Hold That Rain Off for Few More Days Shabbat Shalom and Hag Same'ah Oct 17, 2008
Rabbi Rafi Rank
Midway Jewish Center
Going Strong Since 1953
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Maybe You, Next Week…
| Shabbat |
Hol HaMo’ed Sukkot |
| Parashah |
Exodus 33:12-34:26 |
| Secular Date |
October 18, 2008 |
| Jewish Date |
19 Tishrei, 5769 |
| Shabbat Begins |
5:52 PM |
| Shabbat Ends |
6:53 PM |
| MJCyber Shul Minyan |
1379 (That's Right!) |
| Last Week’s Minyan |
1373 |
| Upcoming Holiday #1 |
Hoshana Raba—(Monday, October 20) Each day of Sukkot (except on Shabbat) we march with the lulav and etrog, the palm and citron, around the sanctuary, and ask God to bless the New Year and us. The marching prayer recited is Hoshana, which means Please Save! On the festival’s seventh and last day, we march with the lulav around the sanctuary and chant Hoshana seven times, which explains the name of this last day of the festival, Hoshana Raba or The Great Hoshana. |
| Upcoming Holiday #2 |
Shemini Atzeret—The Eighth Day of Assembly—(Tuesday, October 21) Though some regard this as the last day of Sukkot, it is actually a holiday in its own right. We may sit in the sukkah without reciting a blessing, but do not shake the lulav or etrog at all. We pray for healthy rains in Israel and remember loved ones who passed on by reciting the Yizkor prayers. |
| Upcoming Holiday #3 |
Simhat Torah—(Wednesday, October 22) We conclude the reading of the Torah and start all over again. Actually, Simhat Torah is simply Yom Tov Sheini or the second day of Shemini Atzeret. In Israel, where most festivals are observed for only one day, Shemini Atzeret and Simhat Torah are observed on the same day. We sing, dance, and of course, there’s lots of noshing! |
This Week’s Torah Reading
Shabbat Hol HaMo’ed
Sukkot Exodus 33:12--34:26
On Shabbat Hol HaMo’ed Sukkot we read from parashat Ki Tisa. Moses wants to see God, but God reminds him that this is impossible. Nevertheless, Moses, wedged into the cleft of a rock, sees the “back” of God pass by. Moses again ascends the mountain to get a second set of commandments. God and Moses meet and there Moses learns about various attributes of God, including God’s compassion, graciousness, patience, faithfulness, etc. God makes a covenant with the people in which He promises them land in exchange for devotion. He instructs them to destroy all vestiges of idolatry and produce no idols. God commands the observance of Passover, Shavu’ot, Sukkot, and Shabbat. Finally, God commands that a kid never be seethed in its mother’s milk, a law that eventually becomes a fundamental of kashrut (the Jewish dietary laws) as manifest in the strict separation of all meat and milk products.
A Shabbat Thought
Liberty means responsibility. That is why most men dread it.
~~ George Bernard Shaw ~~
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RABBI MOSHE SCHWARTZ’S ROSH HASHANAH SERMON.
RABBI SCHWARTZ LEAD OUR HIGH HOLIDAY CHAPEL MINYAN THIS YEAR
Rabbi Moshe Schwartz
Rosh Hashanah 5769
Midway Jewish Center
My wife Aviva joins me in wishing each and every one of you a Shanah Tovah, our sincerest wish that this will be a year of health, happiness and fulfillment.
Just three weeks ago, our son Elie came to shul with me on Shabbat morning as he does each week. Some of you might recall, it was a particularly hot day outside, and not much cooler in the sanctuary. The synagogue’s air conditioning was broken and with 2 baby namings and a Bar Mitzvah, there was a large crowd. Not even the giant fans and the dimmed lights could make the room cool. After shul, Elie was playing with some other kids during the Kiddush. He found himself talking with Joel [Podell], our synagogue president and Rabbi Rank. I was on the other side of the room but I am told by reliable sources that Elie approached Joel to say "The air conditioner, the big one, it’s broken. Fix it" to which Joel replied "I can’t, we need to get a part. Do you have a screwdriver?" Elie said "next week, you fix with me."
