I see it's been nearly a year since I've come here and logged on.
First, one newly created website by me, and then I'll catch up:
As you may be interested, please check out: http://www.jewbu.org/
Now...how did that come to be?
Going back a bit farther...
Last summer, the reunion (described below) of both high school friends and family was swell. What can I say, 300 cousins coming together, not only every 5 years, but this past one being the 100th reunion. It was terrific. We drove to Chicago for it, bringing my mother in tow.
Then, end of summer, during our week's vacation to Seven Springs...I took the time to create the basic text for the above website. I learned then just the basics enough to post it using Wordpress, using Bluehost for webhosting, to get the core ideas down. Whereas blogspot has been easy as pie to set up and install, my concept was to have a more regular site, where the substantive messaging can stay on the front, rather than being pushed down by the next post (which happens in this blogging environment). I've still yet to learn more about Wordpress...just bought a book on it....but I can still do simple things.
My intention was to lay out the core ideas on the site from which the course I'd created on Judaism and Buddhism was developed. After learning more of Word press, I'll hopefully revise what I already posted there, and add to it.
Meanwhile, I have the odd pleasure of seeing a number of creepy e-mails come by, acknowledging to me that they've read it, and by the way, coming from a porn site author...very weird. I have to presume so far that either virtually no one has read it (well...that's not true, I know at least 2 people have who talked to me about it), or that if they have, they have NOT written one of the many e-mails I've received in response.
Otherwise, inasmuch as my morphing from being a member of Temple Shalom to now being a member of Shirat Hanefesh has been in the genesis of this blog, I'll pick up on that piece now.
I maintain my ongoing activities in several committees in SHN, including Avodah, Education, and Tzedek/Tikkun Olam/Social Action.
My now younger son has recently turned 12, and consequently, many of my contemporary thoughts are going to planning for his having a successful experience becoming a bar mitzvah.
As background for that, however, I have been moved to be contemplative of our involvement in Jewish practice altogether, as a family. Our decision to participate as a member of a synagogue had begun, in some measure, consistent with the driver to provide a religious upbringing for our children. Depending on the "nits" involved in a coming Bar Mitzvah Handbook, being only generated now in our new Jewish community, there may be additional strings in play that will maintain naturally this additional connection to this congregational community. But, as I have been thinking this, stupidly or not, as is my nature, I had sought to, and did, write a very public note to both of our clergy, and Karen, our president, letting them know exactly what I was thinking....telling them that I was in fact concerned that the concerns I have still about how our children are learning, or failing to learn, the purpose of our liturgy, may impact on whether or not we will have a vision for being able to continue as members, post bnai mitzvah.
I do think our particular community is as about as progressive as they come, this way.
Barriers to understanding the function of the liturgy are deep, I don't know that I have the key particularly.
This past Saturday, after having read, as I usually do, the Washington Jewish Week, I saw that at Adas Israel, they would have a service tuned more towards being a learning service. Seeing that we would be at synagogue anyway Saturday night for Purim, and Adam would not be at our Saturday school, I thought I would take the morning to check out what they do there at Adas Israel, and how they do it. I was very encouraged. Their newish Rabbi Steinlauf did lead a very engaging service, and while covering all the mechanics ( I was kindly invited to take the 3rd of 7 aliyas, and was also tickled to have been so well prepared by our own community), Rabbi Stenlauf did, in fact, seek to present to his community an approach to the liturgy that I found, essentially, wholly consistent with the positive ways I have learned about it. That is, he proactively encouraged his congregants to visualize the various sections of the service, and find how they could engage in the developing pattern of how the service evolves forward, naming most parts for what they were. Although this WAS a learners service, this was very encouraging to me.
At their kiddush afterwards, I spoke briefly with one of their board members, Michele. She talked about how this new Rabbi was bringing a different, new, energy to their community, including an interest in meditation, such that he has launched a meditation group, which became a women's group, but now he was seeking to begin a men's group.
How much this approach the rabbi personally believes and wishes to engage his community in, is consistent with how their community overall experiences the service...is an open question. But, it is clear he is assuming an advocacy position, and wishes them to experience in just this way he is recommending.
Why do I care what he does? Since our Zukerman family have decided to raise our children as Jews.....it is, at least, helpful to have a positive vision for the view they will be exposed to as they come into maturity. My own explorations are still, yes, quite meager.
And....I have come to think at least two things:
a) that it can be helpful to thing bigger, more towards background, on the context in which prayer happens, to involve then asking questions about contemporarizing our ideas of G-d, perhaps to study the new book I see out by Arthur Green, and working further back, to provide a background that adds a further sensibility to the why of "traditional prayer," and also
b) doing something different, relaxing (a), but figuring out strings that can reach to (a). In other words....maybe there can be some further, practical, utility, between the co-existence in space between a place like the Shambhala Center, and a place like Adas Israel.
