Shana Tovah 5777!

Monday, October 3, 2016 ~ 1 Tishrei, 5777

Shana Tovah ~ Happy Rosh Hashanah !

Blog #1

 

- We struggle not to become overwhelmed by the need for help and healing in our broken world. Decide on one or two specific places/issues/needs where you will commit to spend some time and energy on tikkun in this new year. Reflect in concrete terms on what that will look like for you.

 

-Think about the past year and recall something you did that gave you deep pleasure, something that felt nourishing for you – what was it? Describe it in detail, in all its richness…

 

Now that you’re done writing it down, reflect on why/how this activity or situation was so full, joyous, meaningful for you. How can you build this deep nourishing pleasure into your new year?

Elul Week 4

Monday, September 26, 2016 ~ 23 Elul, 5776

Blog #4:  excerpted from ongoing work with the Rabbinic Writing Institute, led by Merle Feld

 

4- Think of your family and closest friends: are you conscious of ways in which you may have harmed any of them, caused them pain in the past year, fallen short of the mark? How? Choose one person and focus on him/her: what is the regret or guilt you feel toward this person? What do you want the relationship to be like? What can you do to make amends, to bring about change? (repeat as needed)

 

Follow up for week 4 - Has anyone sinned against you this year, hurt you? How? What do you need from them to achieve healing? Is there something you can do to help bring about that healing, justice, reconciliation?

Perhaps that won’t be possible; if it’s not possible, how might you help yourself to find inner peace and move on?

Elul Initiative Week 3

Monday, September 19, 2016 ~ 16 Elul, 5776

Blog #3

(Excerpted from ongoing work with the Rabbinic Writing Institute, led by Merle Feld)

 

3-To whom do you feel grateful this year? How might you let them know?

 

Follow up for 3:  List these individuals, allowing yourself time to reflect on the ways they have enriched your life this year. Why are you grateful? Did they already know you felt this way? Do you think they feel the same towards you? Take note of any response or changes once you do let them know.

 

Elul Initiative Week 2

Monday, September 12, 2016 ~ 9 Elul, 5776

Blog #2

 

2-How have you cared for yourself this year? Make a list of all the ways - things you do every day, things you do sometimes, rarely.  Read your list over, notice what you’d like to increase.

 

Follow up for 2 -  Do you have a list, either written down or in your head, of the things you would like to do, but don't do at all.  How can you find opportunities to weave this into your daily, weekly, or monthly routine?

Elul Initiative Week 1

Monday, September 5, 2016 ~ 2 Elul, 5776

Happy Labor Day

Blog #1

(excerpted from ongoing work with the Rabbinic Writing Institute, led by Merle Feld)

 

1- Recall a situation or conjure an image, perhaps from this summer or this past year, in which you felt wonderfully authentic, alive, your best fullest self, a situation in which some special aspect of yourself was expressed. Maybe it was a public moment, an achievement, or maybe it was something small, subtle, something private only you were aware of… Tell the story, describe the situation, letting the details return to you in all their fullness….

 

Follow-up for 1- Now that you’re done writing it down, reflect on why/how the best part of you came out in that situation. What did you do to make that situation possible? And how can you be that fully realized, enlivened “you” more often in the coming year?

 

Entering Elul with words: writing as a spiritual practice

Preparing for Awe:

High Holiday Warm-ups and Stretches

On my wedding day, almost 19 years ago, my childhood rabbi, Rabbi Andre Unger said four lovely words in his exotically thick Hungarian accent: “ani l’dodi, v’dodi li”,  “I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine”. This is a traditional response for the bride as her brand new husband slides a simple gold ring on her finger. I was mesmerized at the sound of it; I remember it clearly, I remember not having any idea that it was written 2000 years earlier, a love poem called Song of Songs, expressing the love and bond between God and the Jewish people. I didn’t know what it meant, but felt that it said something deep, shared, and everlasting.

We are passing into the month of Elul, a month whose name has been shaped by the beginning letters of the phrase above – fittingly so, because we use this month to engage ourselves in the work of deep introspection and an accounting of our actions and relationships while we bend toward our spiritual centers and the coming High Holidays. In ancient Aramaic, Elul means ‘search’, and as the days drop away toward Rosh HaShanah, we consciously search back through the year that has passed, expressing appreciation, righting wrongs, and strengthening our ties with our community.

Just as we make vows on our wedding day, it is human nature to make vows, or set goals at these annual beginnings. I’m sure we all have long lists of  ‘resolutions’ that seemed worthy -- maybe promises to develop a new hobby, eat healthier, practice yoga, reconnect with a lost friend, tap into your creative side….and the High Holy Days reinforce that it is never too late… to repair a relationship or forgive someone, even when that someone is yourself. In fact there is a beautiful midrash that teaches that Moses ascended Mt Sinai on the first of Elul, receiving the Torah and 10 Commandments, during slichot, Rosh Hashanah, and descending 40 days later on Yom Kippur, when we hear the call of the shofar, celebrating a fuller closer relationship with God.

40 days in the desert? Climbing Mt Sinai and coming down with the Torah? Ani l’dodi v’dodi li? What can we mere mortals do here on earth to approximate that kind of transformation for ourselves.

