Getting Ready for Purim

When Adar begins does joy really increase? In a strange way, as I start to prepare for Purim, things seem a little better. I don't see any change in the reality of sickness and dying in my community. But there's something about assigning, making CDs, and preparing parts in the Megillah reading, of thinking about costume, and looking for the jokes to break between the Chapters ... that just puts everything in better perspective. Yes - sometimes life stinks and it's not in our control. On occasion something happens that turns our entire world upside down. But Purim reminds us beautifully that we are not alone ... we are part of a caring community of souls and God's Presence that can help us cope. And finally (and I really am looking forward to it this year) it's healthy just to let our hair down and celebrate being alive. Wishing everyone a wonderful month of Adar.

Random thoughts from AJ Heschel class today

Just some random thoughts from my small class today on Abraham Joshua Heschel.

My own background was pretty rationalistic. And yet some of my fundamental experiences are spiritual. Especially my Camp Ramah years, volunteering and davening, were filled with moments of connecting with something much bigger than myself. Especially as a camper in the 60s, we were exposed to Heschel and it energized all of the social action activities which we engaged.

I think his teachings still energize me for the Social Justice endeavors in which I work. We are God's partners in the on going work of creation. I was struck today my Heschel's comments on evil. We can use our scienitific knowledge to increasing ease the suffering caused by the natural order. But the challenge of the pain that human beings cause each other is best met with holiness. Each mitzvah of tzedakah and gemilut hesed are pathways to repairing the world; of experiencing God's Presence and Love. Although we will probably not be privileged to complete the task - knowing we are participants in God's sacred work, evaluating our actions in the light of our sacred teachings - fills our life with meaning and goodness.

Thinking about my own rabbi

Last Thursday I flew down to Florida to attend the funeral of my own rabbi, Melvin Kieffer. We had joined Westbury Hebrew Congregation in 1959 when it was in its old home on Ellison Avenue. My parents selected that shul because of the rabbi - a decision we never regretted.

Personally as a child growing up, I like all kids, was terrified of Rabbi Kieffer. Dignified, immaculate, stern and expecting a dignity to the service that did not allow for the noise or distractions of children. But one year when my parents were away for the first night of Pesach, we were forced, terrified though we were, to accept the rabbi's invitation to Seder. It was wonderful. Rabbi and Mrs. Kieffer were not only gracious but warm. Questions were entertained, insights were shared, the liturgy and meal were filled with joy and love. It was another side of a gifted rabbi which we had never imagined. We all knew of his kindness as pastor, his intelligence as preacher and his gifts leading a community. But we had to intimately experience the joy and light that flowed from his soul to really know the mentsch.
I also learned from him during a dark day of my life of how to be truly present for another soul - listening, counseling, advising me to move from sorrow and pain to light and life.

Pastoral overload and CE21

I don't know how everyone else is doing, but between the economy, sickness, and death, it's been a rough end of 2008 and little has improved in 2009. The level of stress we're experiencing now feels to me greater than anytime in the past. It gets a little scary when you feel so overloaded that you can't even use your normal re-chargers - no time to exercise and too tired to read for myself.

In larger measure that why I'm enjoying our workshops and sessions so far for CE21 (Congregational Education in the 21st Century.) Kehilat Shalom is part of 8 congregations in the DC area working with the Partnership for Jewish Life and Learning to create new models of Jewish learning for all ages. Thinking about where we are in learning for all ages, figuring out what's not working, what is successful & inspiring, and then bringing all ages and constituencies into the conversation about what do we do to engage and energize learners is pretty exciting! It's time to dialogue and then think outside the box. When I think back at my experiences through the years: Junior Congregation, Camp Ramah, studies and travels in Israel, sublime moments in nature and in worship - I think these are the kinds of learning experiences which last a life-time and which we need to create consistently. This is my light for now in the middle of the dark spirituality of this year's winter months.

Kol tuv,
Rabbi Mark R. Raphael