I am like a young Israelite - July 21, 2020

I am like a young Israelite

standing with my family and community

Waiting to cross the sea

As Pharaoh and his soldiers

Continue their fast approach 

To steal our freedom

Or to take our lives 

For what they would see as

A brazen escape from slavery. 

And there are voices among us

Telling us to surrender

To bargain and barter

To go back to that place

Where generations had been worked so hard

That they could not even enjoy

Quiet moments with family at the end of the day. 

Those voices believe 

That our normal should be

The work

The oppression

The deference we had to show

The submission to a people 

Who believed their objects of worship

Were more powerful than ours.

But we know that we can’t go back. 

The voices among us 

Disparaging our liberty

Declaring loyalty to past comfort

Cannot see that we might find security and safety

By creating a new context for our lives

By shifting our paradigm 

From obeisance to a human authority

To trust in a higher authority 

That inspires us to gain new wisdom and knowledge

And develop our own ingenuity 

On how to live

On how to survive

On how to thrive.

And now, that higher authority 

Calls on us to use our knowledge and skills

To lead us to a new place 

Where a silent predator 

Will not be able to touch us 

But we must listen to the voices 

That will take us forward

And not backward, 

where we might still face

Threats to ourselves and our lives.  

So may we step into the sea

So that the waters will part

When we are ready

When the wise among us know

That we will be able to stand safely 

with one another 

Unmasked, unfettered

And we will walk across the dry land

Together.

244 - A Prayer for United States of America

Eternal One, 

Protector of the persecuted

Creator of our intrinsic equality, 

Heal our wounds. 

Bridge our divisions. 

Implant insight in our minds.  

Uncover the brutal truths of our histories, 

The actual motivations concealed 

With the intention to revise the stories of the past, 

Turning victims into perpetrators

And perpetrators into individuals who could claim

Grievance without real cause. 

O Shield, who guards and enables 

our continued existence

As a nation, 

Guide us to begin with foundational realizations

Of the need for fairness and equity

Within a nation in its youth, 

But foster in us added enlightenment 

Beyond the vision of those early leaders

That will, finally, lead us forward, now

To the equality, in Your eyes, O God, 

Of every human being, 

One to another, 

No matter where he or she was born, 

No matter what occupation or career in which he or she engages, 

No matter the outward color of his or her skin

No matter how he or she expresses his or her faith and beliefs,

As we acknowledge the richness and significance

of the various cultures 

That comprise our collective tapestry.  

Eternal God,

Protector of our very souls, 

Creator of the essence of our spirits 

Which connects us in ways we cannot begin to imagine, 

Heal our wounds. 

Bridge our divisions

As we celebrate another year around the sun. 

Thoughts on Retirement, Leadership and Service - Column for Las Cruces Bulletin on July 3, 2020

At this writing, I am approaching my final week as rabbi of Temple Beth-El of Las Cruces, moving into the title of Rabbi Emeritus on July 1, 2020. 

     June 6, 2020 marked the 39th anniversary of my ordination as a rabbi by Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in Cincinnati, Ohio. 

     I served as a student rabbi at a congregation in Illinois every other weekend for three years, as well as working at the congregation where I grew up (in Kanas City) as a rabbinic intern for three summers.   All of that training, plus my classes at rabbinic school, offered opportunities to accumulate the knowledge and to develop the skills I would need as a congregational rabbi. 

     The operative words on my ordination certificate indicated that I would teach, “YOREH,” and decide or judge, “YADIN.” 

     After 39 years, I can say that I have done both in ways that I did not expect or imagine. 

     Most any clergy person has the responsibility to guide his or her congregants in the teachings of the particular faith group and denomination/branch which he or she represents.   

      That can involve modeling practices that enliven holiday and life celebrations and developing supportive acts that assist people in need in the greater community.  

       Spiritual leaders may feel compelled to interpret the values of his or her tradition regarding how to approach issues of the day.  Current questions might include:  how do we best apply the principles of our tradition to combat racism, to end discrimination, and to promote acceptance of all individuals as children of God who were created in the divine image?   And, how can we safely re-open our houses of worship? 

     In religious congregations, leadership includes striking a balance between the spoken word and music during worship.  It requires sustained efforts to nurture a productive partnership between clergy and lay leaders.   It is about being warm and welcoming to newcomers and long-time members alike.  

     When conflicts arise, leadership involves both “teaching” and “deciding.” First, it is important to outline a range of faith perspectives on the issue at hand.   In some cases, a final decision might come from the clergy person.  In others, it is a board vote, after hearing the views of lay leaders and clergy together, that provides a final determination.  

     A few years ago, I was waiting to make a turn onto a major street in Las Cruces.  Before the light changed, I noticed a bumper sticker on the car in front of me that taught an important lessons about leadership: “When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace.”     

     I later learned that the quote was attributed to guitarist/singer/songwriter Jimi Hendrix.  

      That statement teaches that leadership is not just about the power and authority that comes with holding a certain position.  It directs leaders to take responsibility for their actions and to make decisions based on love, concern and respect for the people whom they serve.  

