Rabbi Jon's Website and Blog

Engaging With the Election -- Take 1

Kudos to the Southern New Hampshire Jewish Mens' Club for this morning's forum with candidates for New Hampshire's open Senate seat, 2nd District Congressional seat, and governorship.  Great turnout, great questions, nicely run all around.  It's a tribute to the Jewish community to be able to host such an event.

It was good to see the candidates up close, to hear their voices and read their body language.

I'm going to start having something to say about the election in the coming days -- not who to vote for, but how to approach an election "spiritually."  I have two first reactions to what I heard -- and I only got to hear Kelly Ayotte, Paul Hodes, and Charlie Bass, so that's a caveat.  First, it was a lot of canned speeches in response to thoughtful questions, and I was disappointed about that.  Nuanced questions from insightful citizens deserve better -- this goes for D's and R's alike.

Second, there seems to be such a consensus at least in New Hampshire about the importance of renewable energy for jobs and the economic future.  It's a shame and a shonda that this Congress couldn't get a bill to the president.

More to come about how Jews and Torah might frame the issues and approach the vote, beyond "liberal" and "conservative."

Shana Tova!

Visit my High Holidays page for some good resources, including my Guide to High Holiday Prayers, in either  .doc or  .pdf format.  It includes my overall perspective on Jewish prayer, a glossary of Hebrew words related to the High Holidays, a description of some of the "choreography" of services (bowing, stepping, etc.), and an overview of each section of the Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur services.

If you're in our area, please join us at Temple Beth Abraham for Rosh Hashanah services.  Just come!  Click here for the schedule.

May it be for you a Shana Tova Um'tukah, a good and sweet New Year.

Adult Education Survey

If you're a local reader interested in more Jewish education, take a minute to complete this on-line survey for Temple Beth Abraham.

Synaplex and Crop Walk

Two items for the local readers:

First, this Shabbat is the kickoff of the new version of Temple Beth Abraham's Synaplex.  Read all the details here.  Our goal is to make sure that there is some way for everybody to experience the joy of Shabbat, for yourself and in community.  I've described that vision in my most recent bulletin article.  Whether it's the traditional service and the whole morning, an hour of yoga, a learners' service and discussion, or just my sermon and singing at the end before lunch.  Something for you individually, and a way to experience the power of community.

Second, on Sunday, October 25 is the CROP Walk (Communities Responding to Overcome Poverty), the Nashua area interfaith walk to raise money and awareness to eradicate hunger overseas and in our community.  It's important for the money it raises, it's important to join our voices and power with those of many other local faith communities.  It's who we are as a congregation named for Avraham and Sarah.  It will motivate us and inspire us to do more to fight hunger and poverty throughout the year.  You can walk or help with arrangements at the synagogue.  I'm aiming for 100 pairs of feet, which would about double our participation from last year.  If you have any questions write me and I can put you in touch with Carol Gorelick or Becky Green, our organizers.

Parashat Korach -- Docent, Cheerleader, Coach...Rabbi

Parashat Korach opens with a challenge to Moshe and Aharon, led by a Levite named Korach.  "You have gone too far! For all the community are holy, all of them, and the Lord is in their midst. Why then do you raise yourselves above the congregation of Adonai?"

On the face of it, the argument is pure politics.  It's about power and access (to God).

But in the midrash, Korach's challenge is described differently.  Korach is identified as a great sage!  But he has an interesting relationship with his own "rabbi", namely Moshe.  So for instance, Moshe teaches the community the concept of tzitzit.  On the corners of each garment, the Jews are to put fringes, and one thread is to be a particular kind of blue.  The tzitzit, Torah explains, are supposed to serve as a reminder to follow God rather than the temptations of the eyes.  (The blue thread eventually went out of practice because the dye was too expensive and it would have been out of reach of the average Jew.)

Upon learning the concept, Korach comes to Moshe and asks:  How about a tallit that is already entirely blue?  Wouldn't that be exempt from the requirement of tzitzit?  How about four threads with the special blue somewhere in the tallit?  Would that be good enough?

This gets Korach thinking.  From the last paragraph of the Shma to the first -- mezuzah.   A couple short passages from Torah at the entrance of my house.  Korach asks Moshe:  Suppose I have a house full of sacred books.  Would I really need a mezuzah on my front door?  How about if I keep a whole Torah scroll in there?  Surely that's at least as good as a little box with two little sections of Torah crammed in.

This midrash recasts the argument that begins the Torah reading.  It's about who gets to say what Torah means, what God's instructions are all about.  Does the rabbi or the religious leadership have a monopoly on that?  Doesn't the student or community member have a voice in how to apply Torah in her life?

I've been thinking about this midrash this week in light of my first anniversary next week with Temple Beth Abraham.  How should Torah be shared between a rabbi and a congregation?

