Here are a couple of thoughts for the week, from Zoe Jacobs and Megan Greene.
Message from Rabbi Rebecca
I am loving what everyone is sharing online and in their Postcode Groups at the moment. As well as shopping, these uplifting snippets of books and stories nourish us in these times.
Member Marilyn Branston shared this from Leo Rosten’s book “Captain Newman, M.D”. She writes [it’s a ] really wonderful novel about a psychiatrist treating soldiers returned from combat in WW2. I believe a film was made of this novel many years ago, and if ever you wanted to obtain a copy (used, probably) you’d be well rewarded”.
At the very end of the novel, Captain Newman and a couple of his friends are taking a well-earned rest on a sandy beach, and musing about the tragedy of the war and the human cost of it all.
Newman tells the following story:
“My father once told me a story I always think of when the going gets rough…It’s about Destiny. Destiny came down to an island, centuries ago, and summoned three of the inhabitants before him. ‘What would you do,’ asked Destiny, ‘if I told you that tomorrow this island will be completely inundated by an immense tidal wave?’ The first man, who was a cynic, said, ‘Why, I would eat, drink, carouse and make love all night long!’ The second man, who was a mystic, said, ‘I would go to the sacred grove with my loved ones and make sacrifices to the gods and pray without ceasing.’ And the third man, who loved reason, thought for awhile, confused and troubled, and said, .Why, I would assemble our wisest men, and begin at once to study how to live under water.’”
Adapting seems to be critical at the moment. Managing these new conditions with ease and even flexibility. I think many are sacrificing so much – our children and young people are giving up long held hopes and promises. UJIA has officially cancelled Israel Tour this year, I know it feels small fry for some of us but many of our 16-year-olds raised through their youth movements know that their rite of passage visiting Israel after GCSEs was as certain as the exams themselves.
It is no small thing to lose all of that and to do so graciously and without hysteria or even self pity. Not one to feel the plight of our advantaged young people, I do so here for this. I commend our Youth movement LJY-Netzer and its members for managing the disappointment so well. It bodes well for their future.
We have focused on the Serenity Prayer in this week’s Morning Meditation; the ability accept what you can’t change, the courage to change what you can and the wisdom to know the difference.
I’m telling the young people I speak to and see ‘Gam Zeh Y’avor’ this too will pass and good will be ahead.
Shabbat Shalom
Message from Rabbi Rebecca
At some point in the 1650s, the French philosopher and mathematician Blaise Pascal jotted down one of the most counter-intuitive aphorisms of all time:
‘The sole cause of man’s unhappiness is that he cannot stay quietly in his room.’
Oh my goodness how this resonates this week.
I don’t usually find myself agreeing with Piers Morgan but his plea this week made me smile, it was along the lines; Britain you haven’t been asked to go fight in the trenches, you’ve been asked to go home and watch telly…
Why is this so hard for us?
It is strange.Those who have had an ambivalent relationship to technology are now wholly dependent on it. Those of us who rely on the charismatic visceral nature of face to face encounters are now having to create something different and create it pretty swiftly.
Dora is just coming out of Corona Virus symptoms we think, so we are all self isolating. I am leading a Shiva tonight via Zoom. A new but not unpleasant experience. Services this Shabbat will be virtual for us all. I am constantly, with Zoe, thinking of ways to bring us together even through Pesach, to separate Shabbat from other days, and to clear out chametz, all whilst we are alone in our kitchens and living rooms.
For those who wake with anxiety and fears, perhaps try to look ahead just next week rather than beyond and into the future. I think in my own spiritual practice and indeed life’s work there is something for me about surrendering control, and goodness is this one great lesson in that!
Be in touch if you need me. I am on phone and email constantly.
Shabbat Shalom
Rebecca
We have reached our first Shabbat together in this new world we temporarily inhabit.
Here at FPS Pauline, Zoe and I are still here and have been busy building structures to allow us to stay connected. Call and you will get one of us on the phone, we are doing everything we can to ensure we are are still operational, even if asked to stay at home.
I want to share a little of my week, it has been very focused on supporting couples cancelling weddings, B’nei Mitzvah being postponed and our members adjusting to this as well as our school students.
I feel so keenly for our 16 and 18 year olds and missing out on their exams and moving through GCSE and A Levels and leaving school at the right moment. I wonder if we understand well being cheated out of a rite of passage when it’s so needed. Judaism captures these moments for us.