As we read in our meditation working group, the book recently: Torah & Dharma....it was suggested as one of the foundational points of buddhism....was that it came into being because of the dysfunctionality of conceptualizing g-d at the outset. Seeing that inhibiting the ego was a goal, one conceptualization of the origins of the creation of buddhism, is that it just decided not to go there....as a utilitarian measure.
So, as has always been the case....but now, post Bar Mitzvah, will have new cause to come into focus again....the decision to give particular effort to actualize our Jewish experience will come under new pressure.
But...Adam's Bar Mitzvah won't be until January 2012.
Meanwhile, while I've misplaced my buddhist practice materials....
I have determined to, and have acquired tefillin.
I've used them about 4 times.
And, provisionally, I've gotten agreement that our community will have a workshop on laying tefillin....perhaps only....on the day following Adam's BarMitzvah, 1/21/11. Hopefully, Adam would even go to that. Hopefully, we will have family in town to present a conflict to that.
I've tried to have our community adopt language, in a developing B'Nai Mitzvah Handbook, that would encourage families to recognize the limnal nature of the year prior to the B'Nai Mitzvah.
Our young community continues to struggle. Our new education director has committed to a job in Israel for next fall, so we will have to hire for that position, to continue our programming successfully in the fall. Though I've not been invited to participate on that search committee, I can hope that is for the good (i.e., I can see the decision as functional enough, and hope I needn't take it personally too much).
Our clergy are quite special, I think. And, in some measure, our community, too. From the point of view of learning, being in a smaller community certainly has its benefits. Certainly, its downsides, too. Hopefully, it will be a net benefit.
Closing nits, my job has been stable, with offices having moved from Rockville to Bethesda. Commuting is close to a wash, and if my left leg holds up, I hope I can walk to work soon.
If you're reading still, best,
Ira Z.
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Sullivan High School reunion plans, background & details...
Since Facebook doesn't seem to take documents, but does take links...I thought to link to this text here. I'll plan to try to leave this info primary through 7/1/10, when the planned for Sullivan High School Class of 73 mini-reunion would have occurred, with details below:
-------------------
The headline says it. The rest is just background. I hope my fellow classmates will come.
I live out of town, just outside of Washington DC. But, I come into Chicago every five years for a family reunion ( http://rivkefamily.org/ ), and over the past year, have tried to suggest to a few of my old high school friends that they host a get together near when I'm in town. But...since no one volunteered...I did a little checking, and found near the hotel I'm staying at in Lincolnshire what seems like will be a great place for us to meet. Broadly, it's a sports bar. Maybe you know it. It has several branches. This is the Cubby Bear North in Lincolshire, IL (http://www.cubbybear.com/lincolnshire/ ). I've been in touch with their events coordinator, who has been great to work with, and she's offered to let us have our own area upstairs, near an outdoor seating area and pool tables (if available). Yelp gives the place good reviews (http://www.yelp/biz/cubby-bear-north-lincolnshire ), and I understand it's about 40 minutes from Sullivan. Also, they've done other reunions there for our high school.
The theme: no fuss, just come and meet old friends. Careful if you'll drink and drive, but beers are discounted Thursdays, and a DJ will come at 9. Bringing family would be I think optional (my 14 year old and wife may make an appearance; not sure). Your tab is your own.
I'd be happy to collect RSVPs along the way, so as to be able to let others who ask know who is coming...so let me know your plans if you'd like to. But...we're not renting anything, so regardless, just come. Also, please encourage your high school friends to come. With our friends there, the gathering will be all the better.
To reach me, e-mail: zukerman.family@comcast.net , and 301-365-2004. I hope to hear from you. Even more, I hope to see you there.
Best wishes,
Ira Zukerman
Sullivan, Class of 1973
Location information:
Cubby Bear North: 21661 N Milwaukee Ave., Lincolnshire, IL 60069
847-541-4255
When you arrive, look for a sign welcoming Sullivan High School grads, ask a bartender, and/or head for the upstairs North Bar.
-------------------
Plans for a mini Sullivan High School Reunion for the Class of 1973
Thursday evening, July 1, 2010, 7 - 10 pm, at the Cubby Bear North, Lincolnshire, IL
The headline says it. The rest is just background. I hope my fellow classmates will come.
