My first rule in any situation . . . remain calm, don't panic . . .
I'm trying to remember that as I count the things I have to do this week and measure them against the hours available to do them . . . The time I spent with the boys last week rather than study was well worth it!!!!
Sunday, October 23, 2011
Friday, October 21, 2011
Digesting the News . . . there's nothing else to do . . .
So with 24 hours in Philadelphia thanks to US Airways and the weather I have a little time on my hands to do more than just read the news. I had a few minutes to think about it . . .
Here were the headlines I read today in the Wall Street Journal . . .
Struggling French Banks Fought to Avoid Oversight . . .
Germany, France Delay Euro Rescue Plan . . .
Greece Approves Cuts Amid Violent Protests . . .
For Bank in Spain, Links Aren't Plain . . .
Retailers Brace for 'Flash Robs' This Shoplifting Season . . .
and from the New York Times on-line . . .
Volcker Rule Grows From Simple to Complex . . .
In a nutshell . . . you can't trust the banks because they're in it to make money and they're BIG. So big that when they do something, it means BIG money and BIG bonuses and payoff for the bank executives. They'll do anything to avoid regulation and oversight. They have a nasty habit of lying to their own investors and regulators.
The media reports the disagreement between France and Germany like they are bickering kids. I think there should be arguments. There are fundamental differences of opinion in how the world financial crisis should be handled. This isn't the time to rush into a bad solution just for the sake of doing something. The something, if the wrong thing, could cause the economies of the world irreparable damage. I say, keep arguing and come to a well thought out solution. Don't rush . . . get it right.
While the French and Germans are arguing, the US Congress continues to allow itself to be wagged by just about anyone. The banking/investment lobbies had bargained for looser regulations and look where that got us. Now it's time to reign them back in and Congress doesn't have the guts to do it, allowing it's own legislation to be corrupted by lobbyists once again, swelling a four page ideal to swell to a 300 page regulation so complicated that no one likes it and it is unlikely to go anywhere. Listening to the radio last week, various interviews with Ohio politicians revealed that their biggest disappointment with public service is the fact that every day they have to spend appreciable time raising money from the minute they get into office, not necessarily for themselves, but for the RNC or DNC.
Meanwhile, prosecution of bank and financial institution executives seems like it will never happen. They manage to skirt responsibility for the actions of their organizations. The only people going to jail are the obvious ponzie schemers like Madoff and people who defraud the banks like Kweku Adoboli . . . he was the guy who got arrested in London for blowing $2 Billion of UBS's money in bad unauthorized trades.
Meanwhile, as the Greek debt crisis continues, the Greek Government is taking a lot of heat and their is violence in the streets because they are doing what has to be done. At a time when the economy has failed, the Greek Government can't possibly support the social welfare state it created and austerity measures are critical to contain the crisis. How can the rest of Europe be expected to bail them out if they don't tighten their belts? Yet the youth in Greece don't quite see it that way. They are throwing rocks and rioting in the streets protesting the measures. Why is it so difficult to realize that when there is no money, you actually have to consume less and work more? By the way, who is behind the youth? Oh surprise, surprise . . . the communist political organizations.
The same attitude displayed in the US where the phenomena of 'Flash Robs' is on the increase. In case you missed it, this is where youth communicate via twitter or facebook or some other medium and organize a mass shoplifting. The shear volume of the people involved at one store just taking what they want with no warning makes in almost impossible to stop or catch them. They happen lightning fast and very few of the perpetrators are prosecuted.
And while Ben Bernanke searches for a solution to our financial crisis, he notes what is missing from our economic picture in this recovery struggle . . . a healthy housing market. So what is the Fed poised to possibly do . . . pump more money into mortgage backed securities. So let me get this straight . . . propping up an industry to unsustainable levels and encouraging unsustainable borrowing helped cause, if not fully cause, our financial crisis . . . so let's go down that path again. By the way, I've read some of Bernanke's academic work on the causes of the Great Depression. It's very intelligent and well reasoned. I have a lot of trouble believing he doesn't have some good ideas how to get us out of this mess. Who is chirping in his ear and influencing him?
I can't wait to get back to Ulpan . . . I'd rather be obliviously focusing on verb tenses, vocabulary, and idioms I don't know when I read the news in Hebrew than loose total confidence in where this world is headed reading it in English.
Here were the headlines I read today in the Wall Street Journal . . .
Struggling French Banks Fought to Avoid Oversight . . .