      And, of course, it is possible to lead without holding an official position or title. 

     So may we find ways, in our daily lives, to set an example, to teach, and to choose the right course of action, always based on the timeless values of goodness, consideration, compassion and love.   

This Rabbi - a Retirement Reflection - for the Temple Beth-El Las Cruces, NM July 2020 Adelante Newsletter

I have been thinking about

All of these years

As a rabbi.

They have not passed 

In the blink of an eye. 

Yet, I still can’t believe

That this journey 

As a congregational rabbi

Is coming to a close. 

With the unexpected flurry of activity

Which the pandemic 

Has added to this time of transition,

I feel fulfilled, and a bit exhausted

Gratified, and somewhat stressed

Satisfied, and sad that personal contact 

Has happened mainly on computer screens.

Every year has been different

One from another

In its specific challenges. 

Still, every year has featured 

The landmarks of the Jewish calendar

Shabbat, holidays

The repeating cycle of Religious School

Life events for members of all ages 

Programs clustered 

in the months of August through May

that included 

Study groups

Annual Meetings 

Jewish Food Festivals and other fundraisers

Community worship services and programs to mark Thanksgiving and Martin Luther King, Jr. day

Clergy gatherings 

And attendance at national conventions

Where i joined with rabbis and with colleagues in Jewish music and education

To learn, to absorb to grow.

There have been years putting forward 

the fruits of my personal expression 

in prose and in song 

Within the congregation and in the community.   

There are family photographs taken every year at Tashlich,   

The rabbi leading an enthusiastic congregation in his white robe on Sukkot and Simchat Torah and at Consecration and Confirmation services,  

And wearing a variety of hats while singing Purim songs before the Megillah reading or Purimspiel.

There were rabbinic and personal moments merged into one at weddings, birth ceremonies, bar/bat mitzvah services, Confirmation, and funerals.   

There were hellos, and goodbyes, and hellos.   

There were moments for speaking my mind and times when keeping silent was, sadly, necessary. 

There were people to meet, good people in the congregation and in communities,

Some becoming lifelong friends. 

There were encounters with governors, members of Congress, famous folksingers, noted authors, famous biblical scholar, the creator of Star Trek himself, and a future president. 

Moments of solemn remembrance, as well as collective protests against hatred, were turned into community gatherings to sing and share.

There were many episodes of challenge, too many, when alternative choices for behavior (whether on the part of others, or, admittedly, my own) could have changed an unfortunate outcome...or, perhaps not. 

Mainly, there were

Milestones celebrated, smiles shared

Harmonious voices joined in a unified chorus

Children and adults growing into themselves as Jews and as human beings

Values taught 

Lessons learned (sometimes the hard way)

Helping hands extended 

Love expressed, especially within and throughout the generations of my own family 

Communities built based on shared principles

And a hope 

That the foundations of all of these efforts

Will last for all those whose lives were touched 

And will persist and serve as seeds for renewal

In the heart and mind 

Of at least

This rabbi.  

Becoming Your Eyes and Hands - A Meditation on Shabbat Evening Prayer - June 29, 2020

Eternal God, 

Our Creator, Our Sustainer,

Our Inspiration,

Rule us with justice 

So that the voices of the upright among us

Will be heard by all who need to listen. 

Send protection as we walk along our paths

Whether in the form of traveling companions

Or accompanying angels. 

Enable us to appreciate Your light that illumines our hearts

And may we sense that light even after night has fallen. 

Be a loving Parent who presents us with teachings

That will lead us to understand that Your Oneness

And that can turn us towards each other in respect and unity. 

Open our hearts that we may love You in return,

So that, when we await your redemption 

At times of great challenge, 

We will cross the sea of despair 

And discover, on the other side, the warmth of Your embrace. 

Remember our bonds with those who came before us,

Who sought Your help as we do now,

Who expressed their faith by bringing freedom, 

support and healing to people in need, becoming Your eyes and hands.  

May we strive to be holy like You, 

Always moving to the rhythm of Your teachings.

When we rest, celebrating all that You have made, 

may we muster the fortitude we need 

to suffuse the world with Your kindness and goodness. 

When we pray, hear us. 

When we lead prayer, give us insight 

to uncover the deepest meanings within the words before us,

and as we speak them aloud, 

may the sound of our voices touch every soul within of our circle of worship. 

May our sincere gratitude allow us to humbly see that we are surrounded by gifts that we do not even realize are there.  

May the peace embedded in all that we do be a resounding echo of the 

peace which You fashion in the heights of the Universe. 

And may that peace, above and below, be a beacon of hope for us

Every day of our lives. 

