Inspired by Pirkei Avot

For many years, my husband has studied with pre-B'nai Mitzvah students and guided them in the preparation of their D'vrei Torah. Two of his recent students expressed an interest in further text study, so my husband prepared a lesson on Pirkei Avot (The Ethics of the Fathers). As part of their exploration of this body of Jewish wisdom, he asked them to create a Teaching in the spirit of Pirkei Avot. The results deserve to be shared. (The students are identified by their initials.)

The Teaching of A.J.
"If you don't recognize change in the world, then nothing is different."

The Teaching of D.S.
"Stay on task even when it seems difficult for someday it will help you."

The Sages of Pirkei Avot would be proud!

In Memory of Debbie Friedman

I've just received the heart-wrenching news that Debbie Friedman passed away. Musician, composer, songwriter, singer, Debbie Friedman invented modern Jewish music. Where once there were mostly traditional synagogue melodies and ponderous "hymns," Debbie Friedman created Jewish songs with soaring melodies, spirited and spiritual lyrics. In addition to her original works, Debbie composed music for words of Torah, sacred Jewish writings, and prayer texts. In her songs, she also celebrated life-cycle events both joyous and poignant.

Debbie Friedman entertained and led songs at Jewish camps, synagogues, and organizational gatherings. Debbie's songs are meant to be experienced, to evoke deep emotions. Her songs are meant to inspire, teach, strengthen, comfort, and heal.

Her memorable performances were a highlight of the annual CAJE Conferences (the former Conference on Alternatives in Jewish Education) - and that is where I first experienced Debbie Friedman's music. During the CAJE Conferences, Debbie would offer a series of workshops where she taught her songs and even tried out different versions of compositions she was working on. All were welcome. No special musical talent was required (which made it possible for an off-key singer like myself to join in). At the closing program, on the last night of CAJE, Debbie brought all of her workshop participants out on the stage and led them in the songs they'd practiced. The only way I can describe the thrill of being in "Debbie's Chorale" is to borrow a phrase from psychologist Abraham Maslow and call it a "Peak Experience," the best of the best!

It was at a CAJE Conference that Debbie taught us her healing song, "Mi Shebeirach." We all cried as we sang and thought of those close to us who were "...in need of healing with r'fuah sh'leimah."
"Mi Shebeirach" is now a part of the Healing Service in the siddur of the Reform Movement, Mishkan T'filah.

One more memory...On a snowy day in January, 1996, I traveled to Manhattan with several family members to hear Debbie Friedman perform at Carnegie Hall - or as she dubbed it,
"Beth Carnegie." While the blizzard outside turned increasingly fierce, the audience of over 1700 felt only the warmth and excitement of singing with Debbie.

Over the years, I've collected Debbie Friedman's records, then tapes, then CD's. But, from today, when I listen to them it will be with a touch of sadness and a sense of gratitude for the musical legacy that Debbie Friedman has left to the Jewish community and to the world.

In her song, "Save a Life," Debbie sings:
"Darkness fades, the morning light appears.
Shadows dance and come to greet the day.
The voices of angels sing,
Words of comfort whispering,
Save a life and you will save the world."

I don't know if there truly are angels in the World-To-Come, but if there is a Heavenly Chorale, they'll be singing Debbie Friedman's songs.

Debbie Friedman - Zichrona L'Bracha

A Message on a Fence

Several times this week, I've driven by an elementary school near my house. The school is bordered by a metal mesh fence. This week, there is a message on the fence spelled out in bright pink plastic cups pushed through the mesh. "We 'heart' you Mrs. Diller RIP" the large pink letters read. The message is framed by two pink ribbon symbols.
I have no connection with the school and never met Mrs. Diller, but I'm sad. I'm sad that this teacher who surely cared for her students and was loved by them in return is gone.

Students don't expect such a loss. They expect their teachers to finish the school year with them, to wish them luck as they move on in their learning and in their lives. Students expect to be able to return to their former classrooms, to stand shyly in the doorway, taller, deeper-voiced, waiting for their teacher's grin of recognition and surprise. They don't expect to say a final good-bye - not mid year, not ever.

Though decades have passed, I still remember with great sorrow, those teachers who didn't finish the school year with me, who were gone before I could come as a "grown-up" to visit.

In Pirkei Avot, Yehoshua Ben Perachyah says: "Appoint a teacher for yourself; acquire a friend for yourself."

May Mrs. Diller's memory be for a blessing.

The Bible Code - Holy or Hole-y

The History Channel recently featured a lengthy program called "The Bible Code." The Bible Code is a computer generated search of the Hebrew Torah Text for "grids" of words that allegedly prophesize some cataclysmic historical event such as Napoleon's conquests, World War II, or 9/11. The Bible Code turns the Torah into a giant word search and purports to describe the past and predict the future - even the End of Days!

According to the Bible Code, the End of Days will be caused by a collision between earth and an asteroid or, wait, in another grid by an atomic explosion, or, check this grid out, "The comet will be crumbled." Choose your doomsday or survival scenario. It's all in the Bible, somehow, somewhere, horizontal, vertical, diagonal, backwards. So many letters. So many possibilities - and no mention at all of the fact that Hebrew is a compact language. A word's meaning can be expressed in 2 or 3 "root" letters. Despite the earnest explanations of "experts," there are holes in the Bible Code theory big enough to pass a stack of Talmudic commentaries through.

For added audience appeal, the program raised the provocative question, "Who wrote the Bible code?" Was it God or possibly extraterrestrials? From the divine to the ridiculous, the Bible Code has it all.

I have three words (that I can use in a "family" blog) for the Bible Code - waste of time!