Germany, France Delay Euro Rescue Plan . . .
Greece Approves Cuts Amid Violent Protests . . .
For Bank in Spain, Links Aren't Plain . . .
Retailers Brace for 'Flash Robs' This Shoplifting Season . . .
and from the New York Times on-line . . .
Volcker Rule Grows From Simple to Complex . . .
In a nutshell . . . you can't trust the banks because they're in it to make money and they're BIG. So big that when they do something, it means BIG money and BIG bonuses and payoff for the bank executives. They'll do anything to avoid regulation and oversight. They have a nasty habit of lying to their own investors and regulators.
The media reports the disagreement between France and Germany like they are bickering kids. I think there should be arguments. There are fundamental differences of opinion in how the world financial crisis should be handled. This isn't the time to rush into a bad solution just for the sake of doing something. The something, if the wrong thing, could cause the economies of the world irreparable damage. I say, keep arguing and come to a well thought out solution. Don't rush . . . get it right.
While the French and Germans are arguing, the US Congress continues to allow itself to be wagged by just about anyone. The banking/investment lobbies had bargained for looser regulations and look where that got us. Now it's time to reign them back in and Congress doesn't have the guts to do it, allowing it's own legislation to be corrupted by lobbyists once again, swelling a four page ideal to swell to a 300 page regulation so complicated that no one likes it and it is unlikely to go anywhere. Listening to the radio last week, various interviews with Ohio politicians revealed that their biggest disappointment with public service is the fact that every day they have to spend appreciable time raising money from the minute they get into office, not necessarily for themselves, but for the RNC or DNC.
Meanwhile, prosecution of bank and financial institution executives seems like it will never happen. They manage to skirt responsibility for the actions of their organizations. The only people going to jail are the obvious ponzie schemers like Madoff and people who defraud the banks like Kweku Adoboli . . . he was the guy who got arrested in London for blowing $2 Billion of UBS's money in bad unauthorized trades.
Meanwhile, as the Greek debt crisis continues, the Greek Government is taking a lot of heat and their is violence in the streets because they are doing what has to be done. At a time when the economy has failed, the Greek Government can't possibly support the social welfare state it created and austerity measures are critical to contain the crisis. How can the rest of Europe be expected to bail them out if they don't tighten their belts? Yet the youth in Greece don't quite see it that way. They are throwing rocks and rioting in the streets protesting the measures. Why is it so difficult to realize that when there is no money, you actually have to consume less and work more? By the way, who is behind the youth? Oh surprise, surprise . . . the communist political organizations.
The same attitude displayed in the US where the phenomena of 'Flash Robs' is on the increase. In case you missed it, this is where youth communicate via twitter or facebook or some other medium and organize a mass shoplifting. The shear volume of the people involved at one store just taking what they want with no warning makes in almost impossible to stop or catch them. They happen lightning fast and very few of the perpetrators are prosecuted.
And while Ben Bernanke searches for a solution to our financial crisis, he notes what is missing from our economic picture in this recovery struggle . . . a healthy housing market. So what is the Fed poised to possibly do . . . pump more money into mortgage backed securities. So let me get this straight . . . propping up an industry to unsustainable levels and encouraging unsustainable borrowing helped cause, if not fully cause, our financial crisis . . . so let's go down that path again. By the way, I've read some of Bernanke's academic work on the causes of the Great Depression. It's very intelligent and well reasoned. I have a lot of trouble believing he doesn't have some good ideas how to get us out of this mess. Who is chirping in his ear and influencing him?
I can't wait to get back to Ulpan . . . I'd rather be obliviously focusing on verb tenses, vocabulary, and idioms I don't know when I read the news in Hebrew than loose total confidence in where this world is headed reading it in English.
Holy Days in Eretz Yisrael
The High Holy days in Israel were fascinating and meaningful but perhaps not for the reasons one might think. I have to say that the month of Elul was not what it could have been from a reflection standpoint. It's a little hard to reflect when you are trying to keep up with readings, learn binyanim, stand in line to pay utility bills at the post office, and generally keep up with the disorganization called rabbinical school. I wish I could say that my prayer and reflection was intense . . . but not so much . . .
What was fascinating was the scenery of Jerusalem:
Around Rosh Hashanah it was incredible to be walking home after shul and hearing shofars blowing in the distance, most people you pass wishing you well. Unexpected to get a pleasant Shana Tova from the fish monger and David Dagim in the shuk (the best place to get fish by the way . . . great recommendation by Hanna). Usually I just get my wet fishy smelling change. A rabbi who shall remain nameless telling me an absolutely hilarious dirty joke that makes no sense outside of Israel (I shall only repeat in person so I can reserve the right to deny having any knowledge of it . . . ).
Best of all was Yom Kippur. Prior to this experience, I had always looked on Yom Kippur as a solemn occasion with overwhelming weight. In Jerusalem it was different. Certainly there was prayer, reflection, repentance, and all of that but there was also a lightness to it. Throughout the world Yom Kippur is referred to as the Shabbat of Shabbats (Shabbatot doesn't sound quite right) but in Israel it is really true. The world did stop. There was no traffic . . . none. Even the traffic lights were turned off, all flashing yellow. People walking down the middle otherwise busy streets. And the kids riding their bikes in the streets. I will remember for quite some time on Erev Yom Kippur walking home from the Old City, turning up David HaMelech from Mamilla and seeing a young man peddling up the hill, turning his bike around and beginning his coasting descent. Then, displaying for all a feat normally only expected at the circus, he put his feet underneath him on the seat of the bike and slowly stood straight up, hands and arms out parallel to the ground, and rode his bike this way the hundred or so yards down to the bottom of the hill. No doubt he had praticed for months and tuned his bike diligently for this once a year Yom Kippur feat. He got an applause, whop and holler from me, well deserved.
Usually by late in the afternoon on Yom Kippur day, I am beyond consumed by a headache and nausea. Two years ago, it was so bad that I thought my fasting days were over. I just wasn't physically made for maintaining the fast. But, after morning services, a friend and I went on a leisurely walk and talk over to the Wall. We stopped at a roof top overlook he knew, took in the sights, and listened to a pathetic and comical Jerusalem commentary by a tour guide to a group of American Christian tourists. The conversation and the walk made all the difference in giving me that strength to make it through the fast.
I must also say that one of the best decisions that I made at the beginning of the summer was to join the High Holy Day Choir. We started out as 6 Cantorial students and 4 Rabbinical students. But by the time the High Holy Days rolled around the only rabbis left were Polly and I. I had this great vision of learning a lot about High Holy Day music. I can't say I did that. But, I can say I learned a lot about people and how important for me music is in relating to God. My thanks to all of the Cantors for allowing us to join the Choir, especially Vlad, my baritone counterpart who consistently helped me find the right notes and was consistently encouraging despite the many frustrations. And also to Cantor Michal Schiff-Mater whose kindness, gentleness, and love for the music of prayer comes through in almost everything she does.
What was fascinating was the scenery of Jerusalem:
Around Rosh Hashanah it was incredible to be walking home after shul and hearing shofars blowing in the distance, most people you pass wishing you well. Unexpected to get a pleasant Shana Tova from the fish monger and David Dagim in the shuk (the best place to get fish by the way . . . great recommendation by Hanna). Usually I just get my wet fishy smelling change. A rabbi who shall remain nameless telling me an absolutely hilarious dirty joke that makes no sense outside of Israel (I shall only repeat in person so I can reserve the right to deny having any knowledge of it . . . ).
Best of all was Yom Kippur. Prior to this experience, I had always looked on Yom Kippur as a solemn occasion with overwhelming weight. In Jerusalem it was different. Certainly there was prayer, reflection, repentance, and all of that but there was also a lightness to it. Throughout the world Yom Kippur is referred to as the Shabbat of Shabbats (Shabbatot doesn't sound quite right) but in Israel it is really true. The world did stop. There was no traffic . . . none. Even the traffic lights were turned off, all flashing yellow. People walking down the middle otherwise busy streets. And the kids riding their bikes in the streets. I will remember for quite some time on Erev Yom Kippur walking home from the Old City, turning up David HaMelech from Mamilla and seeing a young man peddling up the hill, turning his bike around and beginning his coasting descent. Then, displaying for all a feat normally only expected at the circus, he put his feet underneath him on the seat of the bike and slowly stood straight up, hands and arms out parallel to the ground, and rode his bike this way the hundred or so yards down to the bottom of the hill. No doubt he had praticed for months and tuned his bike diligently for this once a year Yom Kippur feat. He got an applause, whop and holler from me, well deserved.
Usually by late in the afternoon on Yom Kippur day, I am beyond consumed by a headache and nausea. Two years ago, it was so bad that I thought my fasting days were over. I just wasn't physically made for maintaining the fast. But, after morning services, a friend and I went on a leisurely walk and talk over to the Wall. We stopped at a roof top overlook he knew, took in the sights, and listened to a pathetic and comical Jerusalem commentary by a tour guide to a group of American Christian tourists. The conversation and the walk made all the difference in giving me that strength to make it through the fast.
I must also say that one of the best decisions that I made at the beginning of the summer was to join the High Holy Day Choir. We started out as 6 Cantorial students and 4 Rabbinical students. But by the time the High Holy Days rolled around the only rabbis left were Polly and I. I had this great vision of learning a lot about High Holy Day music. I can't say I did that. But, I can say I learned a lot about people and how important for me music is in relating to God. My thanks to all of the Cantors for allowing us to join the Choir, especially Vlad, my baritone counterpart who consistently helped me find the right notes and was consistently encouraging despite the many frustrations. And also to Cantor Michal Schiff-Mater whose kindness, gentleness, and love for the music of prayer comes through in almost everything she does.
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Yad Vashem and Har HaZikaron
Today I visited the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial. I'm not sure any words that I may try to put in this blog about this experience are worthy to describe the memorial. If you have been there, you know what I mean. If you haven't been there, I encourage you to come to Israel and visit. The Holocaust is a complex point in time involving the extremes of cruelty, hatred, cowardice, true crimes against humanity; but also woven into the fabric of that moment is also bravery, courage, loving-kindness, and heroism. All day I watched different video clips throughout the memorial of people telling the reality of their experience, the things they saw with their own eyes, first hand accounts. In addition, I saw true weapons of mass destruction employed against our Jewish people. At the end of the museum hall is The Hall of Names. In thousands of volumes reside the names and personal details of victims of the Holocaust. The enormity of the collection is staggering. I don't know much about my family, the Bargemans, that were lost in the Holocaust but I do wonder if their names are recorded in one of those volumes. I am still conflicted as to whether it is important to try to find out exactly what happened to them. I think it is important to remember, to know. Their lives do have meaning.
Outside, on the edge of the memorial campus is the Valley of the Communities. It is carved deep into the bedrock of Jerusalem. The walls of the man-made canyon are lined with stone blocks. Upon the face of the stones are carved the names of the all of the known communities lost in the Holocaust. I was the only person in the Valley of the Communities this afternoon. The only sound was that of the wind blowing in through the Jerusalem Forest and the sound of my footsteps on the crushed stone paths. All of the community names sit silently on the wall, representing their millions of souls. In that valley, I felt the enormity of their presence. I emerged from it with their weight upon my shoulders. My existence is so that theirs was not in vain. The people in those communities were murdered because they were Jews. I must continue on my path because I am also a Jew. It is for their sake, mine, and all those who will come after us that we continue.
Outside, on the edge of the memorial campus is the Valley of the Communities. It is carved deep into the bedrock of Jerusalem. The walls of the man-made canyon are lined with stone blocks. Upon the face of the stones are carved the names of the all of the known communities lost in the Holocaust. I was the only person in the Valley of the Communities this afternoon. The only sound was that of the wind blowing in through the Jerusalem Forest and the sound of my footsteps on the crushed stone paths. All of the community names sit silently on the wall, representing their millions of souls. In that valley, I felt the enormity of their presence. I emerged from it with their weight upon my shoulders. My existence is so that theirs was not in vain. The people in those communities were murdered because they were Jews. I must continue on my path because I am also a Jew. It is for their sake, mine, and all those who will come after us that we continue.
I left the Yad Vashem campus walking along a path that connects it with the IDF Military Cemetery. It would have been easy to leave through the main entrance but I thought it was necessary not only to remember those lost in the Holocaust but also to pay respect to those who have fought and died for the State of Israel. There were a few people here and there in the cemetery, remembering their loved ones. Mostly, it was quiet and empty. Unlike Yad Vashem, most of the memorial markers were not in multiple languages except for memorials to the big names, like Golda Meir and other heads of state. But I stopped in the section of the cemetary reserved for more recent conflicts. With my emerging Hebrew skills I read the names on many of the grave markers. I don't know these people but I felt it was important to read their names.
As I walked along, I thought about a family I know that survived and escaped the Holocaust. The State of Israel was built with their hands. I will probably never make Aliyah. I will never have the privilege of calling myself an Israeli. But, I am tremendously uplifted that there is a State of Israel and that Jews had the courage to create it and protect it. It is hear for our sake, it is here for a homeland for Jews, it is here to be a beacon of hope to the world.
In Yad Vashem, one of the things you may notice is that there is always more space allowed for more names, more exhibits. Why? Because, although it is now a race against time, there are still facts being uncovered about the Holocaust, still names being added to the lists of victims, still names being added the the list of the Righteous Among the Nations.
There will always be some unknowns, some that have lost specific memory. A long time ago when leading a Kabbalat Shabbat service I made a statement before reading the mourner's kaddish. I said that we also read it for those from our Jewish community for whom there is no one to remember their name. Each time I stand for kaddish, I stand for their sake.
As I walked along, I thought about a family I know that survived and escaped the Holocaust. The State of Israel was built with their hands. I will probably never make Aliyah. I will never have the privilege of calling myself an Israeli. But, I am tremendously uplifted that there is a State of Israel and that Jews had the courage to create it and protect it. It is hear for our sake, it is here for a homeland for Jews, it is here to be a beacon of hope to the world.
In Yad Vashem, one of the things you may notice is that there is always more space allowed for more names, more exhibits. Why? Because, although it is now a race against time, there are still facts being uncovered about the Holocaust, still names being added to the lists of victims, still names being added the the list of the Righteous Among the Nations.
There will always be some unknowns, some that have lost specific memory. A long time ago when leading a Kabbalat Shabbat service I made a statement before reading the mourner's kaddish. I said that we also read it for those from our Jewish community for whom there is no one to remember their name. Each time I stand for kaddish, I stand for their sake.
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Tisha B'Av
I am here to report another transformation. This should not be a surprise to you or me by now. I am surprised, however, by the setting and subject of some of the transformations. This time, it was the least likely of observances, Tishah B'Av. Up until this point, I had never in my life observed Tisha B'Av. I can say honestly, I still haven't fully observed it. It is a full fast day and I didn't do that. Maybe next year. What I can say is that the past 24 hours have been a learning experience that opened my eyes to the possibility of what Tishah B'Av can or should mean in my life.
Tisha B'Av is a day of remembrance of the destruction of the First and Second Temples. It also happens to be a day that coincides with many other disasters in Jewish History. See http://urj.org/holidays/tishabav/?syspage=article&item_id=21945 for a little more about it.
Last night, my class went as a group to Emmaus Nicopolis www.emmaus-nicopolis.org for an egalitarian Erev Tishah B'Av observance with several other Reform organizations from across Israel. Rabbi's Naaman Kelman and Israeli HUC Rabbinic Student Gila Caine gave some introductory remarks about the importance of this sight for Christians and how we can work together to further understanding and peace in our world. This was followed by a mostly musical setting of modern and traditional Tishah B'Av liturgy.
The music was wonderful but I had been struggling with the concept of Tisha B'Av for a while. My overarching questions was, why should I be mourning the loss of the Temples? They are things. Even if I believe that Israel, and more specifically, Jerusalem, are special and holy places for Jews, why should I lament the loss of a thing. The place I had brought myself was that I needed to think of the destruction in human terms. I didn't need to think about stones and alters. But instead, what happened to the people in the city after the walls were breached in the 17th of Tamuz? The descriptions by Biblical and extra Biblical sources are frightening and horrifying. The scene must have been awful and unbelievable to the people of the time. It is with a sense of their pain that I at least brought myself to openness of what observance could mean. Probably the most meaningful discussion of the night was with my classmate Ester who told me that in Germany, the liturgy is centered in humanity, not locality. The emphasis is the human loss not just in ancient times, but through many generations since then.
This morning I went to Ulpan and then to Pardes for two afternoon learning sessions. The first was led by Marc Rosenberg and presented close study of the kina (dirge) “Going Out of Egypt, Going Out of Jerusalem”. Marc presented text that I otherwise might have found difficult and unconnected to my life, in such a way that I was able to draw some real connections. This text juxtaposes in acrostic verse alternating descriptions of "leavings" with the alternating verses ending with בצאתי ממצרים and בצאתי מירושלים; "when I went forth from Egypt", and "when I went forth from Jerusalem". It struck me that the same word, בצאתי bi'tze'ti, is used to reference two very different situations. The leaving from Egypt was an instance of hopefulness, divine awe, deliverance, salvation, redemption, nothing less than a miracle. The leaving from Jerusalem was an occasion of bitterness, destruction, slaughter, and mourning. The last verse substitutes בצאתי with בשובי bi'shu'vi, "in my return", expressing the hopefulness of an eventual return to Jerusalem. The juxtaposition of the hopefulness of the Exodus and the bitterness of the destruction of Jerusalem is something of a commentary on choice. God created us and delivered us . . . the rest is up to us. It is by our choices as collective humanity to determine whether we reap the rewards of the deliverance or we doom ourselves to affliction. The lesson for Tisha B'Av is not one of the destruction of The Temple but of the possibilities of building an messianic age. None of us can do this by ourselves of course. We all depend upon one another to get there but the vision can start to evolve with an understanding of Tisha B'av.
The second speaker was Rabbi Daniel Gordis. I must say that I didn't know who he was prior to this lecture. If I have read any of his articles, I certainly didn't draw and recognition with the author. Rabbi Gordis is a very dynamic speaker. His purpose this morning was to put Tisha B'Av into a modern context. I can't do justice trying to repeat his words. In short, his approach seems to be much like Ester's and mine, that this is a day about humanity, not Temples; looking for ways to rebuild a people, not a Temple; finding ways to recover from the ways we have been persecuted and are targeted for destruction; finding ways to come to terms with our own Jewish identity. I did a horrible job paraphrasing him. His eloquence inspired me to come home and google him and read some of his work. I encourage you to do the same. I think you will find his literary voice provocative, and perhaps inspiring http://danielgordis.org/.
All in all, I left the day enriched. There is new meaning for me in Tisha B'Av. It is not an ancient relic but a window for envisioning and designing our future.
L'shalom,
Marc
Tisha B'Av is a day of remembrance of the destruction of the First and Second Temples. It also happens to be a day that coincides with many other disasters in Jewish History. See http://urj.org/holidays/tishabav/?syspage=article&item_id=21945 for a little more about it.
Last night, my class went as a group to Emmaus Nicopolis www.emmaus-nicopolis.org for an egalitarian Erev Tishah B'Av observance with several other Reform organizations from across Israel. Rabbi's Naaman Kelman and Israeli HUC Rabbinic Student Gila Caine gave some introductory remarks about the importance of this sight for Christians and how we can work together to further understanding and peace in our world. This was followed by a mostly musical setting of modern and traditional Tishah B'Av liturgy.
The music was wonderful but I had been struggling with the concept of Tisha B'Av for a while. My overarching questions was, why should I be mourning the loss of the Temples? They are things. Even if I believe that Israel, and more specifically, Jerusalem, are special and holy places for Jews, why should I lament the loss of a thing. The place I had brought myself was that I needed to think of the destruction in human terms. I didn't need to think about stones and alters. But instead, what happened to the people in the city after the walls were breached in the 17th of Tamuz? The descriptions by Biblical and extra Biblical sources are frightening and horrifying. The scene must have been awful and unbelievable to the people of the time. It is with a sense of their pain that I at least brought myself to openness of what observance could mean. Probably the most meaningful discussion of the night was with my classmate Ester who told me that in Germany, the liturgy is centered in humanity, not locality. The emphasis is the human loss not just in ancient times, but through many generations since then.
This morning I went to Ulpan and then to Pardes for two afternoon learning sessions. The first was led by Marc Rosenberg and presented close study of the kina (dirge) “Going Out of Egypt, Going Out of Jerusalem”. Marc presented text that I otherwise might have found difficult and unconnected to my life, in such a way that I was able to draw some real connections. This text juxtaposes in acrostic verse alternating descriptions of "leavings" with the alternating verses ending with בצאתי ממצרים and בצאתי מירושלים; "when I went forth from Egypt", and "when I went forth from Jerusalem". It struck me that the same word, בצאתי bi'tze'ti, is used to reference two very different situations. The leaving from Egypt was an instance of hopefulness, divine awe, deliverance, salvation, redemption, nothing less than a miracle. The leaving from Jerusalem was an occasion of bitterness, destruction, slaughter, and mourning. The last verse substitutes בצאתי with בשובי bi'shu'vi, "in my return", expressing the hopefulness of an eventual return to Jerusalem. The juxtaposition of the hopefulness of the Exodus and the bitterness of the destruction of Jerusalem is something of a commentary on choice. God created us and delivered us . . . the rest is up to us. It is by our choices as collective humanity to determine whether we reap the rewards of the deliverance or we doom ourselves to affliction. The lesson for Tisha B'Av is not one of the destruction of The Temple but of the possibilities of building an messianic age. None of us can do this by ourselves of course. We all depend upon one another to get there but the vision can start to evolve with an understanding of Tisha B'av.
