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Social media and earthquakes
Carole King said it best when she sang, “I feel the earth move under my feet,” except I was asleep. Yes there was an earthquake in the Los Angeles area. Thank God, everyone is safe and there is no damage here. Pictures are a little crooked and a cabinet in the kitchen opened (oh and I was up well before the alarm!).
I pray that all of those who felt the quake are unharmed in body and physical structures remain strong. (Thanks to all of those near and far who checked in).
And this morning I marvel at social media. I am grateful to have a tool that enables me to know that people who I know are safe. My mind quickly goes back to September 11, 2001 when AOL Instant Messenger and email were the only reliable means of communication in New York City and I was able to connect with MY SISTER a about 20 blocks downtown, email my parents, and inform others my location.
If someone needs help and has access to social media I hope they will use it just as it is important to let others know all is okay.
Keep posting.
What did you do this morning?
This morning I was honored with an invitation from the Israeli Consulate (currently on strike along with the entire Israeli Foreign Ministry) with an invitation to hear Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu address about 200 people at the Museum of Tolerance.
I was instructed to arrive very early because of the necessary security precautions and had the opportunity to visit with many colleagues, friends and community leaders. I went into the auditorium along with the other visitors and patiently waited.
Rabbi Marvin Hier, Founder and Dean of the Simon Wiesenthal Center introduced PM Netanyahu. Unfortunately, Netanyahu’s address was very brief.
Mr. Netanyahu began his remarks describing a letter he saw, part of the museum’s collection, written in 1919 that called for the destruction of the Jews. He framed the historical framework outlining the deception and intent that were present simultaneously during the rise of the Nazi party in Europe.
From there PM Netanyahu spoke about Iran. He drew a direct parallel between the Nazi party and the current Iranian regime particularly highlighting the deceit and intent of the regime. Externally Iran is telling one story and internally they continue to talk about the liquidation of the Jewish state and act towards destruction including building weapons of mass destruction and sending weapons. PM Netanyahu shared the current news story about an Iranian ship heading from Iran to Sudan carrying sophisticated misles headed towards Gaza. Israeli forces caught the ship and it should be in Eilat in a few days. (Below is a map from The Israel Project that describes the route and the link in this sentence describes the news story in more depth).
PM Netanyahu’s remarks were extremely brief. I was disappointed he did not use the time to address ANY other topic including the peace process, the situation in the Ukraine, social justice issues in Israel, and the list goes on.
I was grateful to be included and be in the room.
I am not a yogi (yet) OR back pain stinks
It has been awhile since I last wrote on my blog. Ooops. Work has been great but very busy!
(Warning: a little bit of a rant follows)
While I took some time away from my computer, I thought it might be a good idea to try a yoga class. One of my intentions for 2014 was to move my body more. I am not getting any younger.
There was a time in my life that I practiced yoga regularly. Somehow, it was at least 12 years since I last took a yoga class. I found a studio near my home, paid for the class ahead of time (there was no better way to make sure that I got to the class), and tentatively walked into the room. People were extremely friendly at the studio. The class wasn’t too crowded. When the teacher arrived I made sure to tell her that it had been at least 12 years since my last yoga class and welcomed any pose correction or guidance.
Fast forward 75 minutes or so…
I made it through the class and while I did not do every single pose (that child’s pose is my friend), I was proud of myself and my body felt good. I felt my posture improved, that I’d lengthened my spine, all of those things one might feel after a good yoga class.
Fast forward to the next morning…
I could barely move. My lower back feet like someone had taken a baseball bat and hit me repeatedly but there is no visible bruising. Apparently I’d over done it.
A week later I’ve taken OTC medication, stretched regularly, and had a massage. I’ve been walking nearly every day and trying to move a bit more gingerly. My back was starting to feel more normal and then I went to the gym this morning to walk and ride the bike and thought maybe I’d try a weight machine or two. No go. I’ve over done it again.
Now accepting any and all suggestions to relieve back pain and tips for how to go back to yoga a little more slowly (she writes while laying on her back with her feet elevated and the laptop situated for typing).
50 lessons learned from the ‘Having it All Project’
My friend from college, BusySinceBirth, created the ‘Having it All Project‘. I participated towards the beginning and she wrote a great summary of the experience. Check it out!
I will not be watching
I don’t know about you but I will not be watching the Winter Olympics when they begin next week. I was going back and forth about this issue, however the Russian crackdown on LGBTQ people is just too much.
Here is a video of a person waving a pride flag at a torch relay parade and the actions of the Olympic officials and the article where I first saw the video.
I am proud of President Obama for naming Billie Jean King, Caitlin Cahow and Brian Boitano as the leaders of the Team USA Olympic delegation. It is a brilliant statement. I fully support all of the athletes who have worked every single day for most of their lives to reach this important event. However, I will not be watching the games.
Will you?