It has been said everyone can;
At five years of age the study of Torah;
At ten the study of Mishnah;
At thirteen child of the commandments;
At fifteen the study of Talmud;
At eighteen the chuppah;
At twenty earn a living;
At thirty the peak of strength;
At forty wisdom;
At fifty able to give advice and so forth. (Pirkei Avot 5)
There is a time for everything, as Ecclesiastes reminds us and right now we have to be creative when that can’t happen as expected.
Yesterday morning at 4am a beloved member Viviennne Lakra died, despite ‘social distancing’ I was able to be with the family yesterday and this morning and to plan for the funeral this Sunday, the first for our community under the new Covid-19 measures. Only 20 people at the graveside, with the Ohel (prayer hall) closed and a Shiva for the family that must accept remote messages and visits rather than real ones. We will manage this along with everything else.
The human spirit is resourceful and resilient.
Shabbat Shalom to you all and do join us for our online services today.
Rabbi Rebecca
Purim for FPS fell on International Women’s Day; we photographed all women and girls on the Bimah. Despite the hiatus in Liberal Judaism when Purim fell distinctly out of favour, we had a full house. Fairy tales and silliness are back in fashion. Thank you so much to Nina Hirsch for her brilliant Spiel for the children of Ivriah and their fabulous voices; and to Sheila and Josie for such entertaining reading of Megillah Esther. As well as the mocktail makers and feast providers.
Looking ahead to this Shabbat it’s Parashat Ki Tissa the debacle of the Golden Calf. Make us a god/gods to worship (32:1) ; Asher Kinchin -Smith 4th generation FPSnik will chant these words for us and remind us every generation gets impatient and can be guilty of making gods in our own image. This portion is a lesson in Moses’ patience, God’s intolerance and the realism of doubt. It’s an important part of Torah this week’s portion; Moses breaking the first set of tablets in a moment of rage as he sets eyes on the Golden Calf, and the broken tablets living in the Ark, in the mishkan alongside the second perfect set.
As Jews we’ve never been afraid of doubt or questions. Religion for adults means embracing complexity. So wrote Sarah Hurwitz, former Speech writer for both Michelle and Barak Obama, in London next week to promote her excellent book Here All Along: Finding Meaning, Spirituality, and a Deeper Connection to Life–in Judaism (After Finally Choosing to Look There).
I’m going to hear her speak at JW3, do come with if you fancy.
Wishing you a Shabbat Shalom
Rebecca
‘It was seeing people wearing shorts and sneakers that drew me to FPS’. I cannot tell you how many times I have heard this. In describing the informality (in a good way) of our synagogue, dress is always mentioned. How often visitors might ask ‘What should I wear to your synagogue?’ Clothes matter. Many still wear suits, ties and the equivalent. But many celebrate being able to wear jeans and to ‘come as you are!’
Do Liberal synagogues mark themselves by having a more ‘relaxed’ dress code? I have certainly seen that at play.
Similarly our attitude to ‘sacred garments’; who wears a tallit or a kippah? Last year someone commented to me that he was surprised to see women wearing trousers with a tallit. I was, I must admit, a bit at a loss for words, I wasn’t sure how to respond to this particular concern. I know how many comments I receive if I am wearing a new dress or an unusual colour (or indeed any colour!). We do look at our prayer leaders, so maybe what they wear does matter. A colleague (male) was asked to dress a little smarter. Another colleague prefers no shoes, not a common look in synagogue prayer.
As with most things, Judaism does speak to attire. This week’s portion holds the sartorial instructions for the priests:
“These are the vestments that they shall make: a breastpiece, an ephod, a robe, a fringed tunic, a headdress, and a sash. They shall make those sacral vestments for your brother Aaron and his sons, for priestly service to Me; they, therefore shall receive the gold, the blue, purple, and crimson yarns and the fine linen.” (Ex. 28:4-5)
Without the formality of Temple sacrifice and priestly leadership, what is the correct garb for us rabbis and lay folk? Is it possible our elaborate Torah mantles and rimonim (silver crowns) have replaced the priestly garments? And does that affect how we behave with our sifrei Torah (Torah scrolls).
This week we will study Tetzaveh and, I hope, have these conversations at Cafe Ivriah starting at 9.45 am. Do join us and wear whatever you like!
Wishing you a Shabbat Shalom
Rebecca
Humanity has been well used to expressing suspicion and even hatred for those other than us.
We naturally cleave to and feel comfortable with those who feel like us. The eugenics conversation entering Downing Street this week echoes such ideas.
Humanity’s greatest crimes have been committed against the outsider, the stranger. We have seen the casualties of this for centuries. So it is all the more arresting to read:
“You shall not oppress a stranger, for you know the heart of a stranger: You were strangers in the land of Egypt” (Ex. 23:9).
