Baruch
atah adonai eloheinu melech ha-olam she-asani b’tzelem Elohim - Blessed are You, Eternal One, Sovereign
of the Universe, who made me in the image of God. In any congregation,
this
blessing expresses our
basis for shaping relationships and community. In his
recent article, “Is American nonviolence possible?” Clemson University
professor Todd May lamented that violence, self-interest and a desire to
control and “win” permeate our nation to a point of a lack of concern for
the welfare and humanity of others. May presented a more
peaceful approach regarding how people can relate to one another with
better results. He said, “We must understand first that nonviolence is not
passivity. It is instead creative activity that takes place within
particular limits….those limits are the recognition of others as fellow
human beings...worthy of our respect, bearers of dignity in their own
right.”
This is
where we can and, often do begin at Temple Beth-El. Each of us is created
in the image of God and it is our ongoing
task to recognize the spark of God in one another. That places upon us a
moral responsibility to be patient, compassionate, kind, understanding, to the point where the words “love
your neighbor as yourself” reverberate in our minds and our hearts within
every interaction in which we engage as fellow human beings and fellow
congregants.
So
we are all partners with God and with each other. I value, enjoy and
relish my partnerships that chart the course of Temple life with the Board
of Trustees, the Religious Practices Committee, the Religious School
Committee, the Adult Education Committee, the Social Action Committee,
Temple Beth-El Sisterhood, Mensch Club, Beth-El Temple Youth, our
Religious School faculty, our planners and participants in our now annual
“Night with Judaism” AND with all of you! In our new “Sharing our
Stories” series, I have enjoyed listening to congregants discuss their
life journeys and the values they prize. This past Shabbat morning, each congregant
present recounted a special memory of celebrating Shabbat. On
Sunday, Religious School parents who had gathered to discuss future programming
each stated a principle that they learned at home that continues to permeate
their lives. Temple Beth-El is a place where we do discuss the essence of
our lives with our tradition serving as our guide as we infuse each
moment with meaning.
Throughout this year, a number of us have met on Monday evenings to explore the
gems of rabbinic insights contained in Pirkei Avot, the sayings of the founders
and sages of Judaism going back nearly 2000 years. Many of us know that these
time-honored teachings touch upon every aspect of life. There is
one saying from Rabbi Shimon Ben Zoma that, I believe, can serve us well as a
guide for creating a caring and close community. He stated, “Who is
wise? One who learns from everyone. Who is mighty? One who controls
his or her passions. Who is rich? One who is happy with what he or she
has. Who is honored? One who honors others.”
The
first part of Ben Zoma’s saying claims that it is one who learns from everyone
who is truly wise, adding, as support, this quote from Psalm 119: “From all who
would teach me I would gain understanding.” In our study and discussions,
there is so much that I learn from listening to your perspectives. While
I always meticulously prepare for the sessions I teach, it is really what you
add that gives each discussion its depth and character. It is impressive to
hear members of the Wednesday breakfast group speak about their areas of
knowledge and expertise. It is a m’chayeh, a live-giving joy, to note how
each member of the Tanakh study group brings a unique understanding to ancient
texts. In fact, I view every conversation with anyone at any age as
an opportunity to learn something new. Ben Zoma reminded us and I agree
that we reach our greatest potential to be wise when we simply listen and soak
in the words of our fellow community members.
Ben Zoma further declared: Who is mighty? One who control's one's passions.” He
quoted the book of Proverbs to further his point: “One who is slow to
anger is better than one who rule's one's spirit and conquers a city.” Showing
patience is still very much a virtue and even a personal victory. Two
books from the Harvard Negotiation project, Getting to Yes and Getting
Past No, suggest that, before we enter into a significant meeting with a large
group or even with just one person, we should "go to the
balcony". That is, we should imagine that we are looking down at ourselves
during that meeting and considering how we would want to see ourselves behave
at our best. That “best practice” might include constructive criticism that
supports the other person’s heartfelt efforts, putting yourself in the
place of the other person to try to understand his or her actions, and asking
how you can help in the future. As human beings, we have the possibility
for great achievement, but we are not perfect – not yet, anyway. And
imperfections, mistakes, and surprises lie at the very foundation of the humor
that emerges from Jewish community and culture. We know how to embrace moments
that don’t go the way we expected, turning them into something positive.
