A Season of White Ribbons (Rosh Hashanah 5775)

As we turn the corner from the end of one Jewish year toward the opening of a new one it is a time for seeing and reflecting on our lives with clarity; and for seeking and offering forgiveness.

At the Jewish Community High School of the Bay (JCHS) Shabbaton last weekend, I led a guided meditation about reflection and forgiveness opening with the following story.*   

Link to Photo Credit

A teacher boards a train for an overnight trip.  She takes the first open aisle seat finding herself seated next to a young woman at the window.  The teacher turns to introduce herself to the girl but the girl is looking away. She is intently staring out the window.  She looks tense and anxious.  The teacher wonders to herself, "How old is this girl? Sixteen? Seventeen? And that look on her face -- what is it?  Fear?   Shame?"

As the train moves through the night the girl keeps staring out the window -- seemingly oblivious to anything or anyone in the train.  The teacher sees the girl drop her head against the window as her hands clench the ledge. She quietly begins to cry.  The teacher hands some tissues to the girl.  After a long time the girl turns to the teacher asking, "do you know what time we arrive in Greenville?"

Mind the Gap: Somewhere Between Justice and Mercy (Nitzavim 5774)

The first of this week's two Torah portions includes dire warnings to those who ignore rules of conduct.  In that sense, it is a declaration of strict justice. Yet the parsha also includes seeds of mercy -- of being judged not strictly but rather with kindness and compassion.

For example, we learn here that no matter how large a gap there is between the goals we set for ourselves or no matter how large a gap there is between us and God, or matter how far we stray . . . even from there we will be redeemed, restored, or taken back.  (Deut. 30:4)  

What a powerful message for this time of year -- the end of one year and the beginning of the next.  Sometimes we look back with regret over the gap between our goals and our accomplishments, the gap between our generosity and our selfishness, or the gap between our kindness and our anger, or the gap between justice and mercy.  

These gaps are chronic; they will always be there.  Torah reminds of this when it promises we will be redeemed no matter how big, in effect, the gap becomes. 

The Memory Twins of Cynicism: Blot-Out and Don't-Forget (Ki Teitzei 5774)

As the father of twins, I tend to collect twin stories. One of my favorites is based on a 20th century midrash from Rabbi Y. M. Tukachinsky (Lithuania and Israel). The story involves a pair of twins still in the womb where they are completely nourished and cared for. They have all they need; they lack nothing.

In the secure seclusion of their womb, they begin anticipating the birth that approaches. One of the twins expresses anxiety and worry about the future. The other is excited and hopeful.  

The worried twin imagines the end of this secure time will be a catastrophe; he will be deprived of all he knows and all he needs. He enjoys that the world of the womb is predictable, closed and complete.   

By contrast, the hopeful twin imagines the start of an adventurous new life outside that will create opportunities to learn and grow beyond her wildest dreams. She is excited to

The Journey of a Single Year that Endures a Lifetime (Re'eh 5774)

Today the journey of a new school year began at JCHS (Jewish Community High School of the Bay).  That journey is in harmony with the Torah portion this week about the road ahead.  In Re'eh we are taught: "See, I set before you today blessing and curse."  (Deut. 11:26)  In other words the full range of possibility lies ahead.  As illustrated by the story of Reb Mendel Futerfas below, when you have the vision to see the road ahead you know where to put your feet.  

The spirit of embarking on a journey animated our first day of school beginning with Tefillat Haderech (the “traveler’s prayer”) and its expression of hope for a safe, whole, and complete journey.  The journey of a single year that will endure for a lifetime.  

Think Critically, Act Constructively, Engage Creatively (Ekev 5774)

A friend recently called laughing about his most recent bout of "cyberchondria" -- internet-assisted hypochondria. The internet is such an engaging and seductive tool that it sometimes overrides our reason and judgment. Ironically when so many "facts" are available through Google, we can forget to think when using it.  

Yet thinking and learning at JCHS depend on students being empowered to think critically, act constructively, and engage creatively with the most challenging dilemmas of our time. For these reasons, the JCHS Professional Community (faculty and staff), joined by the JCHS Board of Trustees and the Knesset Executive (student body officers) spent this summer reading " Make It Stick: The Science ofSuccessful Learning," recently published by Harvard University Press.  

The book's authors -- Peter C. Brown, Henry L. Roediger III, and Mark A. McDaniel -- reframe traditional thinking about the distinction between facts, critical thinking, and applied creativity. In their words, knowledge is not sufficient but it is necessary.  Drawing on recent discoveries in cognitive psychology and other disciplines, the authors offer concrete techniques for becoming more productive learners and teachers -- in high school and beyond.

From Seeking Rescue to Seeking Comfort: Eyal, Gilad, Naftali, Their Families, and Ourselves

Our minds are tossed and our hearts are torn with thoughts of Eyal, Gilad, and Naftali. Tossed from seeking rescue for those held captive to seeking comfort from the Eternal who wipes tears from our faces.  

Concerning them until today we worried about and we prayed for the protection of their bodies and souls -- echoing the traditional language from the morning liturgy:

אַחֵינוּ כָּל בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל, הַנְּתוּנִים בְּצָרָה

Acheinu kol beit yisrael, han'nutunim b'tzara

"As for our siblings from the whole house of Israel who are in distress or captivity, whether on sea or land, may the All-Present have compassion on them and lead them from distress to relief, from darkness to light, and from oppression to freedom -- now, swiftly and soon."

Then with the tragic news today of their murder, we worry and we pray for their souls and our's and for the body of our people  -- echoing the prophet:

וּמָחָה אֲדֹנָי יְהוִה דִּמְעָה מֵעַל כָּל פָּנִים

U'macha Hashem dima me'al kol panim

May the Eternal wipe away tears from off our faces (Isaiah 25:8) - May there be an end to death brought for carrying the name "Jew," an end to sadness and pain.

My mind is tossing . . . 

Looking Back Moving Forward (Bamidbar 5774)

This is a season filled with looking back -- at all we have experienced or accomplished or learned during the school year -- and moving forward -- toward summer and the year ahead.  There is an unusual passage in this week's Torah portion, Bamidbar, that echoes this dynamic as it describes the wilderness journey:  

"The community will make camp with each individual encamped by his troop and each by his own flag." (Numbers 1:52).  At first blush this camping posture seems impossible.  How can one camp in two places at one time - by her troop and by her individual flag?  It seems impossible.

But if we consider our posture at this season -- with one foot, so to speak, set on the path we have taken to arrive at this moment and the other foot on the path of the journey ahead - then we well can imagine standing in two spots at the same time.  

That is looking back and moving forward.