It cuts through all the other verses in this week’s portion as it should; a clear-eyed focus on what matters. 36 times this verses is repeated in various forms in the Torah. It seems to remind there is always a choice how to think, believe, speak and behave. I appreciate its simplicity even when other messages and texts around it are not.
Empathy was and is a Jewish commandment.
Wishing you Shabbat Shalom
Rebecca
Self-care is never a selfish act – it is simply good stewardship of the only gift I have, the gift I was put on earth to offer others. So wrote Parker Palmer.
The constant search for a good life; one where we give as much as we receive is a reasonable goal and where we live easily and thoughtfully. Where life is both bearable and even joyful.
This week’s portion is Yitro. Moses’ father-in-law (clearly a highly functioning and astute priest of Midian) told him, “What you are doing is not good.” He was referring to the state of exhaustion Moses was in daily; the burden and centrality he gave himself to serve the people. Basically Yitro told Moses to delegate.
We serve no-one well when we we wear ourselves out. It’s rather nice to be reminded that self care is good stewardship. Consider what changes you could make in your lives to enable this.
Wishing you a peaceful and restorative Shabbat.
Rebecca
“But isn’t that how evolution works? you ask. The survival of the fittest? Trees would just shake their heads—or rather their crowns. Their well-being depends on their community, and when the supposedly feeble trees disappear, the others lose as well.” from The Hidden Life of Trees by Peter Wohlleben
This week we mark Tu B’Shevat. At times I do recognise that these obscure days in our calendar feel irrelevant, even dispensible. This is a day devoted to agriculturists marking the age of trees which, of course, were so vital to everyone. But actually this is now a day to focus on the enduring power of trees; not just eating fruit, talking ecology or the symbolism of these plants But rather just the beauty and glory of trees: how they look, behave and produce.
That’s what Tu B’Shevat will be for us. 16th Shevat will be marked this coming Shabbat after the service with a seder that celebrates trees. Megan Greene and I with copious community members will (we hope) mark this together. We have a tree surgeon, Joe, plates of local tree produce (apples, pears, nuts etc) and will be bringing some blessings and memories of the power of trees.
It feels an appropriate response to good mental health, after last week’s Mental Heath Awareness Shabbat. As Nachman of Bratslav memorably wrote: “May it be my custom to go outdoors each day among the trees and grass – among all growing things – and there may I be alone, and enter into prayer, to talk with the One to whom I belong.”
Wishing you zesty and refreshing Shabbat
Rebecca
Mental Health Awareness Shabbat
Vayeit Moshe et yado al hashamayim. Vay’hi choshekh-afeilah b’khol erets mitzrayim shloshet yamim. Lo ra’uish et achiv, v’lo kamu ish mitachtav shloshet yamim.
“And Moses held his hand toward the sky and thick darkness descended upon all the land of Egypt for three days. People could not see one another, and for three days no one could get up from where he was….” (Exod 10:22-23)
The last three plagues were said to be the worst; Locusts, Darkness and Death of the First Born. Actually the current locust plague across Africa, the most devastating for 70 years, is described biblically in its immensity. The skies are dark, and the farmers are desperate. It’s surely no coincidence that Darkness followed Locusts in the Exodus narrative. The penultimate plague is the most intriguing for us now.
The description of the plague of darkness has particular resonance with mental illness – the darkness was so heavy, so intense that people couldn’t move from their position. So debilitated by the darkness were they, they couldn’t rise from their beds. Usually other senses kick in when sight is denied; but not here, not now. The darkness is described as afeilah – thick darkness, gloomy. The Torah text suggests it is a psychological darkness as well as physical.
This, surely, we can relate to. Darkness, depression, can descend like a plague. Mental illness has many parallels with this. We are better versed now in understanding the unwelcome periods of darkness many of us experience. JAMI, the Jewish Association for Mental Illness, has done much to raise the profile of the ubiquitous struggle so many go through. They have in my mind single-handedly changed the profile and perception of mental illness. Everyone is on a spectrum of mental health. Philippa Carr, an FPSnik, works for JAMI. Indeed several of our members have benefited from their Mental Health First Aid training. One might think, when would mental heath first aid be needed, but you’d be surprised. Synagogues and prayer services can unleash all sorts of emotions and many of us have been ready to catch and meet those as they struggle.
Mental Health Awareness Shabbat was a phenomenal initiative. Communities all round the country will be paying attention to this, and raising its profile. We will be marking it at Shabbat b’Yachad this week. We hope our young people will benefit from it too. It wasn’t just the Biblical Hebrews who experienced the paralysing effects of darkness.
Wishing you an easy Shabbat.
Rebecca
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