I tell Bar and Bat Mitzvah students and parents before their special
celebration, "Do the best you can to make this service go well, but
even if it’s not absolutely perfect, what’s most important is that you make
your simchah meaningful and memorable." The same goes for most everything
we do in the course of our time spent together at Temple.
Ben Zoma
said in Pirkei Avot: Who is rich? One who is happy with what one has. A
quick anecdote: With two sets of families unable to attend training wheels on
April 21 that were going to lead the session, I told the parent who ended up in
charge for the day, "there is always a good result from using the talent
available right at the moment- whatever you do will be great!"
And it was! At last Friday night's service, the congregation
was given the task of leading its own responsive reading, with those on
one side beginning and the other side responding. When we came to
Shalom Rav, I sang harmony as the congregation sang the melody
beautifully. Each person who attends our Shabbat morning services has the
chance to lead at least one prayer or reading. At all sorts of gatherings
at Temple, we enrich each other with our wealth of knowledge, ability,
creativity and talent. All that we need is often right here among
us. We also learn about being happy with what we have by sharing
with those in need. Our ongoing contributions and special donations
offered to Casa de Peregrinos, the El Caldito Soup Kitchen, Mesilla Valley
Community of Hope, Safe Haven Animal Sanctuary and other organizations enable
us to fulfill the mitzvah of giving Tzedakah and performing GMILUT CHASADIM,
deeds of kindness. Turkeys from Temple Teens and the December 25
Breakfast at Camp Hope were projects of generosity deeply rooted in our
faith. Our participation with CAFÉ, Communities in Action and
Faith, of Southern New Mexico provides our congregation with a valuable avenue
for putting into practice the timeless prophetic values of our heritage.
Shimon
Ben Zoma concluded his saying with this teaching: Who is honored? One who
honors others, as it was said by God in the book of First Samuel, "I will
honor those who honor Me.” The medieval commentator Rashi explained that
if God will honor those who honor God, then how much more fitting it is that we
human beings should honor those who honor us. Giving honor to
others means saying thank you to someone who completes even a small task.
That would naturally motivate us to thank those who lead a larger or more
ambitious project or program. In congregational and community life,
we should accept honor as it comes. It may not come when we might expect, or in
the form we anticipated, but it will come, especially if the honor you have
shown others has been heartfelt and genuine and respectful.
If you haven’t
already done so, take a moment to look at the posters featuring photos and
articles about our many Temple activities and programs held over the last year.
Peer into the faces in the photographs – find yourselves – know that your
presence as part of the Temple community makes a difference. Each of us
adds something special to this congregation, and, together, we can be a source
of blessing. People from the greater Las Cruces community who have
attended programs at Temple gain a sense of warmth and enrichment from being
with us. We often do just that for each other.
A warm
thank you to Mel Taylor for leading the congregation this year. Our
conversations, Mel, during your tenure, naturally flowed from discussions that
we had already begun before you had any inkling you would be taking on this
leadership position. You have successfully served as President while
being true to yourself, doing all you could to set an example of balance,
fairness, and dedication with an appropriate dose of much-needed
laughter. I know that Dia has strongly supported you over this last year
and kept you grounded when you needed it most. Rhonda, as always,
you are a source of strength, insight, support, love, caring and creativity,
and a sounding board not just for me but for many members of this congregation
and community. And to our son Adam, whom we hope all of you will get to
know more in the coming years, both Rhonda and I appreciate words of wisdom and
support that he offers from New York City that nurtures us and, in turn,
everyone at Temple.
We began
tonight with a blessing that acknowledges our common humanity. Let us
conclude with the words we know so well that express our joy and hope at times
of new beginnings: BARUCH ATAH ADONAI ELOHEINU MELECH HAOLAM SHEHECHEYANU
V’KIY’MANU V’HIGIYANU LAZMAN HAZEH. Blessed are You, our Eternal God,
Sovereign of the Universe, who keeps us alive, sustains us, and brings us to
new vistas that we will face together with the shared vision of an
all-encompassing presence and Oneness leading and inspiring us along our
continuing journey. And let us say Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment