Tears today

Posted on December 16, 2013 by rabbisteinman

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?

Posted on December 10, 2013 by rabbisteinman

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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Exciting changes

Posted on October 14, 2013 by rabbisteinman

I am excited to announce that this week I start a new job as the Director of Programs and Fund Development for A Wider Bridge. This organizations seeks to inspire LGBT Jews to deepen their connection to the Jewish people through connection with Israel and to build connections between the LGBT communities in North America and Israel.

You can read more about A Wider Bridge and the work they do here.

 

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What to say when you call your senator TODAY!

Posted on September 17, 2013 by rabbisteinman

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Today’s the day! Dial 1-888-897-0174 and call on your Senator to protect LGBT workers by passing ENDA now.

Click on this flyer and you will have all of the talking points for speaking with your Senator’s representative about ending ENDA!

 

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Time to take action in the new year

Posted on September 16, 2013 by rabbisteinman

Happy New Year! One of the awesome High Holy Day sermons that I heard reminded me, “mitzvah goreret mitzvah” doing one mitzvah leads to doing another. I was also reminded that it is imperative upon each person to do the work to make a difference in the world. Here is one of the first opportunities to do so in the new Jewish year!

Here are the easy steps to take: Join our Call-in campaign for ENDA:-Text “ENDAnow” to 877-877 to receive text instructions, or dial 1- 888-897-0174 to hear talking points, enter your zip code and connect directly to your Senator.

Here’s the rationale and an update on where ENDA stands in the Senate:

As people of faith, we understand that there are moments that demand a moral call to action. At this moment, when we have never had a better chance of securing workplace protections for LGBT community, we must heed that call and reaffirm our support for the civil rights of our lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender brothers and sisters. It is our sacred duty to make heard our demand for critical legislation like the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (S. 815/H.R. 1755).

While the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibited discrimination in the workplace based on race, sex, religion, ethnicity and national origin – and later laws barred discrimination based on pregnancy and disability – there is no federal law that protects the LGBT community from discrimination in the workplace. ENDA would fix that gap and finally make it illegal to fire, refuse to hire, demote or fail to promote someone based on their real or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity.

Support for the Employment Non-Discrimination Act is rapidly growing. The bill now has 53 co-sponsors in the Senate – including Republican Senators Mark Kirk (IL) and Susan Collins (ME) – and 177 cosponsors in the House including three Republican Representatives. Support within the business world is growing as well, with more than 90 major corporations publically endorsing the bill (this is no surprise considering that 88% of Fortune 500 companies already have protections based on sexual orientation and 57% have protections for gender identity). Religious groups are speaking out as well; nearly 50 religious organizations signed onto a letter to the members of the HELP committee urging them to vote for ENDA.

According to recent polls 73% of Americans support the workplace protections promised in this legislation (another survey found that 9 out of 10 voters thought these protections already exist!).

People in states around the country have proven their support for workplace protection by passing laws in 21 states that prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and 17 states that prohibit discrimination based on gender identity. These numbers reveal the deep resonance ENDA holds with both our American and religious values.

Workplace discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, characteristics which have nothing to do with job performance, denies members of the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community the full humanity that comes with the ability to earn a living, provide for their families and contribute to society. All of us are diminished when individuals are prevented from reaching their full potential and prohibited from contributing the full measure of their talent and ability to society.

The Employment Non-Discrimination Act is so critical precisely because it ensures that our workplaces operate as meritocracies, ensuring that people are judged based on their ability to perform a job, not on their personal characteristics. It ensures that our society recognizes the fundamental truth of our tradition, that all people are created in the in the image of God.

This bill has been introduced in nearly every Congress for the past twenty years, but has not received a vote in the Senate since 1996. But the tide is turning and the prospects for LGBT rights and ENDA’s passage have never looked better. The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions committee passed ENDA this summer with a strong bi-partisan vote of 15-7 and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has promised a vote on the bill in the coming months. It is critical that Senators hear from the religious community that this landmark civil rights legislation is our moral imperative as Americans and as people of faith.

Join our Call-in campaign for ENDA:-Text “ENDAnow” to 877-877 to receive text instructions, or dial 1- 888-897-0174 to hear talking points, enter your zip code and connect directly to your Senator.