The second speaker was Rabbi Daniel Gordis. I must say that I didn't know who he was prior to this lecture. If I have read any of his articles, I certainly didn't draw and recognition with the author. Rabbi Gordis is a very dynamic speaker. His purpose this morning was to put Tisha B'Av into a modern context. I can't do justice trying to repeat his words. In short, his approach seems to be much like Ester's and mine, that this is a day about humanity, not Temples; looking for ways to rebuild a people, not a Temple; finding ways to recover from the ways we have been persecuted and are targeted for destruction; finding ways to come to terms with our own Jewish identity. I did a horrible job paraphrasing him. His eloquence inspired me to come home and google him and read some of his work. I encourage you to do the same. I think you will find his literary voice provocative, and perhaps inspiring http://danielgordis.org/.
All in all, I left the day enriched. There is new meaning for me in Tisha B'Av. It is not an ancient relic but a window for envisioning and designing our future.
L'shalom,
Marc
Saturday, August 6, 2011
Forests, Protest, and Other Things
Shabbat is over, my homework is done, so time to blog. First, I must tell you about the Jerusalem hills. Our wonderful summer intern, Amy, arranged a shabbat hike for us last weekend in the Jerusalem hills. "Hills" is the wrong word. Mountains is more like it. A little google told me that the area is really the Judean Mountains.
On Shabbat morning, our prayer leader, Rabbi Kelman moved our usual Shabbat morning Kiddush inside because it was so hot. A few bailed on the hiking because of the weather forecast but most of us were not deterred from our trip however, we all went home, packed donned our sun screen, hats, collected our water, and made our way back to the college to catch a bus out to the west of Jerusalem.
Amy prepared us well, telling us to bring plenty of water . . . we would need it.
Amy loves to hike and she chose a gorgeous route for us. We started out on a trail into Wadi Qetalav. A wadi, for those not into the desert lingo, is a usually dry creek bed. Most of the year, this is a rather dry place. But, for several months starting in November, we will get quite a bit of rain. During these months, many of these wadi's will carry some water. Jerusalem actually gets almost the same amount of annual precipitation as London, England. But, it all comes in a few months, November through March.
It was dry and hot but there was not complaining from anyone. It was too beautiful. We all knew what to expect from the heat. I didn't know what to expect from the forest. In this particular area, most of the vegetation is native species, not the non-native or near native conifers the JNF is famous for planting. The native species are hearty and flower and fruit despite the conditions.
I think Amy did not know all that the hike would be. We helped her out in her effort to challenge us by taking a wrong turn. This wasn't her fault, we were off up the trail before she could say much to stop us. Besides, getting lost is half the fun of getting anywhere. Instead of making a loop back to our starting point we ended up hiking through the Soreq Stream Nature Preserve and up to Ramat Raziel. This is a moshav established in 1948 and named after a commander, David Raziel, in the Irgun. Funny anything would be named after anybody in the Irgun, it generally isn't viewed very well here. (Elle? I think this should remind you of our conversation tonight). They were a very militant and militaristic Zionist group. Some of it was absorbed into the IDF after Independence. I suppose some parts of the Irgun must have been well intentioned. Ramat Raziel is a nice small town, very quiet on Shabbat . . . just the way I like it.
After our exhausting hike up the mountain, climbing about 2000 feet in only about a mile, we needed a place to rest. The park in Ramat Raziel was just the ticket. The Ramat Raziel welcoming committee was closed for Shabbat so we were greeted and entertained by a local cat and dog. For his efforts we fed the cat a little leftover cake. The poor dog got nothing . . . he looked a little crazy.
Protests . . .
Tonight I can hear protests outside of the Prime Minister's residence . . . or as close as the protesters can get to it. The issue at hand is the cost of living. The protesters have set up tent cities in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem to protest housing prices. There is something of a free market here. I can't say that I know enough about the Israeli economy. However, I can tell you enough to know a few facts I have observed. What the protesters say is true. Rents have risen dramatically in the past few years, and have priced many young Israelis out of the market in the cities where they have to work. There are a lot of building projects going on but mostly they are for very high priced apartments. There are many apartment buildings in Jerusalem that are vacant and in disrepair, I assume, waiting for the right time to renovate or sell. In essence, I think the housing market is broken. It appears there is plenty of space for everyone but little motivation to build affordable housing. There are plenty of foreigners who are investing here and buying high priced property. I think the vacant buildings are probably owned by people waiting for the next foreigner with money to arrive to sell for a good price. I hate to disturb a free market situation but when foreigners are driving a local situation, I think it is well within the right and purpose of the government to step in somehow. I hope a solution can be achieved that respects the essence of a free market AND can help the Israelis who need it, because they do.
