Rabbi Eleanor Steinman

I confess, it is true.  Every week The New Yorker comes and every week it makes me anxious as I add it to the pile of the last several weeks’ New Yorker that I have still to read.  It might seem logical to unsubscribe to The New Yorker.  The problem is, every time that I do, I miss it too much so I’m stuck with this constant cycle adding a new one to the pile.  I find that the articles within The New Yorker are so helpful.  Not all the time, enough of the time.  Sometimes there is material for a sermon.  Other times it is something that I learn.  Then there are the times that I get information about something and for no reason, or maybe every reason, becomes the topic of a fascinating conversation.

I am open to suggestions that might alleviate some of this anxiety which I have not previously though of.  I’d also love to know how you read The New Yorker in a manageable way and still manage to read the myriad of other publications in print or online.

Thank goodness Shabbat is coming.  Anxiety is not allowed!

You know the old saying, “they tried to kills us, we survived, let’s eat?”  Well don’t forget to eat your healthy foods!  Fruits and vegetables abound!  Join Temple Sinai in our new community supported agriculture (CSA), Pri Adamah.  I’m excited to report that the registration form is now available online (and yes, you still need to print it out and mail in your check).  Here it is!

Let me know if you have questions!

Last night I didn’t get to sleep in my own bed.  I did a sleep study.  A person with sleep issues, whatever they might be, spends the night in a lab hooked up to lots of things and in a few weeks finds out why they have the issues.  Since no one adequately prepared me for the sleep test, I have decided to tell you, dear reader, o blogosphere what it is really like.

I went into a room that had no windows and a double bed.  I changed into my pajamas and put two electrode wires down each of my pant legs.  Then the technician returned and she started to hook me up.  There were four electrodes on my head including the nasty gel stuff which was so delightful to get out of my hair, one behind each ear, one on each side of my jaw to detect grinding, one under my left eye, one above my right eye, one in the center of my forehead, and two on my clavicle.  In case it wasn’t clear, the reason that I look like I was punched in the eye is from the scrubbing and surgical tape put below my left eye.  That did not feel good to take off this morning.  In case that wasn’t enough, then I had a nasal cannula taped to my cheeks to measure the output of air from my nose.

Oh, but there’s more.  Then I had a strap around underneath my armpits and one around my waist to detect breathing.  I also had a pulse reader on my ring finger on my right hand.  It took almost an hour to hook up all of these things to the right gadgets and then the technician informed me, go to sleep now.  So much for the reading before bed that was described in the brochure.

Needless to say it was not easy to fall asleep with all of this stuff strapped to me.  The room was really hot and stuffy and that made it more difficult to sleep.

The good news is that the test is over.  There wasn’t any information that the technician was readily able to share except that I didn’t snore all night.  I will know in two weeks what the verdict is.  I’ll keep you posted.  And if you ever have to have a sleep study, good luck!

So if you see me and my eye looks puffy and red, I did not get punched in the eye.

As the sunsets and the holiday of Passover begins, may we relish the freedoms that we have.  May we rest and re-energize to prepare to battle in order to ensure that all peoples have the rights and liberties they desire.  May your matza balls be floaters (or sinkers if you prefer).  May we all remember to bless our freedom and take advantage of it.  May the Holy One of Blessing grant a year of health, life, prosperity, wholeness and peace to each of us, those whose lives we touch and the entire world.  Next year may the inhabitants of Jerusalem celebrate in a true city of Shalom, of peace.  Chag sameach.

This week’s Torah portion is, in part, about taking out the trash.  Granted, it isn’t just any trash, it is the ashes that remain on the altar after a day’s worth of burnt offerings.  The priest responsible for taking out the trash was dressed in their regular holy garments to be worn only when working in the confines of the sacrificial cult.  Their garments included: breeches, tunic, sash and headdress.  Lest we think that these were not floor length garments, this week’s portion assures us that the tunic is to cover the feet.  Imagine the ashy mess!

And I haven’t even gotten to the complicated part yet.  Every morning a priest had to remove the ash from the altar.  This was usually done in some pile on the side.  However, every once in a while this pile got too big and the priest had to take it outside of the camp.  No big deal you think?  Wrong!  This involves a complete costume change.  The priestly outfit is only for the confines of the Temple and not for ordinary activities like rubbish removal  Imagine if we had to change our clothes every time we took out the garbage or walked down the hall to the garbage shoot?

Now you might be thinking, why do I care about any of this?  Well my friend, the answer is, because it is what we do all the time.  We are constantly transitioning between the sacred and mundane whether or not we realize it.  As a rabbi, I like to think that I am a little bit more clued into this happening and can help others do the same.  Take, for example, this blog.  Do you realize that by surfing the net or facebook or linking through the tweet that I posted something new you in fact performed a mitzvah?  That’s right, studying Torah is a mitzvah and you might have learned something new.  We moved from the mundane to the sacred.  (And if you changed your clothes please don’t tell me).

See, maybe there is a point to that mindless web searching!

Though I didn’t fill out any brackets or place any bets on the outcome of the NCAA basketball tournament, I am a fan.  I like college ball sometimes even better than the NBA because the game isn’t about a team’s superstars.  It is more about fundamentals and well executed team play.  That, however, is not the subject of this post.

I do not watch very much TV and what I do watch is usually pre-recorded on my PV-R (or as they say in the country to the south, DV-R).  The result of this is that I don’t watch many commercials.  This is a benefit to my life, in general.  I don’t care about beer commercials, I don’t care about the latest invention at the local fast food place, and I don’t generally need to know what toys I am not going to buy for my friends’ small children.

