Elul is gonna be long

Elul 2: UGH! So much to do, so much to gather, coordinate, plan, pull together....sometimes it just doesn't happen the way you hope, sometimes it just doesn't happen at all....man plans, God laughs....
At least we got Ben's hair cut before school starts....and again, beginning this Wednesday? Really? It's still August....I remember many summers coming home from camp later than this....aaaaah, the good ol' Midwest, where our calendars are informed by corn and harvest (ummm?)....
Anyway - had a good talk about the status of the movement - and my trepidation about its state of affairs....nothing new there though...
Well, at least red beans'n'rice (oh so nice - thanks Kermit Ruffins) can cure almost any road block....
...the great thing about the process - there's always tomorrow...
 

#elulpledge begins with wishes of Eid Mubarak, nice

Elul 1: first day of my Elul pledge, got to the gym - unusual for a Sunday, but a nice way to begin the new month.

Today is Eid al-Fitr - so as we enter the Jewish month of preparation for the Yamim Nora'im, it is absolutely appropriate to wish our Muslim brothers and sisters sweetness as they conclude the observance of Ramadan.

To them, and for all of us, we join in saying "Eid Mubarak" - wishing a blessed celebration.

New Year's resolution 5773: a pledge for Elul

This coming Shabbat coincides with Rosh Chodesh Elul - beginning the Hebrew month in which we "prepare" for the onset of the New Year. Yeah, like you can really just pick up and "get ready" for the Yamim Nora'im - the Days of Awe - if you haven't been in tune with the rhythm of Jewish time throughout the year (but that's a rant for another time).
So I'm thinking that this is as good a time as any to set my personal wheels in motion for this month of spiritual reflection and readying - that is, to make my own "Elul pledge." And here it is:
This summer has been a fantastic, dizzying, busy, hectic and over-scheduled time (not unlike most of the year). I have really slacked on my usual exercise habits. Not that I haven't been physically active, I'm just missing the benefits of daily trips to the gym and regular workouts with a trainer (and I can feel it). 
Over this coming month, as the Jewish world looks toward the Holy Days, as our children return to school, and as much of our programming kicks back into gear - my pledge is to enter the New Year in the best physical shape I can. For many of us, bodily exercise is a spiritual endeavor; for some, it is the most meaningful "ritual" or religious activity in which we engage. And as is proven over and over, healthy/active/fit bodies support emotional, spiritual, and physical health overall.
SO - as Elul is upon us - what's YOUR Elul pledge. Would love to know. And feel free to share #Elulpledge.

"Rosh Chodesh August" - another pearl from my camp exploits

It's August 1st - a long time ago, summer of '83 to be exact, while studying in "Judaica" with our counselor (now Rabbi) Charles Arian, exploring the idea of what it takes to "make" sacred time - my dearest friend Corey Cutler and I suggest that we create a holiday that would *only* be observed at camp: voila, "Rosh Chodesh August." With only a few days of prep time to introduce this new-fangled Jewish tradition, we tried to come up with a few rituals specific to the day. Well, I recall we might have sang something, and we (Charles, Corey, myself) definitely wore bathrobes to dinner - not such a surprise for us in those days, being half lazy teenagers and half devotees of M*A*S*H.
Though a silly experience - it has certainly stuck with me...yet another profound way in which my Jewish learning was enhanced and imprinted because of something at camp. To this day, whenever I teach students about what elements frame a holiday, I refer to an experiment by 16 year olds to sanctify the beginning of this month. And thankfully, it works every time.

Something for everyone - every kid shines through Reform Jewish camping

Reform Jewish summer camping has something for everyone: from Judaica and sports to aquatics and hiking to nature and the arts – the programs offered at the URJ camps provide the opportunity for every one of our children to be enriched and flourish in a safe, nurturing, inclusive environment in which they can expand and express their Jewish identity.
I am privileged once again to serve on faculty for Tiferet at OSRUI. Tiferet, the arts unit, is one of the unique programs offered by camp (along with Chalutzim – the Hebrew immersion session and Tour L’Agam – a biking tour around Lake Michigan, both for entering 10th – 12th graders). For twenty years now, Tiferet has enabled artistic Jewish youngsters to engage such creative areas as music, dance, drama, media and visual arts to explore topics and texts from our sacred tradition; as the campers use their talents to breathe innovative and improvisational life into their work, so too do these young Jews draw rich, long-lasting meaning from the experiences they share.
This session, our theme is Midrash Rabbah – for which we are using the great Jewish process of midrash (interpretation and investigation) to address the stories from Genesis. In four studios – dance, drama, music and visual arts (which serve as the campers’ “major” for the session), we have tackled diverse and important ideas like the conflicts in Abraham’s life; the voices that are “missing” from the narratives; Jacob’s ladder and his subsequent wrestling match with God/angel/himself; and Joseph’s journey from young dreamer to dream interpreter whose wit saves all from treacherous famine (and these were just this week!). We have taken our texts and pulled them apart to search their meaning for the values they teach. More so, we have used these teaching to inspire acting, movement, lyrics, notes and design. Tiferet is blessed to be guided by absolutely gifted moomchim (specialists) whose professional talents are matched by their care for the students, along with fabulous staff of dedicated madrichim (counselors).
I have long believed that summer camp is the very best tool for Jewish living and learning that our Reform movement sponsors. I was fortunate to have the chance to grow up in the Reform camp community, which gave me the gifts of confidence in myself and passion for progressive Judaism. As a camper, staff member, and now faculty, I have witnessed the power of camp in cultivating caring, committed, knowledgeable Jews. More so, camp allows each child, each adult, the opportunity to live up to his or her promise as b’tzelem elohim – being fashioned in the Divine image. Each of our children deserves this opportunity, one that camping provides like nowhere else.
Like every worthy endeavor, Reform Jewish camping needs our ongoing support: send your children (and grandchildren) to our camps; ask your congregation how it participates in maintaining these programs; contribute to the camper scholarship fund at your synagogue or one of the URJ camps; be an advocate for camp by promoting its possibilities for every Jewish child.
Camp has something for everyone. I hope you will join me in continuing to sustain this vital cause.

A thought for Super Sammy, and his beloved family

As long as I can remember - camp has been monumentally important to me....my closest friends, my fondest memories, my greatest experiences (as a child and as an adult and Jewish professional) have developed as an extension of my involvement with URJ-sponsored Jewish camping.
And this week has been the greatest gift: though I don't go up to OSRUI for another 10 days to serve on faculty, our segel *family* has proven to be a most wonderful, sacred, tight-knit community as it has reached out to provide support for one of our youngest beloved member Sammy Sommer (son of my dear friends Phyllis and Michael) who was recently diagnosed with leukemia. 
We all have great expectations for his complete conquering of this situation; more so, this has been a very powerful opportunity not only to support the family, yet also to raise awareness of such disease within our greater Jewish community and beyond.
Strange as it may seem because of circumstance, I feel blessed to be part of this *kehillah kedosha* particularly at this time.

Super Sammy - I know you will kick the stuffing out of this disease...and continue being a blessing to all of us who know and love you!

The desert can be like dessert

Had a great weekend in Santa Fe for Alana and Joel's wedding. The entire time was spectacular - all the events were wonderful, the weather was perfect, the people great, gracious, loving and fun...and the "down time" wandering the shops and streets couldn't have been better. Man, I love the desert southwest.