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…
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
—————
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!
Yesterday an article was published challenging clergy to lead inspiring worship and simultaneously encouraging “Jews in the pews” to find paths to engagement and study.
And if you have any unique ideas, you can add them to this crowd sourcing document.
I’m participating in #blogelul this year. There are different writing prompts for every day as Jews around the world begin to prepare in body and spirit for the New Year, Rosh Hashanah. I don’t post on my blog on Shabbat so on Sunday I will select one of the themes from Saturday or Sunday for my posting. Here’s the Elul theme calendar.
As you may know, #blogelul was the brainchild of my colleague, Rabbi Phyllis Sommer. Rabbi Phyllis and Rabbi Michael Sommer’s son SupermanSam is on day zero for a bone marrow transplant to treat the ninja cancer cells in his body. You can read all about SupermanSam on his blog.
At some point tonight SupermanSam will receive donor cells from SuperMensch (his anonymous donor). SuperMensch was on the national bone marrow registry volunteered and was swabbed and with a procedure is able to save another human beings life. Today is the day to join the registry.
Today, this is my prayer.
SupermanSam, may the One who makes wholeness in our world grant you peace, comfort, a sense of lightness and quickly grafting cells tonight and in days and weeks to come. May all of your family members know patience, hope, laughter and the joy of your radiant smile for many, many years to come. Bless your doctors, nurses, therapists and all care givers with gentle hands, open minds and the strength to complete the tasks in order to bring you to full health. As Moses once cried out for his ill sister, Miriam, El Na Refah na La I pray for you, El na Refah na Lo, God please heal you, SupermanSam. Amen.
Since the end of Shabbat much has happened at the Western Wall about the Western Wall. Here is an article that summarizes the situation.
Yesterday, it was reported that Cabinet Minister Avichai Mendelblit has proposed a new solution that counters the Sharansky proposal. Here is an article about Mendelblit’s proposal.
Anat Hoffman, Executive Director of the Israel Religious Action Center explains what is going on. (It is a little hard to hear the beginning because of the wind, stick with it).
Women of the Wall is holding a sit-in. Here is an onsite report:
The Central Conference of American Rabbis, the Reform rabbinic body has issued the following statement:
CCAR Statement Concerning Recent Developments Regarding the Kotel:
The Sharansky proposal, developed in partnership with denominational leaders of American Jewry, envisions “one Western Wall for one Jewish People,” symbolizing that all Jews have a valued and recognized place at the Kotel, in Israel, and in Jewish life.
The fundamental principles of the Sharansky plan are clearly defined and critically important: creating an area for egalitarian/pluralistic prayer to the right of the ramp to the Temple Mount, an area equal in size and elevation to the existing prayer zone; secure, common, and equal physical access to both the gender-segregated and the egalitarian/pluralistic areas on a 24/7/365 basis; common entries to the public plaza leading to all sections; governance of the egalitarian/pluralistic prayer area and the public plaza outside the present prayer areas by a pluralistic body under the aegis of the Jewish Agency, including leaders of liberal Jewish Movements, rather than the present, Orthodox-dominated Western Wall Heritage Foundation; and transforming the WWHF to reflect the diversity of Jewish belief and practice in Israel and among the Jewish People.
While this plan fell considerably short of what the Reform Movement sought, we have expressed willingness to accept its compromises in the interest of shalom bayit.
Solving the issues presented by the Kotel situation is essential to Jewish Unity and Israel’s strategic interests. We urge the Prime Minister’s office, in the strongest possible terms, to commit itself to the Sharansky proposal in its entirety, promptly, publicly, and unequivocally, to formulate both interim and permanent plans consistent with that proposal in partnership with all key stakeholders and to refrain from presenting a proposal until those vital tasks are accomplished.
The steps announced today by Interior Minister Naftali Bennett concerning Robinson’s Arch, whatever their merits, fall far short of the Sharansky proposal in both substance and process. Fortunately, it appears that press reports that the Government was about to release a unilateral plan inconsistent with the Sharansky proposal were erroneous. If the opportunity for a collaborative process and solution is missed and a plan is put forward that diverges in material respects from the Sharansky proposal, it will exacerbate the tensions so many have worked hard to defuse and set back a process in which so much productive effort has been invested.
Rabbi Richard A. Block, President Rabbi Steve Fox, Chief Executive For the CCAR Board of Trustees
Have I mentioned how proud I am to be a member of the CCAR? You can support them (and thereby me and all of my Reform rabbinic colleagues) here.
I make no secret of my support for Women of the Wall, the Israel Religious Action Center and an end to the Western Wall as an Orthodox synagogue.
This is a crucial moment for religious pluralism in Israel.
———-
UPDATE
Here is the statement made jointly by the various organizations of the Reform Movement.
August 25, 2013, New York, NY– In response to Minister of Religious Affairs Naftali Bennett’s announcement today regarding upgrades at the Kotel, the Reform Movement released the following statement:
“The Kotel is a powerful symbol of the Jewish yearning for Israel and for the unity of the Jewish people. As such, it needs to be open and free to all Jews; women and men must be treated equally there.
That is precisely why we joined together with Jews from across the religious spectrum to endorse a plan by Jewish Agency Chairperson Natan Sharansky which, in its entirety, promises full equality for all streams of Judaism at the Kotel.