Snow Day
The news that the governor of Minnesota closed much of the state due to dangerous cold brought me back, back to the mid-nineties. Then, dear reader, I was a high school student and school was cancelled several times in what was deemed a ‘snow day’ but was really an “it is so cold it is dangerous for you to wait outside for the bus” day. As I recall these days always started out as two-hour delays (i.e. one tired teenager was already showered and ready to go to school by the time the announcement arrived and it seemed silly to go back to sleep and ruin one’s hair) that were then turned into a full-fledged day off from school.
In all honesty, there are a lot of memories of high school that aren’t so pleasant. Those snow days weren’t so bad. What could be bad about a day that included The Price is Right and catching up or getting ahead on homework (yes, I was that kind of student)?
As a California girl through and through (I’ve spent the most years of my life in California, some of you readers may not even know that I could claim Minnesota as a part of my origin) I feel for those of you living in these frigid conditions. I hope that you and those you love are staying warm.
I’m off to go re-apply my sunscreen.
2013 in review
The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2013 annual report for this blog.
Here’s an excerpt:
A New York City subway train holds 1,200 people. This blog was viewed about 7,200 times in 2013. If it were a NYC subway train, it would take about 6 trips to carry that many people.
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Tears today
Today I am very sad. My colleagues, Rabbis Phyllis and Michael Sommer and their family and circle of friends are laying to rest their little boy, Superman Sam. I pray that in their unimaginable grief and sadness they can feel the love that I am sending to them across the miles. May Sam’s memory live for a blessing forever. זכרונו לברכה.
__________
Today is a day I have so many questions and somehow, perhaps because it is my way, I take comfort in knowing that my questions have no answers. That there is no explanation. I do not question if there is a God. I seek and search and look to find God. Because even in sadness, confusion, disbelief and shock God’s presence is there weeping just like me. Sometimes we don’t know it. Rabbi Paul Kipnes wrote a beautiful blog post about this.
I also am acutely aware that while I know Superman Sam’s story beautifully documented by his adoring parents here, there are far too many children and family stories I am not aware of. It is for those children and their families that I also weep. And through the salty tears, I also can feel hope. Because there are children and families who are alive and thriving. For whom treatments work and life moves forward.
Many people have written beautiful words about why they are touched by Superman Sam and there will surely be more reflections. This post explains so beautifully how one person (and many others myself included) read the Superman Sam blog as a way to show we care. This post also is so very beautiful.
Jewish tradition teaches that one way to honor and memorialize a person who has died is to donate tzedakah/charitable funds. My colleagues have come together to raise awareness of childhood cancer. Should you be so moved you can donate to the #36rabbis here.
Rabbi Rebecca Einstein Schorr beautifully informed me of Sam’s death and the appropriate arrangements while she teaches Jewish custom and theology in her blog post. I share the text with you here because I find it so poignant.
And Samuel died; and all Israel gathered together and lamented him
(1 Samuel 25:1)Died.
Sammy. Sweet Sammy has died.
He is dead.His parents haven’t “lost” a child.
They would never…could never…be so careless.He didn’t “pass” or “pass away.”
We pass a driving test or a kidney stone.
We don’t just pass through life.
Sammy didn’t just pass through life.Va-y’chi.
He lived.
And at 12:33am, in the still solitude and with his beloved parents surrounding him with their love, Samuel Asher died.And on Monday, December 16, 2013, all Israel will gather together and lament him.
Funeral services will be held at Am Shalom, Glencoe, IL at 1:00pm.
Tenderly, we will return his body to the earth and tuck him in for his eternal rest following the service at Shalom Memorial Park in Arlington Heights.
Shiva will be observed in The Crown Room at Am Shalom: Monday through Wednesday, 5-8:00pm, with a minyan service each night at 7:00pm.We will not celebrate; we will mourn. Together. As we always have.
He is not in a better place because how could there be any place better than in his parents’ embrace?
And God didn’t want Sammy with Him; God weeps with us in our time of sorrow.Baruch Dayan HaEmet.
Blessed is the Eternal Judge of Truth.
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Will I see you there?
On Wednesday I will head to San Diego along with thousands of other Jews to attend the Union for Reform Judaism’s Biennial convention. I will be meeting with many partners for A Wider Bridge, including people who are interested in learning more about A Wider Bridge (if that describes you, leave a comment on this blog post, send me a tweet @rabbisteinman or contact me via the Biennial app).
I plan on tweeting the Biennial as much as possible. Follow me @rabbisteinman and/or look for the hashtag #biennial13.
There is so much to look forward to at a Biennial convention. Some particular aspects I’m excited for are:
- Reconnecting with friends who live in all parts of the world
- Teaching a session with other leaders leaders called “A RAC Campaign: LGBT Equality and Workplace Protection” on Friday morning
- Hearing music both new and old. I also love the Shabbat Song Session
- Meeting new people
- Amazing prayer experiences
If you can get to San Diego it is not too late to register. There are a lot of different types of registrations (you can register just for Shabbat or one day or the entire convention). If you cannot be in San Diego, check out the Virtual Biennial experience!
See you there!
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Rabbi Eleanor Steinman 