Instead of embracing an arcane approach to Biblical revelations, one need only go to a synagogue before Shabbat morning services. There, you are likely to find a group intently employing a time-honored method of discovering the meaning of Biblical texts. It's called Torah Study - no computer gimicks or alien wisdom needed!

People of the Kindle?

A friend came to visit recently and brought his new Kindle. It was the first time I'd seen one close-up. Our friend described the Kindle's amazing capabilities including its capacity to store 3000 books.
"It only takes a few seconds to download an entire book," he pointed out.

Could the Kindle be a metaphor for Torah?
When we stood at Mt. Sinai, did we, as a People, then and forever experience an intstantaneous Divine Download in the form of Words of Torah which Tradition describes as "black fire on white fire."

I had planned to further extend the Kindle metaphor - but...

Mastering the workings of the Kindle - a short time spent with the built-in Instruction Manual.
Learning how to study Torah - a lifetime of examining complex commentaries

The Kindle- small, sleek, lightweight, opened with the push of a few discreet buttons
The Torah Scroll - Heavy, wrapped in velvet and adorned with silver ornaments, unrolled with Blessings, sacred songs and a processional

The Kindle - repository of information from 3000 books
The Torah - repository of information from God

Yes, the metaphor was more limited than it seemed at first glance.

Awesome as the Kindle is, in the end , it's a transitory device which will inevitably be improved, upgraded, and eventually replaced by an even "smarter" gadget.

The Torah, which we received at Sinai is timeless, unchanging, yet infinitely relevant.

The Kindle - turn it on and read 3000 books.
The Torah - "Turn it and turn it again, for everything is in it."

There's simply no comparison!

"Lessons and Carols" - "December Dilemma"

I had intended to write about the winter vacation activity which I've planned for my Hebrew School students. Instead, however,an experience which I had yesterday is very much on my mind. I frequently exercise at a facility which is run by a local hospital. This hospital was founded by and bears the name of a Protestant denomination, although the hospital facilities are entirely secular - usually.

Yesterday,when I entered the exercise area, I noticed on the bulletin board an invitation to join in "The Annual Lessons and Carols" which were already in progress. No problem - I've long since become accustomed to weeks of Christmas carols which, these days, seem to begin while the Halloween pumpkins are still fresh. Actually, I know most of the carols by heart from my childhood in a public school system at a time when, to suggest that Christmas should not be celebrated in a public school, was to be labelled a communist and to be subject to virulent anti-Semitism. The "Lessons" I assumed would be about staying slim during the holidays, plus some bending and stretching to the tune of "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer." Not exactly!!

As I watched, the carol singing group paused in their harmonizing. A woman wearing a perky Santa hat stepped forward and began to read the Christmas Story from the New Testament. Oh...so that's what they meant by "lessons." I was angry at first and began to mentally compose an irate letter to the Director of the facility, regarding the imposition of religion in a secular space.

At the same time, I couldn't help but look around. This exercise facility also serves as a rehab center. As such, many of those working out are elderly or disabled or both. There were smiles all around, a sense of peace and quiet enjoyment of the familiar words of Scripture. True, the songs and readings didn't reflect my religious beliefs, but were, nonetheless, comforting to the majority of those listening.
Peace, Shalom, Joy, valuable commodities in these chaotic times, whatever the source. I couldn't help but think of Joseph, the hero of the last three Torah Portions. Joseph, the Jewish boy who watched and listened and assimilated into Egyptian society. Joseph, the wise and perceptive dreamer who rose to a position of great power in a land far from his home and traditions. Joseph, who used his power to help his contentious family and, thus, to advance the evolution of the Jewish People. Perhaps, Joseph was uncomfortable with Egyptian idolatry, but he recognized the unfolding of God's Plan in very unlikely circumstances. Joseph watched and listened and learned. A worthy example to follow.
Peace on Earth - Good Will to All. Ah-la- vay!

Friday the 13th: Our lucky day

Shabbat Shalom! Cue the theme from Twilight Zone. Grab a four-leaf clover. Watch out for black cats. It's Friday the 13th!
Wait! Stop cowering in the corner. Put away that rabbit's foot. You're Jewish! Can Friday, Yom Hashishi, ever be unlucky? On Friday, we prepare to welcome Shabbat. We polish the wine cup, bake a challah, and buy flowers for the table - OR we light candles, order a pizza, and sit the whole family down at the table for the first time all week.
However we observe Shabbat, we're acting in God's image (B'Tselem Elohim), as we wind down six days of work and prepare for a day of rest.

On Shabbat, we recall the Midrash* that tells of Adam and Eve's fear as they watched the sky darken on their first Erev Shabbat before leaving the Garden of Eden for the world of humankind. The Yotzer Or prayer tells of their joy as the sun rose on the very first Shabbat morning. Adam and Eve felt lucky.

On Shabbat, we express our gratitude for this wondrous world which God has created - a world created, but not completed. We re-dedicate ourselves to Tikun Olam, our sacred obligation as God's partners to continue the work of building and repairing the world. And even though there is much to be built and repaired, we're lucky to be fulfilling Mitzvot.

In fact, on the Jewish calendar, today is not the scary date of Friday the 13th. It is the third day of the contemplative month of Elul, a time when we assess our actions of the past year, and look to the future as the High Holidays approach. We recognize that we've nearly completed the cycle of another year. How lucky is that?

From the Jewish perspective, on this Friday the 13th, we're lucky.
Shabbat Shalom. Rest and re-new.

*Source: Journeys Through the Siddur: Shabbat Morning - published by Torah Aura Publications