I live out of town, just outside of Washington DC. But, I come into Chicago every five years for a family reunion ( http://rivkefamily.org/ ), and over the past year, have tried to suggest to a few of my old high school friends that they host a get together near when I'm in town. But...since no one volunteered...I did a little checking, and found near the hotel I'm staying at in Lincolnshire what seems like will be a great place for us to meet. Broadly, it's a sports bar. Maybe you know it. It has several branches. This is the Cubby Bear North in Lincolshire, IL (http://www.cubbybear.com/lincolnshire/ ). I've been in touch with their events coordinator, who has been great to work with, and she's offered to let us have our own area upstairs, near an outdoor seating area and pool tables (if available). Yelp gives the place good reviews (http://www.yelp/biz/cubby-bear-north-lincolnshire ), and I understand it's about 40 minutes from Sullivan. Also, they've done other reunions there for our high school.
The theme: no fuss, just come and meet old friends. Careful if you'll drink and drive, but beers are discounted Thursdays, and a DJ will come at 9. Bringing family would be I think optional (my 14 year old and wife may make an appearance; not sure). Your tab is your own.
I'd be happy to collect RSVPs along the way, so as to be able to let others who ask know who is coming...so let me know your plans if you'd like to. But...we're not renting anything, so regardless, just come. Also, please encourage your high school friends to come. With our friends there, the gathering will be all the better.
To reach me, e-mail: zukerman.family@comcast.net , and 301-365-2004. I hope to hear from you. Even more, I hope to see you there.
Best wishes,
Ira Zukerman
Sullivan, Class of 1973
Location information:
Cubby Bear North: 21661 N Milwaukee Ave., Lincolnshire, IL 60069
847-541-4255
When you arrive, look for a sign welcoming Sullivan High School grads, ask a bartender, and/or head for the upstairs North Bar.
Monday, December 28, 2009
Back again...
In the last bunch of months, apart from both stepping up as co-chair for Education in SHN, and then stepping back (for too much conflict), mixing meditation and Jewish practice has continued as a theme. The sessions planned for, described below, went off without a hitch. Later, in a modest way, meditation was a small part of our high holiday program. Later again, Gideon asked if I'd be interested in offering a course touching on buddhist practice for an adult education offering at SHN, and I agreed. It's since been announced, and now I'm organizing notes for it. Tomorrow, our family will take the boys skiing, and I'll hope to give more time to this, as well.
Yesterday, I briefly explored the idea of setting up a web-site that might touch on this intersection: Judaism & Buddhism. JuBu is not available. But...many versions of somethign like: JudaismBuddhism.com apparently are available. I could do this with a fairly modest expense.
Where might this go? For right now...briefly...it is a contemplation.
Yesterday, I briefly explored the idea of setting up a web-site that might touch on this intersection: Judaism & Buddhism. JuBu is not available. But...many versions of somethign like: JudaismBuddhism.com apparently are available. I could do this with a fairly modest expense.
Where might this go? For right now...briefly...it is a contemplation.
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Bringing background over here to this blog...
Although this blog had begun one way, (and for more than a year I documented my experience leaving Temple Shalom and coming to Shirat HaNefesh)...in the last 24 hours (presuming we ignore the work up to it in the last few months) the new topic has come up about experimenting with including meditation in our practices at Shirat HaNefesh, and I will now experiment with capturing here (at least many of) my contributions in this discussion. We're planning a meeting with 4 of us this Sunday, and this morning, I've sought to share my perspective with these 4 (Ramon, Marc, Debbie, and Gerry makes 5 who won't be at this particular meeting). Already, earlier today, I posted a note I'd sent to these five, and then, upon arriving at the office, I thought to share a background e-mail that was really part of this dialogue from the beginning of this month, and I added to it). So, partly for my own desire to have a central repository for these "points of order," and, as it may be helpful, for the benefit anyone else may derive from it, I'll plan to post these comments here in this blog. My idea now, since I'll be pinching from this recent set of e-mails, is to not include text from others, but rather, summarize their comments, so as to avoid ill will.
So, this recent background is now below:
Friends, please see the notes below, representing some background from my point of view as to what we're preparing to discuss on Sunday. It's a refresher for most of you, but new to you, Debbie.
1) Regarding background...IF you are willing to consider with me that meditation practice, and our practice of the liturgy could and ideally would be of "one" piece...I hope that this will modify the view of the playing field, with respect to what each of us can contribute to the discussion, and to what our common vision of what this "occasional" modification to our programming would look like. That is to say...there are some definite particular details to be concerned about, vis-a-vis introducing doing meditation. But, as a first step, I hope we might together seek agreement that this may be a multi-part course we'd have Saturday mornings, but it is one meal nonetheless.
2) Regarding getting either or both the practice or vision right...I or we could engage others. Ramon, you did mention someone at Temple Shalom, with experience in meditation. We did engage a woman to lead us at the retreat. I or we could engage some of these folks for any insight, sooner or later. Names & contact info could help me. As you'll see in # 3 below, I'd recommend we include others, and consider engaging in whatever leg work may be helpful to get this right. Certainly, to different degrees, and in different ways, Jews are practicing meditation around the country, and we could try to systematically learn more about these efforts.