“Always on the road to holiness” Words of Torah - Parashat Korach - June 26-27, 2020 for Temple Beth-El Las Cruces NM

WORDS OF TORAH – Parashat Korach – June 26-27, 2020

Shabbat Shalom!
  We, as a congregation, are about the move into a new chapter of an ongoing story. I will conclude my service to the congregation as rabbi on June 30, and then take on the role of rabbi emeritus. Rhonda and I will continue to be members of the Temple Beth-El community. Lay leaders and student rabbi Sofia Zway will actively work together to sustain Jewish life and growth for Temple Beth-El.  This juncture of transition is a “Shehecheyanu” moment. It carries with it an air of sanctity, because we will all be seeking ways in which we can continue to create holy moments in our lives. (P.S. We are looking forward to celebrating all of our shared accomplishments tonight). 
   In the Torah portion for this week, Korach, possibly a relative of Moses and Aaron, challenged the authority of the Israelite leaders by claiming that, if all the Israelites were holy, how could Moses and Aaron put themselves above everyone else? We know that true leadership carries with it responsibility and requires an ability to adapt and change. Torah commentator Yeshayahu Leibowitz saw Korach’s assertion about the holiness of the Israelites to mean that “we have achieved our goal and nothing more need be demanded of us” to be holy.  

 It was as if he was saying, and even boasting, “I am already holy and don’t need to change.” Yet, what the Torah actually says (based on Leviticus Chapter 19, which includes the phrase, “Love your neighbor as yourself) is “YOU SHALL BE HOLY, for I, the Eternal your God, am holy.” Holiness is about the process of striving to become holy like God. It is a goal, not a present state, because we may never reach a divine level of sanctity. Leaders and people like Korach think they have nothing to learn from anyone or any new experience. Leaders and people like Moses and Aaron see their own imperfections, lament the need to stand firm in the face of overwhelming opposition, and are willing to learn something new to move along the road towards greater effectiveness and 
even holiness.
   Every milestone in life gives us a new opportunity to take note of who we are and where we are at any given moment, and where we want to be in the future. Marking a special occasion in any way makes that moment KADOSH, sacred, reminding us that embodied in our celebrations is an admission that we can continue to learn and grow along our life’s journey. May we continue together on this path of “becoming” in unity and hope!

God Loves Becoming - Remarks by Rabbi Larry and Rhonda Karol at the Retirement Event and Tribute by Temple Beth-El Las Cruces on June 25, 2020

The prayer comes from the Mishkan T’filah prayerbook - it was written by Rabbi Norman Hirsh. 

The rest is from Rhonda and me. 

ONCE OR TWICE in a lifetime, 

a man or woman may choose a radical leaving, 

having heard Lech l’cha — Go forth. 

God disturbs us toward our destiny by hard events 

and by freedom’s now urgent voice 

which explode and confirm who we are. 

We don’t like leaving, but God loves becoming.

We sometimes leave what was familiar

To become familiar with something new. 

We may physically leave one place 

But we do not leave behind 

Fond memories

Partnerships 

Achievements 

Shared holidays and life events 

Sorrows

and Joys.  

We may stay in one place 

Leaving behind the responsibilities of one position

Only to assume a new and significant role

Which does not disconnect us from people or our past.  

We carry everyone and everything with us

Because each of us is the product of all of our experiences 

And relationships:  family, friends, congregants, 

And fellow travelers on our journeys.   

ONCE OR TWICE in a lifetime, 

a man or woman may choose a radical leaving, 

having heard Lech l’cha — Go forth. 

God disturbs us toward our destiny by hard events 

and by freedom’s now urgent voice 

which explode and confirm who we are. 

We don’t like leaving, but God loves becoming.

Lech l’cha 

l’chi lach

We have gone forth.

What have we become? 

Graduates

Jewish professionals

Friends 

Spouses

Travelers

Residents of a Capital City 

Parents

Passengers on the train in Gage Park 

Explorers

Nearby adult children

A family of Chiefs, Royals and Jayhawk fans

Musical theater devotees for the young star in the family

A Jewish singer/songwriter  

A teacher and storyteller 

Veteran Religious School faculty members

A proud mom and dad at two graduations 

Seacoast dwellers a short drive from the ocean, some family and friends, outlet malls, and great ice cream, with mounds of snow gracing our yard,

Suddenly, southwestern desert dwellers at Israel’s latitude

Bearers of new allergies 

Seekers of new doctors, hairdressers, and a place to find fresh Challah for Shabbat 

Apprentice Appreciators of New Mexico chile, so please don’t ask about the color 

Fans of gypsum dunes at White Sands

Spectators of beautiful sunsets from our patio, resulting in galleries of photo memories 

Celebrants at a snowy winter wedding

Proud mother-in-law

Proud father-in-law

60 year-olds

Still teachers of children and adults

Still learners from adults and children

Still community servants 

Still friends making friends 

Grandparents connected with family through wondrous technology 

Home dwellers in the face of a new challenge, trying to stay safe and healthy

Zoom-masters 

Hopefully, thankful, patient and flexible souls as our plans changed 

65 year-olds

Who have come to the conclusion of a chapter but not the end of a journey. 

Reflections of those who came before us, who left us their legacies, on whose shoulders we stand

Builders and givers to a future 

For peers and for a new generation 

To learn, to teach, to care and to grow. 

We don’t like leaving 

But God loves becoming.  

May all of us be blessed 

With courage,

The power to let go of the familiar, 

As we tread new paths 

While not losing our treasured connections

And while helping one another, always,

To walk with hope.