The next Shabbat morning, Elie woke up and went to his tool kit, grabbed his screwdriver (and a hammer "cause we’ll need it Abba") and we went to shul. Elie walked up to the bimah during the Torah procession and preceded to hand Joel the screwdriver, take Joel’s hand and walk to see the big AC unit. Joel finally convinced Elie that they needed a ladder to reach it. Elie’s been asking me for a ladder ever since.
Elie was offering a 2 year olds perspective on how easy it is to change the situation: all you needed was to tell someone to fix the problem. If only our nation’s problems were as simple. If only each of us had the power to change so easily.
Change has been a most popular topic these days. We’ve seen weathermen on TV analyzing the recent hurricanes and claiming its part of a larger phenomenon known as global warming, or perhaps more accurately "climate change."
And these days, if you turn on CNN, MSNBC or Fox News, you just can’t change the subject (but apparently you can change some prime time hosts 3 months before an election as MSNBC did). We hear over and over "Join our campaign for change," "The Change Our Country Needs," "Change we can believe in."
I was reminded by my classmate from Rabbinical School, Rabbi Micah Peltz of a famous teaching by Rav Nachman of Bratslav which illustrates how Rosh HaShana is indeed the season for change. Rav Nahman, interprets the word שנה [Shanah] inראש השנה [Rosh Hashanah] to come from the same root as the Hebrew verb לשנות – which means "to change." Rav Nahman doesn’t see שנה [Shanah] as coming from the root meaning Year, but rather from לשנות, meaning to change. This causes him to see the goal of Rosh HaShana to be reflected in its literal translation – a time to change your head – to positively change how we think about our relationships with God and human beings.
So let us use these High Holydays as an opportunity to reflect on change.
◘What will be new about this New Year?
◘Will it be only the number, 5769, or something more substantive?
◘If changes do occur, what kind of changes will they be?
◘And will we change as well? Are we happy with the way things are, or do we want something better?
All of us want to change things for the better. We want to improve ourselves. So, while our country is talking about political change, we come here to gather together in shul on this Rosh Hashanah day, trying to understand change (& constancy), what we should modify to improve our lives, & what should be left alone because it’s as good as it gets. We come to contemplate personal change - to consider our individual lives and our interpersonal relationships and how we can change them for the better. Of course, there are always changes in life that may be sudden or are beyond our control to prevent. While we must acknowledge those and plan as best as possible for those, this sermon will focus on the other type of change, that which we can affect.
My family has had to deal with many changes this year –and with my wife’s official due date in just 12 days, we’re all in for some major changes—especially Elie who certainly doesn’t know what changes are in store. So, in the eyes of a 2 year old, change is about having someone else make a correction or adjustment. For all of us adults, it is far more complex.
Yet, ALL of us deal with the question of CHANGE in our lives and the challenges posed by the choices we make as we seek to make change. It’s human nature. Things don’t stay the same.
In seeking answers, the first place we should look is to our Jewish tradition. There, we encounter ABRAHAM as the hero of today’s Torah reading. Abraham is the central character of the RH Torah readings, & thus, he is our role model of change. Look at his life. It speaks to change!
God told Abraham (Avram) "Lech Lecha Me’artzecha U’memoladetcha---Go forth from your native land!" Abram left his home, his native Haran. He traveled to a new country — accepting the belief in the one true God & the promise of a new nation & a new country.
I imagine that Abraham dealt with some of the same issues we face. He had some very difficult questions about change, such as:
¨ How much should I be willing to change for this invisible God? Am I willing to travel to an unknown destination, to "the land that God will show me"?
¨ How much of the past should I reject, & what of my past is worthwhile taking along with me?
¨ And at some point, even the great Abraham might have thought to himself: "Hey, this is a lot you’re throwing at me. God: Lighten up!"