3) See below, the text lifted: ".In the Talmud, we are instructed to meditate for an hour before praying, in preparation for prayer, as well as an hour after, for integration of sacred intentionality into our daily life..." Gerry, Ramon, or Marc, Debbie, if there is any additional context for this...to bring forward the authenticity that I think belongs with this work, like information about how this was practiced, years ago, and more, sources for this, this approach of looking to sources could benefit us, though as Nishmat Hayyim has probably concluded, this is not necessary.
----------------
on 7/ 1... I shared...
Marc, all,
I have been only modestly introduced to what "Jewish Meditation" might be, but I have heard of Aryeh Kaplan before, and following this e-mail, I've now read up a bit on him, and seen him on You Tube. From what I read, he does try to take a traditional approach, and definitely looks to Jewish sources.
Discussions of Jewish mysticism may be challenging for us. I think Kaplan comes from a tradition that puts meditation in the mode of both mysticism and concentration techniques. This, while possibly consistent with sources of motivation in the Jewish tradition for uses of meditation...I fear that these sources of motivation have been borne out of a desire to withdraw from the world...into another sort of place....and may be historically associated with our centuries of having been a population in peril.
If we want to continue our exploration of meditation, I can see that this can lead us in many ways. For this reason, I feel fortunate that the example that has already been given to us, from the woman who lead us in a meditation session at our retreat, is one that I feel I would be more harmonious with. She discussed "awareness" as typifying what she would identify meditation with, and while the difference is subtle, to my mind, it can be important. With awareness, rather than retreating from the world, your target is to open to it, and while there are some things that will inevitably be common to any approach to meditation....the idea of "being present," consistent with, as you say, the buddhist (or just common) notion of mindfulness, may indeed be different than trying to engage in a mental exercise...but in fairness, without becoming more aware of what Kaplan says or does not say, I shouldn't guess too much.
One community some of us may be interested in checking out a bit, I've only become aware of in recent weeks, is Nishmat Hayyim, with one of their web links here: http://www.nishmathayyim.org/news17.php . There's a fair amount there about how Jewish meditation could be understood, defined, and practiced.
I would close by saying what I've said before...again. Arriving at Shirat HaNefesh, I had not been seeking to particularly introduce or blend in meditation. I don't know for sure still that that is any kind of target, and despite my past queries, no one has yet told me who tasked us with including it in our retreat. With that said...now that it HAS been "put on our menu," I am interested in at least exploring the possibilities, sure. I do understand that: a) we have a traditional approach to practice in our community, and b) I have understood to be true what I read here: ( http://www.nishmathayyim.org/news7.php ), that: "..."...In the Talmud, we are instructed to meditate for an hour before praying, in preparation for prayer, as well as an hour after, for integration of sacred intentionality into our daily life..." and I do think that, discounting any sort of mystical approach, we could decide to simply revert to traditional strategies in our blending of meditation and liturgy as we have morning services, and that in doing so, this could become part of a more comprehensive strategy to not only make more meaningful our practice for ourselves, but as I have recently been commenting to Gerry & Ramon offline, this may be part of a realistic strategy for keeping the continuity of Jewish practice alive for my particular family constellation for some years to come as well. Or that's one theory, anyway.
-------------
and on 6/30, I shared the following with Gerry, Ramon & Marc, to which Marc replied that he thought it might be good to get a better understanding of the interplay of the buddhist conception of mindfulness, vs someone like Aryeh Kaplan's work on Jewish meditation...to paraphrase...(that actually motivated the discussion above).
This note follows my discussion today with you, Ramon, where
we discussed my interest in buddhism. I don't think we need
to be shy about the general approach of pluralism, and I am
not embarrased. I'm not trying to sell anything either.
In today's Health section of the Washington Post, an article
on cancer and mindfulness can point up some aspects in which
you are "fetching" a science of Shabbat....though no one's
drawing that analogy but me...
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/06/29/AR2009062902623.html
Regards,
So, this recent background is now below:
Friends, please see the notes below, representing some background from my point of view as to what we're preparing to discuss on Sunday. It's a refresher for most of you, but new to you, Debbie.
1) Regarding background...IF you are willing to consider with me that meditation practice, and our practice of the liturgy could and ideally would be of "one" piece...I hope that this will modify the view of the playing field, with respect to what each of us can contribute to the discussion, and to what our common vision of what this "occasional" modification to our programming would look like. That is to say...there are some definite particular details to be concerned about, vis-a-vis introducing doing meditation. But, as a first step, I hope we might together seek agreement that this may be a multi-part course we'd have Saturday mornings, but it is one meal nonetheless.