We are very often asked how we ourselves prepare for these days of awe – and truly they are huge and wonderful, both overwhelming and magnificent in their significance as a spiritual and communal event. However, perhaps it is easier for us, because part of our preparation is spending months culling through our machzor, re-envisioning the prayer service, choosing just the right music that is a balance between the familiar and what fills your heart with glory, we are reading and writing sermons and are immersed in the themes and values of the High Holidays – that of forgiveness, and starting anew -- long before their actual arrival.

But still, we need tools, and this year we’d like to share one in particular. You may have family traditions that you hold dear, a shared meal, buying a new white dress, or calling friends to reconnect, say your sorry, or say I love you. Continue those beautiful traditions, BUT…We would like to invite you to deepen your spiritual preparation this year for the High Holidays by also engaging in a spiritual writing practice.

Mondays throughout Elul, September 5, 12, 19, 26, you will receive an email from us through our ‘constant contact’ containing a writing prompt. It will invite you to explore your own year, your relationships, goals, and growth. You are not alone in this pursuit, the prompts introduced will be reflected and revisited throughout the week at morning minyan and during Shabbat services. We do hope you’ll open the email each Monday, and simply carve out 20 minutes for yourself to sit quietly, reflect, and engage in the process of chesbon hanefesh. Keep your thoughts and your personal journey logged privately in a notebook, computer, or even dictated by voice recognition onto your iphone! Or join a slightly more public conversation at cantoralicia.blogspot.com. Either way, we invite you to prepare for the holidays this year in a different way, through deep listening, writing, reflection, and growth.

We look forward to working together to arrive at the High Holidays ready to face the days ahead, to stretch us toward a more self aware, reflective, and meaningful year.

Shana Tovah, may the changes you experience this year be good, fulfilling, and rich with friendship and love.

Parashat Beshalach -- Pink Shabbat

I am a Netflix junkie. We watch movies, television shows, documentaries, anything – but I’m also guilty of watching old tv series, ones that I’ve seen before. You know what I’m talking about, you do it too. So when I started to ‘re-watch’ the amazing award winning white house drama– the West Wing !!!! My husband rolled his eyes at me and asked why are you watching that again?

 

Because I want to be inspired.

 

I watched House of Cards, Blacklist, Orange is the New Black, Dexter – alot of good shows by incredible talented writers--but dark shows.  I re-watched THIS story because of how it makes me feel.  I wanted to hear language that aspired to greatness, that was creative, characters whose intentions were good and noble, whose mission was righteous and made me want to enter their story and be part of their world because it raised me higher. For me, the world and stories of President Bartlet did just that.

 

The Jews, two of which are represented in the West Wing’s inner script -- are no strangers to retelling great stories. Every week we quote and reference and raise up the tales of our forefathers and mothers for what they stood for, how they behaved under the most trying conditions, how they put their yearnings and fears into language and prayer; they argued with God and manipulated enemies. They stood for something bigger than themselves.

 

Parashat Beshalach this week, we read the song of the sea, shirat HaYam, the age old retelling of the Exodus – running from Egypt and slavery, the 10^th plague a recent memory, matzah on our backs, and Pharoah and his army chasing us through the desert until we arrived at a dead end. The Red Sea.  Indescribable terror, desperation, uncertainty. What were the Israelites to do – endless water in front of them and their enemies at their heels.

 

Here we meet another great character named Nachshon – the initiator—and his story is another worth re-enacting.  Because it is inspiring and brave and noble and selfless.

 

Nachshon’s story

 

Many of you can identify with him – in times of challenge, when all that surrounds you is panic, hopelessness, fear….

 

My life, like many of yours, has been touched by cancer. In my family, in my friendships, in my congregation….this terrible and challenging journey is its own version of the crossing of the sea. Solid and threatening walls of water on either side—

Every doctors appointment is the roaring of the waves as it churns and splashes you. Waiting for diagnoses, blood tests – the courage to continue moving forward in spite of not knowing when or for how long the water will stay back. The Jews walking through this narrow strip  had no idea how long they would walk before the water came down on them too! The courage it takes for every PET scan, the tremendous bravery to continue going forward in spite of stories and warnings and pain and fatigue.

 

And maybe someone sings a song that makes you feel better for a little while, that assures you that you are not alone. Maybe there is a Miriam who bangs steadily on a drum and gives you the spiritual jumpstart to continue.

 

It is hope and courage that led you through, that is leading you through now.

 

There were no pink ribbons in ancient days. Just the company of the thousands of others walking together.

 

Nachshon was one man, he walked with God, and he was joined by hundreds of thousands, they crossed through terror, not knowing when …., if ….., how……, what would await them…..and yet they sang. They sang their sacred song of courage.

 

THIS is the story to retell. The one that inspires and is righteous and whose intent is of goodness and bravery. This is so much better than Netflix.

 

You are here tonight, with indescribable courage, joined together. For those of you walking tomorrow, know that with every step you take, you are beating back another wave, our hearts and our admiration are with you. You make a difference, you are leaders, you are Nachshon, you are Miriam, and we love you.

 

All the world is a narrow bridge crossing over the tides of water, and the main thing is to not be afraid

 

Gesher Tzar Meod.