Let’s try to understand Abraham’s life as he dealt with change. The first thing that the Bible tells us about Abraham is that God commanded him to leave his native city of Ur: [Genesis 12:4-5:] Abram went forth as the Lord had commanded him, and Lot went with him. Abram was 75 years old when he left Haran. Abram took his wife Sarai & his brother’s sons Lot, & all the wealth that they had amassed in Haran; and they set out for the land of Canaan."
Even as Abraham changes so much of him stays the same.
¨He takes his immediate family with him – his wife Sarah, his nephew Lot, a whole entourage of family members & domestic help, as well as his possessions:
Abraham knew that change is best when others do it with us, when those closest to us are part of the decision to change & part of the process of change.
I imagine that Abraham’s challenge was formidable, that his fears were great, that — despite his being a great leader — he was also a bit apprehensive about the task ahead of him.
◘ He may have thought: even though the command from God was in the singular, Lech Lecha, God didn’t say that I have to leave my family behind!
◘ And Abraham probably thought: I don’t have to reject ALL of my past to become the new person I want to be.
Most of all, Abraham makes sure that his changes were well thought-out and purposeful. We know that on his journey he stops to pray, to reflect and to make sure that what he is doing is right for him, that, at several instances he isn’t afraid to challenge God and to make difficult decisions. Abraham was constantly evaluating what was right in his life and what could be better.
And the theme of change has certainly been central in the political campaign this year. Look at our candidates—an African-American on a major party ticket, a first in our nation and a female Vice Presidential candidate-though not a first in history, a first for the Republican Party. And as a result—history will be made in November. The citizens of this country have already voted for change and on November 4th, will once again make at least one monumental change. Many people have written about & commented about what these nominations say about America, and while there are many important points to be made about this upcoming election-I find it fascinating that both candidates have latched on to the call for change because they know this resonates for the American people. Each has his own interpretation of how best to change America for the better-and that has become the platform by which this campaign is being run.
It’s easy to throw up our hands and say "the problems of our nation are so huge –what the heck am I going to do?" But whatever you think about Obama and McCain, I think they are both viable candidates b/c enough people said "hey, this guy cares about my opinions, he wants to make changes and I want to get involved."
There are many ways of changing for the better as Jews. One way is to extend ourselves to those in need, to perform the Mitzvot of Bikkum Holim/visiting the sick, Nihum Aveilim/comforting mourners, & Hakhnasat Orhim/welcoming guests. So many in this synagogue have shown me and my family how warm & welcoming a community can be since we moved here just over 1 year ago.
And for many of you, this past year has been one of great change too, adjusting to a new synagogue and to the overall merger of your community with this one. Perhaps then you’ll agree with me when I say that what Aviva and I found so appealing about this community and what has impressed me since then, has been, and continues to be, your [Midway’s] concern for people. You [Everyone in the Midway community] have made me feel welcome and appreciated. You have shown so much love and hospitality to my family members as well. I believe this is because Midway members know the lesson of Abraham & Sarah — that we don’t have to "go it alone," —that in the midst of immense and enormous change –personal and communal, this community has made our lives not only easier, but more importantly, pleasant & relaxing.
As we learned from Abraham, even as Abraham changes so much on his journey, so much of him stays the same. So too, I think with aspects of the Bethpage Community. Perhaps, that is what this service is all about –and if so, I’m proud to be a part of both the continuity and the change.
But even if we have others going with us, it can be hard. Change presents challenges: Of growing up, of facing each new stage of life, of becoming our better selves again & again.
◘ At Bar or Bat Mitzvah time, we face the difficulty of moving from childhood to a more mature way of acting. We don’t become "adults" overnight. Rather, we repeatedly face critical issues of maturity & responsibility. Sometimes, we’re expected to do things we’re not really ready for at age 13.
◘ Later, for many of us, there is the challenge of moving from being children to having children-a change I experienced 2 and a half years ago. Once there’s a human being relying on us, there is no turning back. What an awesome responsibility!! Anyone who has taken care of his or her own children has felt the need to take "just one day off," even though we know with children, we can’t. [Trust me, I could really use one right about now!]
◘ And as we get older, we have the challenge of filling our lives with meaning even as we may have less of different responsibility. How do we make the "Golden Years" truly golden? How do we not become angry, bitter people as life’s disappointments often increase and life’s blessings, like health, often decrease?
Even in my short career in the Rabbinate, I’ve had several people tell me: Rabbi, I can’t do it. I just can’t adapt. It’s too much change.
Let’s look again at Abraham, & how he dealt with change in his life. The Biblical text tells us: "Abram journeyed by stages toward the Negev." [Genesis 12:9]
We know Abraham as this famous founder of a people, a nation, a religion. But before that, Abraham has to travel in the Negev, the desert. Even one as great as Abraham still had a dry spell, a period of not knowing where his inspiration would come from, of not knowing if he would get to his destination.
Most people grow in slow, even faltering steps, like Abraham’s travel by stages through the Negev. This is very different from what we’re used to in society around us, especially in religion. We have been nurtured on the Christian concept of "rebirth," & all of us have heard of—or even know—people who have "seen the light." Perhaps they gather in mega-Churches or they now live in compounds secluded from the rest of society--one day, they are sinners, unschooled and floundering. And then: Something suddenly changes in them, & "Poof!!!" they are "born again."
As Jews, we do not believe that change happens this way & we should avoid thinking that meaningful change takes place as an epiphany, an awakening:
◘ When we tell a 13-year-old Bar Mitzvah boy [poof] "today you are a man," we’re really doing that child a disservice. Children become adults over time. They accept more responsibility in little bits—& sometimes, they falter & stumble. That’s human nature.
We can help our children by allowing them to grow slowly, to try mature experiences even if they fail, to become adults not overnight, at Bar or Bat Mitzvah time, but over years, beginning with Bar or Bat Mitzvah.
◘ As we become parents, it’s understandable & expected that we feel uncomfortable with the awesome responsibility of a new human life. What a change that is! One day, you’re a couple of kids, & the next day, you HAVE a kid—loved & wanted, but also needy & complicated.
We can help parents cope with child rearing by reminding them that no one knows all the answers right away, that all of us learn to be parents through our experiences over many years—& some of those will be awkward & clumsy.
◘ And it’s true for retirement & the Golden Years as well.
First, many people will have to figure out if they can even afford to retire given the economic situation of today? Perhaps, some will have to change by working longer just to afford it. But if you can retire, one has to wonder "how will I fill my hours & enjoy the change, rather than resenting it?"
It takes time to figure this out. After decades of work defining our schedule, we’re not going to suddenly awaken one Monday morning & find meaning with this new experience called "retirement."
If it happens in stages, over time, if we begin to fill our lives with different activities & a new schedule, & if this takes a while, so what? We would do best to allow others — & ourselves — patience & understanding in this serious transition.
And while we Jews have the notion of "Hozer B’tshuvah" –one who has returned by repenting—in other words, one who has become observant later in life after a period of non-observance, it is interesting to note that we do not use language that resembles being "born again" because Judaism sees change differently. We call this person a Hozer, meaning "the one who has returned," because for us, it is precisely about this process of return. For Jews, most change is slow & gradual. Change happens in steps, and this individual, this Hozer, has taken the necessary steps to return to our faith.
It’s precisely the way the modern Zionist pioneers reclaimed the land of Israel: Dunam Po, V’Dunam Sham---An acre here, an acre there."
It’s also true of religious observance and of my overall approach to work as Rabbi at the Solomon Schechter Day School and High School. We don’t try and teach students the Amidah in Kindergarten; but we don’t wait until 12th grade either. We move steadily and methodically, building year after year. And I see this with my students (and even alumni) at Schechter who have come to see me at school and said "Rabbi, I want to be more observant" or "I have questions about Judaism and want to know more."
Each step is wonderful and we should encourage it as I always do. But my first response is often to tell this person "start slow and move steadily." For example:
·If you want to increase your kashrut observance, make small changes each month.
