 Rabbi Jim Rosen |
Shlepping For Shep
(originally printed in December Temple Topics)
By Rabbi Jim Rosen
"Habits make the man; we are what we repeatedly do." The words of Aristotle ring true for most of us. We are so often creatures of habit - for good or ill.
This reality is especially true with people like our son Dani, who has autism. For people with that challenge, routines must be followed. Even minor deviations can be a source of panic. This reality was not fully on our minds when we began bringing Dani to evening services at Beth El on a regular basis a few years ago. He likes the synagogue environment, the melodies,and the people. As such, we decided to start bringing him when possible.
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| Rabbi Ilana Garber [top] |
Isaac, an American Baptist minister, and me: Parshat Toldot
By Rabbi Ilana Garber
(used with permission of Rabbi Garber; originally posted on Ilanagarber.com)
This week I've been reflecting on my first days in a CPE hospital chaplaincy program at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston. CPE stands for Clinical Pastoral Education, where each unit is 400 hours of education, patient visits, and intense group processing activities with students of all religious traditions. In one activity, I was matched with a nice young man, whom we'll call Peter, who was an American Baptist ministry student (and now is an incredible pastor, and still a Facebook friend of mine!). We were told to go find a private place to sit and chat, and ultimately to pray for each other.
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Beth Elearning's mission:
to provide you with an eclectic assortment of
web-based Jewish learning content and original articles that are relevant, stimulating and suitable for people at all stages of learning.
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We are most appreciative for the guidance provided by Rabbi Rosen, Rabbi Garber, Rabbi Rosenbaum, Rabbi Sowalsky and Cantor Ness.
Lifelong Learning Committee:
Rabbi Howard Rosenbaum, Amy Goldman, Roz Hahn, Lois Koteen, and Steven Stier
The Beth Elearning Newsletter is available to members and non-members.
To add e-mail addresses or to opt out, send an e-mail request to beth.elearning@gmail.com
Newsletter Co-Editors:
Steven Stier
Amy Goldman
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About This Issue
This month we present personal reflections about prayer written by two of our esteemed Rabbis, our Cantor, and five congregants who vary greatly in years and life experiences. Whether performed silently or exuberantly, in gratitude or supplication, celebration or sorrow, prayer has the potential be deeply meaningful to us all.
Questions abound when it comes to the topic of prayer: Why do we pray? Is it more meaningful to pray as part of a community, or alone? Is it possible to talk to God? Is God listening? How does personal prayer impact our lives? Can our prayers affect the lives of others? How many other things in life can be said to be both very public yet also very personal?
There are no easy answers to these and many other questions that arise about the power of prayer.
It is our hope that these pieces will help you to reflect on your own personal prayer practice and enhance your worship experience no matter where you are in your spiritual quest. Amy Goldman and Steve Stier, Co-Editors, Beth Elearning |
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Cantor Joseph Ness
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 PERSONAL PRAYER By Cantor Joseph Ness Could it be...that one needs to prepare, To prepare to stop time, To stop time so that one can be still That one can be still...to allow the dialogue, The dialogue between the one and the other, The other the creator, The creator of the one, The one that can be still, Still, to catch the particles that, from that dialogue, illuminate Illuminate as if from a star. A star whose light brightens the darkest night, Whose light illuminates (for us) the path The path that leads us to prepare to need To need the One, that is, already within and with each of us... It could be..... 11 December 2013 |
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| Jeremy Kempner [top] |
Singing is Praying
By Jeremy Kempner
Singing has always been a vital part of my Jewish education. I grew up in a traditional Jewish household. We celebrated Shabbat weekly. No matter where we were or what was happening, our world would slow down for 25 hours. Shabbat always preempted with a little madness making sure the right lights and appliances were left on and that everyone was showered. Then it started with lighting candles. Not just saying the blessing mechanically but singing it.
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| Neil Kochen [top] |
My Journey
By Neil Kochen
As I complete my year of saying Kaddish for my father, I reflect back on the spiritual journey I have been on for the last 54 years. Life is a journey and adventure, and hopefully we grow and mature in all aspects of our life. Just as we evolve in our careers, political outlooks, priorities and health, so to do we evolve in our spiritual connections, relationships and communities. One important aspect of my spiritual journey has been my growing involvement with prayer.
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| Diane Lieberfarb [top] |
The Legacy of Prayer
By Diane Lieberfarb
My father would be surprised to learn that when he departed this world ten years ago, he gifted me with the legacy of prayer.
I made the decision to observe a year of tribute to him through the daily Mourners Kaddish and when I officially ended the week of shiva, I took my place at the Beth El minyan....preferring the morning over the evening but interfacing my work schedule with both. My communication with G-d was one of gratitude for being the daughter of the most amazing man who ever lived and asking that my father be at peace and free of the ills that had so challenged him prior to his death.
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| Michael Schenker [top] |
"You graciously endow mortals with intelligence, teaching wisdom and understanding. Grant us knowledge discernment, and wisdom. Praised are You, Lord who graciously grants intelligence." Siddur Sim Shalom, Amida, p. 111.
The rabbis were (are still are) so smart. They managed to pack so much into the prayers and into prayer. I am reminded to be thankful for my intelligence but also to remember that others will have different intellectual abilities (whether greater or less) yet coming from the same source. But there is also an obligation: if G-d teaches wisdom and understanding, I have the obligation to learn and to apply what I learn.
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| Shirley Wachtel [top] |
I tried to find the meaning of prayer that allowed me to compose my thoughts and I could not find anything that is applicable to me. You may well ask, "Who is she as to be so bold?" Well, my answer is me. Many years ago, when I was six years old, I started the morning with the "shema" and ended with the childish prayer. "Thank you g-d each day I pray for bringing us this bright new day." - Now, eighty-three years later, that is how I start every morning. Prayer to me is a seed, the core that must be nurtured at all times, or it will wither and die. Do I pray for the welfare of my family, my friends, people in need? Yes, of course.
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