2) Regarding getting either or both the practice or vision right...I or we could engage others. Ramon, you did mention someone at Temple Shalom, with experience in meditation. We did engage a woman to lead us at the retreat. I or we could engage some of these folks for any insight, sooner or later. Names & contact info could help me. As you'll see in # 3 below, I'd recommend we include others, and consider engaging in whatever leg work may be helpful to get this right. Certainly, to different degrees, and in different ways, Jews are practicing meditation around the country, and we could try to systematically learn more about these efforts.
3) See below, the text lifted: ".In the Talmud, we are instructed to meditate for an hour before praying, in preparation for prayer, as well as an hour after, for integration of sacred intentionality into our daily life..." Gerry, Ramon, or Marc, Debbie, if there is any additional context for this...to bring forward the authenticity that I think belongs with this work, like information about how this was practiced, years ago, and more, sources for this, this approach of looking to sources could benefit us, though as Nishmat Hayyim has probably concluded, this is not necessary.
----------------
on 7/ 1... I shared...
Marc, all,
I have been only modestly introduced to what "Jewish Meditation" might be, but I have heard of Aryeh Kaplan before, and following this e-mail, I've now read up a bit on him, and seen him on You Tube. From what I read, he does try to take a traditional approach, and definitely looks to Jewish sources.
Discussions of Jewish mysticism may be challenging for us. I think Kaplan comes from a tradition that puts meditation in the mode of both mysticism and concentration techniques. This, while possibly consistent with sources of motivation in the Jewish tradition for uses of meditation...I fear that these sources of motivation have been borne out of a desire to withdraw from the world...into another sort of place....and may be historically associated with our centuries of having been a population in peril.
If we want to continue our exploration of meditation, I can see that this can lead us in many ways. For this reason, I feel fortunate that the example that has already been given to us, from the woman who lead us in a meditation session at our retreat, is one that I feel I would be more harmonious with. She discussed "awareness" as typifying what she would identify meditation with, and while the difference is subtle, to my mind, it can be important. With awareness, rather than retreating from the world, your target is to open to it, and while there are some things that will inevitably be common to any approach to meditation....the idea of "being present," consistent with, as you say, the buddhist (or just common) notion of mindfulness, may indeed be different than trying to engage in a mental exercise...but in fairness, without becoming more aware of what Kaplan says or does not say, I shouldn't guess too much.
One community some of us may be interested in checking out a bit, I've only become aware of in recent weeks, is Nishmat Hayyim, with one of their web links here: http://www.nishmathayyim.org/news17.php . There's a fair amount there about how Jewish meditation could be understood, defined, and practiced.
I would close by saying what I've said before...again. Arriving at Shirat HaNefesh, I had not been seeking to particularly introduce or blend in meditation. I don't know for sure still that that is any kind of target, and despite my past queries, no one has yet told me who tasked us with including it in our retreat. With that said...now that it HAS been "put on our menu," I am interested in at least exploring the possibilities, sure. I do understand that: a) we have a traditional approach to practice in our community, and b) I have understood to be true what I read here: ( http://www.nishmathayyim.org/news7.php ), that: "..."...In the Talmud, we are instructed to meditate for an hour before praying, in preparation for prayer, as well as an hour after, for integration of sacred intentionality into our daily life..." and I do think that, discounting any sort of mystical approach, we could decide to simply revert to traditional strategies in our blending of meditation and liturgy as we have morning services, and that in doing so, this could become part of a more comprehensive strategy to not only make more meaningful our practice for ourselves, but as I have recently been commenting to Gerry & Ramon offline, this may be part of a realistic strategy for keeping the continuity of Jewish practice alive for my particular family constellation for some years to come as well. Or that's one theory, anyway.
-------------
and on 6/30, I shared the following with Gerry, Ramon & Marc, to which Marc replied that he thought it might be good to get a better understanding of the interplay of the buddhist conception of mindfulness, vs someone like Aryeh Kaplan's work on Jewish meditation...to paraphrase...(that actually motivated the discussion above).
This note follows my discussion today with you, Ramon, where
we discussed my interest in buddhism. I don't think we need
to be shy about the general approach of pluralism, and I am
not embarrased. I'm not trying to sell anything either.
In today's Health section of the Washington Post, an article
on cancer and mindfulness can point up some aspects in which
you are "fetching" a science of Shabbat....though no one's
drawing that analogy but me...
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/06/29/AR2009062902623.html
Regards,
Monday, July 20, 2009
Developing my voice...part II, later today...
So, this is the note I shared with several others in my community, just a few minutes ago...and which I make public here...
---------
Marc, (and all), there is much wisdom in how you've laid this out...and yes, we could do either (meet this Sunday or later). We could let Ramon decide, as he introduced this discussion with me today, and encouraged me to bring it forward.