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Return #blogelul

Posted on September 4, 2013 by rabbisteinman

Here we are. The final day of 5773. I can’t even believe it.

On the dawn of this new year may there be more peace, more love, more compassion, more quiet moments, more learning, more hope, more patience, and more justice for all peoples of the world.

Last year I did this awesome program called 10Q. Every day you receive a link to a personal vault with a question/prompt and you write your response and then during the month of Elul in 5774 you receive your answers back. It turns out to be a wonderful way to reflect on the past year and reevaluate one’s life. Here is the link so you can sign up yourself and participate.

Happy New Year! Thanks for reading along this month. One of my goals is to keep up the blogging (maybe not every day).

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Give #blogelul

Posted on September 3, 2013 by rabbisteinman

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Happy New Year!

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Intend #blogelul #xtremedream

Posted on September 2, 2013 by rabbisteinman

I hope you have been following along on twitter, her website, or other social media as Diana Nyad, as of 9am PDT, is 2 miles from the shore of Florida. She has been in the water for almost 50 hours fulfilling her dream of swimming from Cuba to Florida without a protective shark cage.

It is hard to imagine a better word to describe what, God willing, Diana Nyad will have done in a few short hours (they estimate somewhere between 2-4pm EDT). She had a goal in mind and has done countless things to pursue it. I read yesterday about the specially designed face mask she is sometimes wearing through this swim to minimize or prevent the jellyfish stings that prevented her previous attempt.

What are the lessons about intention we can learn from Diana Nyad whether or not she reaches the shore today (and I’m cheering for her!)? How will we start 5774 with those goals in mind and what are the steps that are necessary to achieve them?

———-
Diana Nyad did it! She completed the 110 mile swim.

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Begin and Hope #blogelul

Posted on September 1, 2013 by rabbisteinman

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Today two of my friends, L & D, were married. A new beginning for their family. And a reminder of the importance of hope. Before the SCOTUS ruling at the end of June L & D might have married according to Jewish tradition, however their marriage was not recognized by the State of California. Today they were married according to the laws and rites of Jewish tradition and the State of California.

As we prepare for 5774 I can’t help but wonder how the changes that started in 5773, marriage equality in Washington, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, Rhode Island, Delaware, and California, will impact the rest of the nation. (I’m not forgetting about New Mexico, I’m just not sure how to categorize it here) And of course the continued decisions stemming from the SCOTUS decision that sections of DOMA are unconstitutional.

Oregon, Hawaii, New Jersey, Illinois, I’m looking at you…

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End #blogelul #whatrabbisdo

Posted on August 30, 2013 by rabbisteinman

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My my most dear Rabbi, Cantor, and Educator colleagues,

Today’s #blogelul theme is end. While you probably won’t even have time to read this blog post, I want to encourage you and remind you that the end is in sight. I know that you don’t think you’re ready. That the sermons aren’t there yet, you might still be missing that one grace note and the classrooms are in disarray. However, I know you will get there. Your sermons will be heard by those who need to hear them, you will hit that note, and the classrooms will be ready for the learners the moment they arrive. You can do it! You will inspire people! You are amazing!

Remember as isolating as this time of year may feel, you are not alone. I offer myself to listen, read, edit, and brainstorm as you might need. I’ve got your back. I’m cheering you on. I appreciate the countless hours of work few people know about or can even comprehend. So do your congregants and students.

May you find a few moments of rest, rejuvenation, and peace this Shabbat.

Love,
ES

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Hey fellow Jews! Have you shown some love to your rabbi, cantor, and educator lately? Did you know that just sending them an email saying ‘thanks for all you do,” or a message on any social media platform can make a world of difference? Can you imagine the smile on his or her face when they opened a personal note delivered by the postal service just saying thank you and what about the holidays was inspiring for you and your family? Remember, as much as you think everyone else is going to tell your rabbi, cantor and educator how wonderful and inspiring High Holy Day worship and learning sessions might be, too few actually do. Instead they’ll hear the kvetching. (I’m sure you would never point out that the sermon was too long, the tekiyah gedolah was 10 seconds shorter than last year, there wasn’t enough air conditioning, the sound system wasn’t working perfectly, the traffic was beyond belief and the parking was abysmal) Be that person. Send the note. Make the positive comment. Share the love!

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