There are signs the holy days are around the corner; the shofar call each morning, the sun setting earlier, and the sermon preparation. Yet, there is one marker that is often overlooked: Psalm 27, the Psalm of Repentance. We recite this morning and evening as we say, “I seek to dwell in the house of God all the days of my life.” The Metzudat David points out the word dwell, shavti, literally means to sit. Thus, when I sit in the house of God, it will be good for me.
Honorable Mensch-ion
Everyone’s Lost
On our way to the Grand Canyon, we spent a day in Sedona, hiking the magnificent red rocks. As we traversed the Bell Rock path, only a quarter up the mountain, we noticed that there were no more trail signs to follow. We waited for other hikers to show us the way. After a few short minutes, a group gathered, no one with the ability to be the leader. Our children were looking forward to reaching the top, but their hopes were dashed. My son looked at me and said quietly, “Everyone is lost!”
Laugh
Several years ago, I had the chance to meet comedian Jackie Mason in a New York deli. During that thirty second conversation, it was obvious that Jackie Mason on stage was the same Jackie Mason in daily life. He knew how to make us laugh, but he also allowed us to look at the world with a Jewish perspective.
Heart
My favorite children’s museum is the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia, named after American scientist and statesmen, Benjamin Franklin.
Rebuilding
Zoom is a gift that keeps on giving. At any moment of any day, with the simple click of a button, we can see and hear each other in real time. Over the last 18 months, we checked in with our neighbors, our friends, and our families. Yet, there is no substitute for the absence of presence that we have all longed for.
Gifts
I attended a shiva minyan this week. As I reflected on the life of a member of our community, I started to reread email exchanges we had during the last year. As we approached Chanukah, the clergy sent an email reminding our community that each member would receive a gift at their doorstep before they lit the first candle.
Out of Our Control
Yesterday morning, I received hundreds of emails and texts within a few minutes. It was difficult to comprehend what was happening. In these moments, you assume something wonderful or something terrible is happening. I quickly realized that my e-mail had been hacked and a message was sent to my contacts that I did not compose and had no control over.
Tents of Torah
On my three trips to Poland, I had the privilege of visiting Yeshivat Chacmei Lublin, the Taludic center of learning, just steps from the Majdanek death camp. This is also the house of study where Daf Yomi, the custom of studying a daily page of Talmud, originated before the Holocaust.
When We Grow Up
Pastor Craig Johnson is the Associate Pastor of Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas and founder of Champions, a special needs ministry dedicated to kids, teens, and adults. After Pastor Johnson’s son Connor was diagnosed with autism, he quickly recognized the unseen special needs population within the faith communities. While the church members complimented him on the wonderful children’s programming offered each Sunday during worship, he also realized the absence of any special needs families.
Jewish Summer
The Jews are not only a people of the book; they are a people of the calendar. When I explain this to those who are on a journey to Judaism, that each month of the Jewish year has either a commemoration or celebration (sans Cheshvan), I always receive looks of amazement. Yes, we will always find an occasion to laugh or to cry. When looking at the Jewish summer in conjunction with where and what we do as Jews, there is a bit of a contradiction.
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