If we did not meet this Sunday, or if we met...either way...I would suggest that we experiment, in much the way that Ramon and I briefly discussed it today...with identifying a Saturday (I'd suggest either August 8 or 29...at least with respect to my schedule), identifying it in advance to the community as a small experiment ...and essentially, begin working through the siddur, starting 20 minutes before we would have otherwise begun...and then at page 15, where text is suggested for a meditation, instead... present a time for a period of silent meditation, there. Have the meditation run for 20 minutes...and then continue in the siddur from where we would have left off.
I think I should take at least a moment, and make an effort to be as transparent as I can about my point of view about the introduction of meditation to Shirat HaNefesh. I feel that, unless we wish to offer a grade "B" program of meditation for our community...one that we could do better by farming it out to the Insight Meditation Society...we should regard this as an introduction of a poker chip to our members in Chevy Chase, with the intention of encouraging them to take it to Las Vegas. Another way of saying this is that the introduction of meditation...at least for many...would be intended to be the tail that wags the dog...with the dog in this case being the liturgy itself that the meditation is embedded in.
Although much of my understanding about how meditation can relate to Jewish practice is intuitive, I do feel very confident that the major function meditation CAN AND SHOULD PLAY is to highlight and accentuate...and bring appropriate focus to the liturgy, and the davvener's relationship to the liturgy, that they can have.
Otherwise, this is not Jewish practice (meditation). At best it is a parallel practice. And although there is frankly little that I can point to with respect to this strategy being adopted by other communities, and it would be experimental, I think it's a genuine path...and I hope you'll buy in with me.
Otherwise, you might like to explore meditation, anyway...and I feel value neutral about that. I would worry frankly that this may grow confusion from members about what it is, and how it fits into Jewish practice....so I do think you need some kind of conceptual framework, which our retreat didn't address to my mind.
But...and I will need to find the words, we will need to possibly negotiate to find them together, and where one person's life long dedication to the service using one "schema" may be different than another's...the main point of approaching this whole effort and undertaking, as I see it, will be to approach a vision where we are, each of us, ON a path up the mountain to Sinai, where we arrive at the summit where we say the Shema, and with an effort we would be interested in contemplating together, we would seek to share a common experience, when we davven, that is echad...one...and where the intended themes of the liturgy are broadly available to each of us who pray together....enhanced in the modest way that they can be with a period of meditation, designed to help make authentic that which might otherwise not be.
---------
Marc, (and all), there is much wisdom in how you've laid this out...and yes, we could do either (meet this Sunday or later). We could let Ramon decide, as he introduced this discussion with me today, and encouraged me to bring it forward.
If we did not meet this Sunday, or if we met...either way...I would suggest that we experiment, in much the way that Ramon and I briefly discussed it today...with identifying a Saturday (I'd suggest either August 8 or 29...at least with respect to my schedule), identifying it in advance to the community as a small experiment ...and essentially, begin working through the siddur, starting 20 minutes before we would have otherwise begun...and then at page 15, where text is suggested for a meditation, instead... present a time for a period of silent meditation, there. Have the meditation run for 20 minutes...and then continue in the siddur from where we would have left off.
I think I should take at least a moment, and make an effort to be as transparent as I can about my point of view about the introduction of meditation to Shirat HaNefesh. I feel that, unless we wish to offer a grade "B" program of meditation for our community...one that we could do better by farming it out to the Insight Meditation Society...we should regard this as an introduction of a poker chip to our members in Chevy Chase, with the intention of encouraging them to take it to Las Vegas. Another way of saying this is that the introduction of meditation...at least for many...would be intended to be the tail that wags the dog...with the dog in this case being the liturgy itself that the meditation is embedded in.
Although much of my understanding about how meditation can relate to Jewish practice is intuitive, I do feel very confident that the major function meditation CAN AND SHOULD PLAY is to highlight and accentuate...and bring appropriate focus to the liturgy, and the davvener's relationship to the liturgy, that they can have.
Otherwise, this is not Jewish practice (meditation). At best it is a parallel practice. And although there is frankly little that I can point to with respect to this strategy being adopted by other communities, and it would be experimental, I think it's a genuine path...and I hope you'll buy in with me.
Otherwise, you might like to explore meditation, anyway...and I feel value neutral about that. I would worry frankly that this may grow confusion from members about what it is, and how it fits into Jewish practice....so I do think you need some kind of conceptual framework, which our retreat didn't address to my mind.
But...and I will need to find the words, we will need to possibly negotiate to find them together, and where one person's life long dedication to the service using one "schema" may be different than another's...the main point of approaching this whole effort and undertaking, as I see it, will be to approach a vision where we are, each of us, ON a path up the mountain to Sinai, where we arrive at the summit where we say the Shema, and with an effort we would be interested in contemplating together, we would seek to share a common experience, when we davven, that is echad...one...and where the intended themes of the liturgy are broadly available to each of us who pray together....enhanced in the modest way that they can be with a period of meditation, designed to help make authentic that which might otherwise not be.