I give Korach his due.  He is enthusiastic and wants to be empowered.  He goes past the level of mere obedience, toward real understanding.  He relates to the commandments in depth, in terms of their concepts and reasons.  Those are what Korach finds meaningful.  When he finds that meaning, Korach wants to go the extra mile to apply the concepts in his life.  He's ready to adapt Jewish ritual creatively if the traditions don't do it for him as received.

From this rabbi's perspective, that sounds like an ideal Jew!

According to the Torah, Moshe doesn't reject Korach's approach right away.  He falls on his face -- in awe, I would say, of Korach's commitment and the sense of holiness that he expresses.

It's true that Moshe is about halacha, the standard way of translating Jewish values into life.  But he's thinking about how to respond.

Korach reads Moshe's momentary silence differently.  As a lack of responsiveness.  So he immediately makes Moshe (and Aharon) the issue and attacks them, and it ends up being about egos rather than Torah.  Instead of creative tension -- between halacha and personal expression -- there is personal tension and conflict.  Their relationship devolves and dissolves, tragically.  To say the least -- Korach gets swallowed up by the earth.

From my reflections on this episode, I take away a few things about my role as a rabbi.

• One is to value and cheer Jewish commitment on the part of others, in any form.  My own example and choices will be traditional.  Shabbat, prayer, kashrut, holidays (not to mention Torah study and acts of chesed).  But that doesn't prevent me from being responsive when someone comes, like Korach in the midrash, with a different Jewish take on an idea or a practice.  I'm far more worried about Jewish apathy.  If someone has a different idea about prayer or Shabbat, for instance, I'm excited that they want to share it.  I'm eager to talk about how you would integrate that into your life, or how we could explore it in the shul.

• One important role I have is to be a docent of Jewish experiences and teachings.  I heard this metaphor at a conference and I love it.  Judaism has always been a vast gallery (not a museum!).  A docent makes selections.  What to present from among the infinite beauties of the collection.  So through my sermons, the courses I choose to teach, the links I post, etc. I can point you where I think there is something particularly valuable for you to think about or do.  Korach could think his thoughts about mezuzah and tzitzit because Moshe pointed those areas out, showed him where to look and find riches.

• In educational work, the phrase is "be a guide on the side, not (only) a sage on the stage."  A guide or coach is accepting, supporting, encouraging, empowering.  Also challenging and questioning, in the context of a real relationship.  Korach came with ideas, but didn't let Moshe come back with questions.  "Life coach" sounds a bit grandiose.  "Personal Jewish trainer", some call it.  I hope my teaching, on the stage or in smaller settings, is not only informative but helps you grow.

• Finally, it's not about me, it's about Torah and mitzvot.  Korach and Moshe ended up locked in a battle of egos, and no good can come of that.  In the end what I do is measured entirely by the mitzvot we collectively perform as a community.  Whatever I contribute to that, however I can, that's what matters.

As I write, I see that I have defined some guidance not only for a rabbi, but a congregant as well.  For the readers in and around Temple Beth Abraham, thank you for a good year.  May we learn and do much together in the year that's beginning.

Attention Young Boston Jewish Graduates!

If you've found this particular post by web search or Facebook, you may be a new or recent Jewish graduate in the Boston area.  Mazal tov!  If you're still trying to figure out where to live after college, graduate school, or professional school, or are looking for a more affordable way to live near Boston -- this is an unabashed ad for Nashua, New Hampshire where we have a lovely Jewish community centered around Temple Beth Abraham.  (If you're not a grad but know one, send this post along to her or him!)

Nashua is a small city right on the Massachusetts-New Hampshire border.  Compared to places closer to Boston, New Hampshire has much lower costs for housing, as well as no state income or sales tax.  We're only about half an hour by car from Rte 128, and on the weekend you can be in Concord, Newton, or Harvard Square in 45 minutes or less.  The ocean and the mountains are within an hour, and there are terrific hiking, local produce and orchards right in the surrounding towns.  Many people from here commute to the Boston area, even to downtown (there's a direct express bus). 

And our Jewish community here is warm and haimish!  We would love to welcome you here, even for a year or two.  Save a little money, enjoy many invitations for Shabbat dinner, lend us your young Jewish energy and creativity!  Our synagogue is made up of people from all over who have found a second family here.  There are opportunities for all kinds of Jewish experiences -- services, yoga, Jewish study, speakers, Israeli dancing, arts and music, social action.  I am even working on a series of podcasts you can download if you are commuting.

If you'd like to learn more, send a note to me or give a call to the synagogue (603-883-8184).  If you're free, join us for an open house brunch on Sunday, June 28 -- let us know if you'd like to come.  At 10 AM join me for an informal conversation to get acquainted and discuss the topic of "Finding Spirituality in the 21st Century."  Or come between 11-1 for brunch to meet people and learn about the area, the community, and the synagogue.  We can help you find a ride here, and if you're interested we'd love to host you for the Shabbat of June 26-27.

L'shalom,

Rabbi Jon