The temporary platform unveiled today by Minister of Religious Affairs Naftali Bennett, is a gesture of good will, but it is, at best, a very small step forward in the implementation of the full plan for full Jewish equality at the Kotel. Were it to be the first and last step regarding the Kotel, it would create a painful and unnecessary conflict within the Jewish People.
We urge the Prime Minister’s office to maintain its commitment to the Sharansky proposal consistent with a partnership with all key stakeholders.
In the meantime, the Reform Movement insists that no changes will be made in the current legal situation allowing Women of the Wall to pray according to their custom in the Western Wall site.
We hope and pray that 5774 will be a year of ever deepening partnership between the State of Israel and World Jewry in insuring that in Judaism’s holiest place there is room for each and every member of our people to pray freely and openly. May that spirit of respect and inclusion permeate daily life in the Jewish State and in our communities all across the globe.”
ARZA
ARZA Canada
ARZENU
Central Conference of American Rabbis (CCAR)
Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion (HUC-JIR)
In an envelope marked: Personal
God addressed me a letter.
In an envelope marked: Personal
I have given my answer.
Mishkan T’filah, p. 165.
Prayer is the easiest thing to do and it is the most difficult thing to do. Many assume that because I am a rabbi prayer is extremely easy for me. This is simply not true. Yes, I do know a lot of information about the history of the prayerbook, the creation of liturgy and why prayers are placed in a particular order and we say certain prayers at certain times. However, prayer is still no easy.
What makes it easier is that I know the words of the prayer book. When I am at services I know what to do. However, those spontaneous prayers that come from the deepest place within are sometimes hard to articulate with words. Because it is hard does not mean one should shy away from it. It is just hard.
I’ve heard that many find Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur difficult because of the theologies presented in the liturgy. Guess what? I do, too! However, because I attend services at lots of other times during the year I know that there are many other views of God/Divine than those presented on the High Holidays.
And sometimes (confession forthcoming) clergy need to make decisions about what prayers in which language so it is okay to look through the machzor (prayer book for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur) on your own. That’s right. I’m giving us all permission to read ahead or read something different, as long as we aren’t distracting (don’t read something aloud while everyone in the congregation is reading quietly or read something different aloud while the person next to you is praying following the instructions from the clergy) other people.
Prayer is hard. It can be less hard if you practice.
When I was in the 2nd grade my teacher elected to mark Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. day in a unique way. We spent the entire day of learning listening her (and maybe some volunteers) read the entire class a story. Ms. Phillips read a kid-friendly book about Dr. King. The climax of the story, again kid-friendly, was the “I Have a Dream” speech he delivered at the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom in 1963.
The “I Have a Dream” speech is arguably the most significant piece of oration of the 20th century. Dr. King outlined a vision and inspired hundreds of thousands to work towards that ideal. (At some point during my elementary school education I was required to memorize passages from this speech. Anyone else?)
And 50 years later we still have work to do.
This weekend in Washington, DC there will be an anniversary March on Washington. I know very little about what is planned beyond a lengthy list of sponsorships and I know a few of the speakers. I wonder how this new march will awaken and reawaken the conscience of the American people to see that while we have made progress, we are not there.
As I prepare for the coming new year I am asking myself how will I awaken to the suffering of the people around me? How will I elevate the stories of those who are silenced?
I’m participating in #blogelul this year. There are different writing prompts for every day as Jews around the world begin to prepare in body and spirit for the New Year, Rosh Hashanah. I don’t post on my blog on Shabbat so on Sunday I will select one of the themes from Saturday or Sunday for my posting. Here’s the Elul theme calendar.
The group will not meet on Rosh Hashanah, however there will be an incredible 25th anniversary celebration in Jerusalem for Rosh Chodesh Kislev. Here is the information about a special mission to Israel. If you are a rabbi here is the information about a special trip just for you.
Change can be really hard. However, in this case change is necessary. Women MUST be able to worship freely at the Western Wall. I pray that 5774 will be the year that religious pluralism will be returned to Jerusalem!
I’m participating in #blogelul this year. There are different writing prompts for every day as Jews around the world begin to prepare in body and spirit for the New Year, Rosh Hashanah. I don’t post on my blog on Shabbat so on Sunday I will select one of the themes from Saturday or Sunday for my posting. Here’s the Elul theme calendar.
Today I performed the mitzvah of comforting the bereaved. I attended the funeral for a colleague’s mother. While I was at the cemetery I went to visit my paternal grandparents grave. Grandma and Papa were amazing grandparents. MY SISTER, my cousins and I were extremely lucky to have them in our lives as long as we did.
As I’ve been talking to people at this season of the year, I’ve started to wonder what draws people to the synagogue on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur when they are not there the rest of the year? I invite you to share your answer with me either via a comment on this blog post or via the new contact area of my webpage.
I find it meaningful to remember that I sit in synagogue just like my parents, grandparents, great-grandparents and so on did. They may or may not have believed in God. They may or may not have liked being there. Nevertheless they joined themselves to the chain of Jewish history and Jewish tradition.
As you may know, #blogelul was the brainchild of my colleague, 
Rabbi Eleanor Steinman 