Other Things . . .
Enough already! I apologize for the grammatical or spelling mistakes. I don't have the patience right now to read everything I've just written.
Shavua Tov
Amy prepared us well, telling us to bring plenty of water . . . we would need it.
It was dry and hot but there was not complaining from anyone. It was too beautiful. We all knew what to expect from the heat. I didn't know what to expect from the forest. In this particular area, most of the vegetation is native species, not the non-native or near native conifers the JNF is famous for planting. The native species are hearty and flower and fruit despite the conditions.
I think Amy did not know all that the hike would be. We helped her out in her effort to challenge us by taking a wrong turn. This wasn't her fault, we were off up the trail before she could say much to stop us. Besides, getting lost is half the fun of getting anywhere. Instead of making a loop back to our starting point we ended up hiking through the Soreq Stream Nature Preserve and up to Ramat Raziel. This is a moshav established in 1948 and named after a commander, David Raziel, in the Irgun. Funny anything would be named after anybody in the Irgun, it generally isn't viewed very well here. (Elle? I think this should remind you of our conversation tonight). They were a very militant and militaristic Zionist group. Some of it was absorbed into the IDF after Independence. I suppose some parts of the Irgun must have been well intentioned. Ramat Raziel is a nice small town, very quiet on Shabbat . . . just the way I like it.
After our exhausting hike up the mountain, climbing about 2000 feet in only about a mile, we needed a place to rest. The park in Ramat Raziel was just the ticket. The Ramat Raziel welcoming committee was closed for Shabbat so we were greeted and entertained by a local cat and dog. For his efforts we fed the cat a little leftover cake. The poor dog got nothing . . . he looked a little crazy.
Protests . . .
Tonight I can hear protests outside of the Prime Minister's residence . . . or as close as the protesters can get to it. The issue at hand is the cost of living. The protesters have set up tent cities in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem to protest housing prices. There is something of a free market here. I can't say that I know enough about the Israeli economy. However, I can tell you enough to know a few facts I have observed. What the protesters say is true. Rents have risen dramatically in the past few years, and have priced many young Israelis out of the market in the cities where they have to work. There are a lot of building projects going on but mostly they are for very high priced apartments. There are many apartment buildings in Jerusalem that are vacant and in disrepair, I assume, waiting for the right time to renovate or sell. In essence, I think the housing market is broken. It appears there is plenty of space for everyone but little motivation to build affordable housing. There are plenty of foreigners who are investing here and buying high priced property. I think the vacant buildings are probably owned by people waiting for the next foreigner with money to arrive to sell for a good price. I hate to disturb a free market situation but when foreigners are driving a local situation, I think it is well within the right and purpose of the government to step in somehow. I hope a solution can be achieved that respects the essence of a free market AND can help the Israelis who need it, because they do.
Other Things . . .
Enough already! I apologize for the grammatical or spelling mistakes. I don't have the patience right now to read everything I've just written.
Shavua Tov
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Favorite Recent Quote
Not too much time to post anything lengthy but just had to share something from a recent op-ed in an Israeli newspaper. There are protests going on around the country, mostly in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. The issue is the cost of living, particularly for housing. The protests have taken the form of tent cities. The author of the op-ed took to the tent city to see what was going on and asked a few questions . . . in one of the responses he gleaned this gem of Jewish thought . . .
"Being a Jew isn’t just being a settler, you know; being a Jew also means having compassion. I swear. You don’t believe me? Go home and Google it.”
Here's the op-ed for those of you who might want a little Israeli enrichment . . .
http://www.tabletmag.com/life-and-religion/73800/in-the-middle/
"Being a Jew isn’t just being a settler, you know; being a Jew also means having compassion. I swear. You don’t believe me? Go home and Google it.”
Here's the op-ed for those of you who might want a little Israeli enrichment . . .
http://www.tabletmag.com/life-and-religion/73800/in-the-middle/
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