Developing my voice...part I, today...
Why did I join Shirat HaNefesh?
Or...what are my greatest hopes for me and my family's involvement in Judaism?
And...is there a place for me to realize these hopes at Shirat HaNefesh...this new community.
I can hope.
Today, the day began in a somewhat ordinary way. Or...dial that back 24 hours. I received a message from i-Worship, alerting me to discussion about the fact that reform communities were discussing the merits of blowing or not blowing the shofar on Rosh HaShana. I shared that with our Avodah committee chairpeople and clergy.
Then, later, Ramon asked me if I might assist with introducing meditation to Shirat HaNefesh in one or two contexts.
Meditation had already been introduced at our retreat in June, as a "stand-alone" practice. I provided some objections at the time, because I thought the presentation lacked context. But, if there was a greater scheme that could be had, maybe this would be a part of that.
Personally, such that I engage in it, I do have meditation practice. There may be some benefit to having a back door through which my family might connect to meditation while going to synagogue, but this plan does not have "long term" legs.
But...I have seen that the Jewish Liturgy has its own good message, opportunity to engage, and vision.
And more....through a coincidence of factors....in my family's having volunteered to provide the kiddush in connection with Evan's birthday last weekend, and when the whole family went down to SHN for services, I suggested with new curiosity to Betty....would she be interested in using the appendix to Rosenberg during the service? After brief discussion, she was interested...and thank goodness...upon arriving....they had actually found the indexed version of the siddur I had put together, and left there. So...she was actually able to refer to the appendix, with page by page references in the siddur itself.
What did Betty say after the service was over....that that 19 page document really helped her. Who would have guessed? I suppose I hoped. But would I have betted on it....no. But, it worked. The service is comprehendable...but not without a guide. And...the guide...while only a start (Betty actually helped me with this, too, introducing the concept of "overlearning" and applying it to this)...is a start, at least.
So, today, having been asked to help with crafting a meditation session for SHN, it's suggested a meeting might take place, for an hour, and several of us are now seeing about how and whether that should happen....and as the discussion comes forward, I do determine that, if others have not heard it from me, I would like them to hear my point of view...I would like to become transparent, if I had not been, with respect to some of my desires with respect to how we could benefit from meditation, and what "best practices" benefit I think it could play in our community.
I also thought this blog space could be a place to place some of these ideas. Above these notes, I'll paste the text I did share with several in our community a few minutes ago, describing to them how I saw that we might proceed. Depending, this blog space could serve as a useful place to expand some of these ideas, but we'll see...and start here.
Or...what are my greatest hopes for me and my family's involvement in Judaism?
And...is there a place for me to realize these hopes at Shirat HaNefesh...this new community.
I can hope.
Today, the day began in a somewhat ordinary way. Or...dial that back 24 hours. I received a message from i-Worship, alerting me to discussion about the fact that reform communities were discussing the merits of blowing or not blowing the shofar on Rosh HaShana. I shared that with our Avodah committee chairpeople and clergy.
Then, later, Ramon asked me if I might assist with introducing meditation to Shirat HaNefesh in one or two contexts.
Meditation had already been introduced at our retreat in June, as a "stand-alone" practice. I provided some objections at the time, because I thought the presentation lacked context. But, if there was a greater scheme that could be had, maybe this would be a part of that.
Personally, such that I engage in it, I do have meditation practice. There may be some benefit to having a back door through which my family might connect to meditation while going to synagogue, but this plan does not have "long term" legs.
But...I have seen that the Jewish Liturgy has its own good message, opportunity to engage, and vision.
And more....through a coincidence of factors....in my family's having volunteered to provide the kiddush in connection with Evan's birthday last weekend, and when the whole family went down to SHN for services, I suggested with new curiosity to Betty....would she be interested in using the appendix to Rosenberg during the service? After brief discussion, she was interested...and thank goodness...upon arriving....they had actually found the indexed version of the siddur I had put together, and left there. So...she was actually able to refer to the appendix, with page by page references in the siddur itself.
What did Betty say after the service was over....that that 19 page document really helped her. Who would have guessed? I suppose I hoped. But would I have betted on it....no. But, it worked. The service is comprehendable...but not without a guide. And...the guide...while only a start (Betty actually helped me with this, too, introducing the concept of "overlearning" and applying it to this)...is a start, at least.
So, today, having been asked to help with crafting a meditation session for SHN, it's suggested a meeting might take place, for an hour, and several of us are now seeing about how and whether that should happen....and as the discussion comes forward, I do determine that, if others have not heard it from me, I would like them to hear my point of view...I would like to become transparent, if I had not been, with respect to some of my desires with respect to how we could benefit from meditation, and what "best practices" benefit I think it could play in our community.
