Hachnasat Orchim #8 - Sukkot/Simchat Torah 5773

WHAT A MONTH!!! Full, fulfilling, crazed, creative, uplifting, exhausting....the beginning of 5773 has been a wonderful time - our community has outdone itself with a very meaningful set of observances: from S'lichot the week before Rosh Hashanah through the yamim nora'im along with Sukkot and today's festive conclusion of Simchat Torah - this has really been a z'man simchateynu, a time of rejoicing.

And now (hallelujah!) it's OVER. DONE FINIS. I'm wiped just thinking about the energy and activity I've spent over the last 5 weeks. As well as deeply satisfied.

I know the weeks ahead will be just as busy, if not more so. 

Bring it.

Hachnasat Orchim #7 - Sukkot 5773

I got nothing (and sometimes that just simply enough).

"The commandment to dwell in the sukkah is intended to teach us that a man must not put his trust in the size or strength or salutary conveniences of his house, even though it be filled with the best of everything; nor should he rely upon the help of any man, even though he be the lord of the land. But let him put his trust in the One whose word called the universe into being, for God alone is mighty and faithful, and does not retract what is promised."

(Menorat ha-Maor 3.6.1)

Hachnasat Orchim #6 - Sukkot 5773

Now we've reached shabbat chol ha-mo'ed sukkot, the intermediary Shabbat during the festival of Sukkot. This remains a time of reflection, thanksgiving and celebration. Of course, in Jewish tradition, the best way to give thanks for the many blessings we know in our lives is to "give back" by supporting worthy causes, and efforts that will have positive effect in our world.

It is also the first Shabbat of October. Anywhere you look, on any given day, you can surely find that some outfit has declared it to be "national such-and-such day" or "national fill-in-the-blank week"....and yet, there are at least three such named opportunities for us to consider now that it is October: it is National Anti-bullying Month; National Mental Health Awareness Month; and Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Nicely - none of these are frivolous or goofy causes. Bullying is a serious issue in our society today; and let us not think that it is limited to the playground or school-yard - our children ONLY pick up their cues in how to behave toward their peers from their parents and other adults. Mental health is an area that affects us all. Thankfully, we continue to become more aware of how varying levels of mental health issues have an impact not only on those who face them directly, but also ALL those who are connected with people who suffer. And of course, one of the great challenges to our society today is the scourge of cancer - particularly the invasive types including breast cancer - which not only attacks the health of the victim, but also wreaks havoc on a whole variety of additional psychological issues for those affected.

And I must say - we are better because of our growing willingness to address and discuss these topics, rather than shy away from the difficulties they pose. Many of us have had too much personal experience with these and other serious issues. Even as we work hard to overcome, conquer the challenges presented by these and more, may this Shabbat of thanksgiving be a time when we can reflect on the many blessings we do know, even when it's hard for us to see....

Hachnasat Orchim #5 - Sukkot 5773

I sit here listening to Little Jazz practicing Eleanor Rigby and Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds on his trumpet, and I think further of the opportunities for hachnasat orchim - "welcoming of guests" - provided during Sukkot, and year-round.

So today I had the sacred chance to consider how "welcoming" is related to our value of bikkur cholim - visiting the sick...I went to the hospital to visit a member of our congregation (a friend and neighbor too!) who just had a pacemaker implanted yesterday, following a few months of treatment following an M.I. He's doing great, and we actually had a wonderful time discussing some passions we share: Abraham Lincoln, historiography, evolution, psychology of groups, and even the eternal question "Is it good for the Jews."

Though this friend is in great shape, even following a serious episode of helth concern, I am reminded of our ongoing, precious responsibility to take care of ourselves and others. Whether it's now, during Breast Cancer Awareness Month and Mental Health Awareness Month, or any day of any year - we need to be conscious about our efforts to live healthy, fulfilling, intentional lives. 

Just a thought for the fifth eve of Sukkot.