And if you don't have a kosher house resolve to prepare one meal in the next month as a kosher meal;
· If you want to increase Shabbat observance, start by saying Kiddush, light Shabbat candles and if you can, get 2 challot from Pearl’s or the Bakery, say the motzi then come back to me in 3 months around Chanukkah time and we can discuss Netilat Yadayim (ritual washing of the hands) and Birkat Hamazon (Grace after Meals). [Or, if you currently don’t observe Shabbat, then consider taking one Friday night in the next month and make it a Shabbat meal]
·If you want to study Torah [or other religious texts], then first consider coming to shul on Shabbat morning. If you cannot come for 3 hours, I’d encourage you to come around 11:15 –in time for the Rabbi’s 60 second dvar torah [I’d probably throw in the fact that if you came at 10am, you wouldn’t be disappointed by the sermon!]. You can learn so much from just 2 minutes [yes, the 60 second dvar torah is usually 120 seconds, but it’s never longer and I, like so many look forward to it each week]. Begin the process by learning from others and then we can get together and study more formally.
In all of these cases, I see the point as being that if you make a small change, you can then decide for yourself if you want to take another step; And if all this observance doesn’t resonate either, then perhaps just a simple mitzvah will do. I bet, in most cases, they are things we’re already doing, such as hashavat aveidah/returning a lost object or bikkur cholim/visiting the sick. See how you feel as a result--does it lead to more steps toward change?
Sometimes, we approach life thinking that BIG changes make the difference; that teshuvah, repentance, means changing the world, altering our entire lifestyle, transforming who we are and how we act. We assume that Rosh Hashanah is about a complete turn around [note to reader: I will spin around here –it helps keep people focused]; that somehow we have to change the world to make a real difference. In reality, though, it’s often small changes that often make a big difference:
◘ A slightly different way of acting.
◘ A minor modification in how we perceive things.
◘ A small adjustment in what we say or how we respond to a situation
So it is with these holidays. When we think of it as changing the world, we back off, because we can’t do it. But if we change our mindset, if we have done the introspection necessary to know what direction we are changing, then and only then will we end up making meaningful change.
A final message that we learn from Abraham is: You’re never too old. Abraham was 75 when he left Haran, uprooted his family, left his familiar surroundings, & traveled all the way to Canaan.
WOW! And we get all bent out of shape when we have to change primary care doctors after college, hair dressers in our 30’s, from Schwab to Fidelity in our 40’s or online servers at any age!!!
BUT we human beings are really more adaptable to change than we sometimes give ourselves credit for. Therefore, let’s not change capriciously, but let’s not be afraid to adapt either. It’s not only Abraham who did it; WE can as well; and I am certain that in the coming months and years, our nation will figure out how to also.
****
As Rashi, the great medieval commentator notes, Lech Lecha—go forth, Letovatcha –for your good. May these High Holy Days be one in which we make change for our benefit. As a Hasidic interpretation of this adds, Lech—go and Lecha –"to yourself." Not only should we make change, but we should take note that change starts from within – with a personal commitment for change. And in a sense, that is what we are doing here today on Rosh Hashanah; challenging ourselves, questioning ourselves—as well as God: Am I on the right path? Are the changes I propose to make purposeful, worthwhile, and sensible?
Somehow, with great effort, the shul got the right parts for the air conditioning and though it was humid outside and pretty sticky inside this past Shabbat, as far as I know things are fairly cool upstairs in the sanctuary today. I know, "tuy tuy" –but there is a chance the air conditioning will malfunction or break again. When it does, I am certain the synagogue with fix it and when it does, I bet my son Elie will once again find our president Joel [Podell] and tell him to fix it.
As we begin our Aseret Yemei Teshuvah, Ten Days of Repentance, let us recognize that no matter how broken we are, not matter how much each of us needs improvement – we can always be fixed – each of us can change for the better!
May this year bring happiness and health, and meaningful change to each and every one of us.
Shanah Tovah
Shabbat Shalom & Hag Same’ah—
A Very Joyous Sukkot to Everybody!
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Updated July 12, 2006 
