepared, note the footwear in the photo above, it was so much fun. I got to spend time with the BHDS students, see how they used some of the important character traits we emphasize as a school, and I got to play basketball. We played two 20-minute halves and a good time was had by everyone!

(And there are now a pair of socks and sneakers in the trunk of my car for future basketball playing ’emergencies’).

There are a lot of serious news stories that beg for comment. This blog post will not do that. Instead…

I’m left-handed. While I do many things as a lefty such as write; eat, throw, kick, peel vegetables, use a knife or scissors, there are lots of things I do right-handed (no I don’t know why). For example; swing a baseball bat, swing a golf club, and play the guitar (I’m no Paul McCartney).

For Chanukah I received a Fitbit. So far, I’ve found it a useful tool to increase my own awareness of how I sleep (I can be restless) and how much I move (not enough. I’d love a treadmill desk. Donations gratefully accepted). While some of the exercise I do at the gym (bike and my preferred elliptical) do not get “counted” because my arms don’t swing, I like that I can manually add my workout routine to the Fitbit app.

Yesterday I had a good, though rushed gym workout. I added my minutes into the Fitbit app during breakfast and went about my day. When I got home after Religious School I checked the app. I doubled my activity time after the gym! While I did get to walk around quite a bit yesterday visiting classes I remained perplexed.

“How did this happen,” I thought.

And then I relaxed it. I led T’filah and played the guitar, strumming away on my non-dominant, Fitbit wearing right arm. Activity minutes found!

So if you need more activity minutes in your busy day, my recommendation is to hit the gym OR play the guitar wearing your Fitbit.

Dear MOM,

Tonight on the Jewish calendar marks 4 years since you died. It is hard to believe, four years. There are so many things to say and so many things I wish we could talk about, but those remain between you and me and not this blog.

It seems appropriate that the 5th of Kislev (your yartzeit) is also Thanksgiving. You loved this holiday. The huge meal, the lavish entertaining, the family and friends gathered together around the dinner table. Yeah presence is still missed at those gatherings and always will be.

I love you, Mom. I always will. I raised a glass of your favorite to you.

Live from “Aloha Beach Resort” land,
ES