 

Hachnasat Orchim #4 - Sukkot 5773

What a day! Here we are in the middle of Sukkot, it's been drizzling and cold much of the day - and yet my thoughts are of hot sun, great friends, and the best way to build Jewish identity, as registration opened today for OSRUI 2013. We've already made sure our kids are signed up, which is kinda strange as Little Jazz will be attending two full sessions, i.e. the WHOLE summer, and Sister Soul is now old enough to be in Tiferet for 4 weeks. So happy for them. Find out more at www.osrui.org

As well, it was our first day of mid-week Religious School for our 4th-6th graders (maybe it's time to admit fall is here?)...

And, tonight is the first of the presidential candidate debates ("going to the candidates' debate"...Mrs. Robinson, anyone?). Speaking of where have you gone Joe DiMaggio (or Yaz, George Brett, and Cal Ripken for that matter)....

If you know me at all, you know where my loyalties lie for this debate and the upcoming election...hope the prez get's his badass on...should be interesting to observe, throughout....

What are YOU thankful for, now given the chance to reflect? Me? It's all about good partners (see pic above)...

Hachnasat Orchim #3 - Sukkot 5773

Sukkot is a time when we emphasize our sacred tradition of hospitality. Hachnasat Orchim has become a major building block of our culture. 

In a brilliant new book, Wired for Culture: Origins of the Human Social Mind (Norton, 2012), Mark Pagel demonstrates that it has been the development of human culture that has enabled humanity to overcome the "limitations" of our genetics and thrive through obstacles and environmental constraints that have hindered all other species. He writes:

Humans had acquired the ability to learn from others, and to copy, imitate and improve upon their actions. This meant that elements of culture themselves - ideas, languages, beliefs, songs, art, technologies - could act like genes, capable of being transmitted to others and reproduced. But unlike genes, these elements of culture could jump directly from one mind to another, shortcutting the normal genetic routes of transmission. And so our cultures came to define a second great system of inheritance, able to transmit knowledge down the generations.

I think the author is giving a reasoned, scientific representation of what Judaism has called the shalshelet shel kabbalah - the "chain of tradition." How wonderful as we consider the power of tradition - its rituals, symbols, metaphors and meaning - during these festival days. Like all forms of sacred heritage, Pagel argues that "culture" itself is one of the gifts we've received, or developed, as human beings unique among the animals:

Our possession of culture is responsible for our art, music, and religion, our unmatched acts of charity, empathy, and cooperation, our sense of justice, fairness, altruism, and even self-sacrifice;  

And he continues with the important and necessary caveat reminder

but also for our undeniable self-interest, our tendency to favor people from our own ethnic or racial groups, wariness of strangers, xenophobia, and predilections to war...it is why we, and probably we alone, have consciousness, and yet why our conscious mind is often divided between reason and passion...

Considering these fascinating insights on the human condition brings greater sweetness to these days...

 

Hachnasat Orchim #2 - Sukkot 5773

It's the second eve of Sukkot 5773 - and the 1st of October 2012 (see my previous post on "Rosh Chodesh August" and creating meaningful ritual memories). With Sukkot, it usually also means accepting the onset of fall (though, as this #jazzrabbilovessun, I've been expressing to people that I will be holding onto summer until some time during Hanukkah). With the change of seasons also comes the newness and renewed opportunity to share, enjoy and appreciate things that perhaps we haven't, at least since a year before.

And so tonight, I've declared in the jazzkitchen "Pumpkin's Gone Wild!" Haven't enjoyed anything pumpkin at least since last Halloween or Thanksgiving. This evening's festive meal includes pumpkin gnocchi with pumpkin alfredo (omg so good), pumpkin pie, pumpkin ice cream, and even a pumpkin pie martini. Hey, if you're gonna enjoy the season, go crazy/go complete!

Every year I hate saying goodbye to summertime; yet each time around, gradually, I'm learning to enjoy something wonderful about the days yet to come.