Today though, I am sitting on the couch happily taking part in the March Madness and all I want is to see the same commercials as the people watching in the USA.  I don’t entirely understand the reasoning, I just know that in Canada the advertisers don’t pay for the air time in the same way so the commercials here are completely repetitive.  I have been a couch potato for most of the day and I have seen the same commercials probably in every 3 commercial breaks.

Does anyone else find this annoying?  Is it just me?

Oh and because I need to prove I have been reading other things all day, this is a great op-ed.

I am very excited to announce to the blogosphere that Temple Sinai will be starting its own CSA, Pri Adamah.  This initiative of the social action committee at temple is going to meet a number of goals of the committee and also of the synagogue and most importantly, it is providing the entire community an opportunity to think about the question, are we what we eat?

So you probably have some questions.  Let me try to answer them.

First, what is a CSA?

CSA is a system in which individuals or families choose to buy organic produce from a local farm for a whole growing season. Produce is delivered once a week to the pick-up location, where the members are able to choose their produce while connecting with the farmer and members of their community.

A CSA is an effective way to confront the global challenges of pollution, land degradation, and poor nutrition. In addition to the global benefits of participating in a CSA, you and your family will benefit greatly in the realms of quality, cost, community, and education. In terms of quality, your weekly produce is always fresh (often harvested the morning you receive it), and because it is grown organically, it is of the highest nutritional value. Cost wise, the price of CSA membership is competitive with organic prices at local grocery stores and farmers markets. In addition, our CSA drop-off site has proven to be a social gathering place — a place where members get to know each other while they share ideas and stories about food, family, and life. As for the educational benefits, through newsletters, farm visits, workshops, and special events, members are exposed to the various issues that affect agriculture in your community.

Why is this Jewish?

Why is joining a CSA a “Jewish” thing to do? When God finished creating the world, God placed Adam in the Garden of Eden and commanded Adam, “l’ovdah u’l’shomra,” to serve and protect Creation. When we purchase local organic produce, we are choosing to support a food system that cares for our natural world, our health, and our community – we are honouring our role as stewards of God’s creation! As well, participating in a CSA that values social, environmental, personal and economic health as “the bottom line,” enables us to actively participate in the process of Tikkun Olam, repairing the world.

Join the 30+ other Jewish communities across North America that have already committed to putting Jewish purchasing power behind our local farmers! Become a part of the new Jewish food movement today!

What about Tzedakah?

An important part of the PRI ADAMAH CSA is the Tzedakah component. Each week, The Cutting Veg will donate some leftover produce to Eva’s Place. Eva’s Place provides support to homeless youth through emergency and transitional housing, harm reduction services to address drug and alcohol use, counseling, employment and training programs, housing support and services to reconnect youth with their families (www.evasinitiatives.com). Each week, through the PRI ADAMAH CSA, produce will be given to Eva’s Place staff, who will work with the youth to produce nutritious meals, while teaching invaluable cooking skills. Thus, your participation in the PRI ADAMAH CSA directly supports folks in our community who are most in need of highly nutritious food. In addition, all unclaimed produce is donated each week,and you will be given the opportunity to donate shares during your vacation weeks.

What if I want to be more involved?  Are there more opportunities?

Yes. Beyond providing the freshest, localest, organicest produce around, the PRI ADAMAH CSA offers the opportunity to get educated and get involved.    Throughout the summer, The Cutting Veg Organic Farm offers weekly volunteer work-bees — an opportunity for people to get involved in the growing process, and connect with nature, members of their community, and themselves. Also, you will have the choice to sign up to help out at the depot site, as there is nothing more Jewish than providing food for others. None of these opportunities are mandatory, but all of them will help you to feel more connected to where your food comes from.

For even more information, please go here.  Don’t hesitate to ask any questions and I will do my best to answer them.

It has been a whirlwind of a few days.  The CCAR conference in San Francisco was fantastic.  I saw classmates who are now colleagues, people from the Brickner Seminar, people who inspired me to be a rabbi, and so much more.  I also saw LBN and had a fantastic lunch at a Mexican restaurant.  From the convention I spent a day in San Francisco doing tourist things (how had I never been to Ghiradelli before?) and went to Denver to spend quality time with a friend from university.  I don’t exactly remember what I was doing these past few days, thank you Abigail and Sarah (said friend’s twins).  All I can say looking back it was a great vacation.  I’m looking for a slow re-entry back into life at temple.  Oh and cleaning for Pesach.  Oy, cleaning for Pesach!

This week I will be attending the CCAR convention in San Francisco.  I will be blogging there and cross posting what I write here.

This was today’s post.

In a few hours I will be traveling to San Francisco for the CCAR convention.  I needed to be in Toronto at Temple Sinai to teach a family education class this morning, and will arrive in San Francisco after the opening banquet, unfortunately.  Because this is my first convention, I am looking forward to the opportunities for learning about a myriad of topics, connecting with friends and making some new ones.

I look forward to the blogs that I will be able to share, as well as those of my colleagues as we go through the convention.

See you in SF!

It has been a doozy (doosie?) of a week. I am so grateful that Shabbat is almost here.  I will have a little time to relax, rejuvenate, and let go, precisely what I need.  It’s not just what I need though.  It is what the Jewish people need.  Every week. No exceptions.  This week I am grateful for Shabbat.  That it exists.  That I’m blessed to be able to observe it in community.  What are you grateful for?

Shabbat Shalom!