I also thought this blog space could be a place to place some of these ideas. Above these notes, I'll paste the text I did share with several in our community a few minutes ago, describing to them how I saw that we might proceed. Depending, this blog space could serve as a useful place to expand some of these ideas, but we'll see...and start here.
Monday, May 4, 2009
Engaging a new platform....
Well...it's been 8 months since we've joined Shirat HaNefesh. I think I feel pretty good about being here. It's a special place. I initiated this text during Passover (though am posting it later). Partly, I'm reflecting now because our board has produced a poster that we could share with friends, telling them to join us. Further, I brought this blog to the attention of a friend, and recently he's asked me when I would update it...so this is further time. Overall, with respect to Shirat HaNefesh (SHN), I'm caused to reflect on whether I'd recommend this place or not...
Because we're small, at least, I'm pretty involved. I'm a memberof the Tikkun Olam committee, Education Committee (possibly just also became co-chair of that), and more recently, I'm an Avodah Committee member. Most recently, I volunteered to be on our Nominating Committee, to select replacement board members. I initiated this text during Passover, but we're really in the thick of this process now.l
Passover is always a special time otherwise. I enjoy preparing by considering what Hagaddah to use. I had been curious to see what Temple Shalom was scheduling for their community to recognize the holiday. This seems like a good place to note that in leaving Temple Shalom, we wrote to the principle folks in the administration there...the Rabbi, President, Treasurer, explaining what we were doing (leaving) and some of how we would like to do it...that is hoping the community would feel all right about not closing this door to us especially since Evan would continue to be invited to his friend's Bar Mitzvahs for a time. I offered, consistent with this, to continue to pay on the last year of our 5 year pledge to support the capital fund we had committed to 4 years earlier. And further, I offered also to pay an additional incremental amount to keep getting the monthly Shofar newsletter.
But when signing off that way, back then, Rabbi F was quick to both positively comment about my willingness to honor my commitment, and also share that creative thinking would have to be engaged by the Temple Treasurer to accomplish my request, since he knew of no system whereby a non-member could engage in this way, i.e., be billed monthly for payments to a building fund.
Apparently no such creative effort was mounted. The synagogue didn't need my money enough to figure out a way to capture it, nor did the Shofar arrive.
But, I could go to their web site. I saw nothing remarkable about Passover, however, I did see that -- during Sunday school, the previous week Rabbi F had offered a session dedicated to understanding the liturgy, and it included a discussion of Mindfullness in the heading. I wrote to Michael to ask him about his session, which would have just happened, and to inquire about what success he had with it. I did not hear back from him.
Let's continue forward. Today it is early May 5th. For Passover, I did select as a Haggadah the text created by the Velveteen Rabbi, and I was very pleased with it. We did our usual family Passover, first night at our house with Chinese food, but just us (that was a disappointment...we like to have the boys cousin and their Aunt/Betty's Sister over, but it wouldn't work out this year). The second night, we went to Bubby's.
Now, we're in the thick of this nominating process. Like with any organization, there are administrative details, and I'm not necessarily fun to engage with on such things in any organization, so why should it be any different here? This Wednesday, we'll meet as a committee for a 3rd time, and may pick our new members, in substance. Then, this Sunday, our Avodah Committee will meet for its 4th time, to discuss not only the hours of service, but also, to consider, and grapple with...what does it mean to make a minyan. At the end of this month, we will have our very first retreat.
We'll need to see how the summer looks. Our programming is such that it is easy to go to services. Saturday morning is when we have "Saturday" school for Adam, and that's when I go to services. Friday has always been hard to get to, and it continues to be...but we do commit to going to the 4th Friday night, because that's when we both have a Pot Luck, and also, when our family collects the food gathered, and brings it to Manna. Possibly...the summer will simply have other activities we'll engage in, and this will help make for our pattern of connection with our community. Some things may remain the same this way, as they had been with Temple Shalom.
At Temple Shalom, as documented earlier in this blog, I had struggled to find meaning in working with the text of the liturgy. This struggle continues. This connection is not profoundly different from now, than it was before.
What anyone might ask of themselves, I suppose, is how they find themselves engaged in their synagogue community. Well...they might ask themselves many things, of which this is one aspect. I do find that there is grist for the mill. Given the nature, and depth of connection that I had with the clergy, that included Gerry particularly, at Temple Shalom, it was too much of a wrenching without background for me for there to have been any easy landing pad to continue at the Temple, given the changes that happened in the summer of 08. As documented here, we did look at other alternatives last summer. Given a combination of things, including the selection of a siddur that features an attempt to "speak itself," and provide meaning, an opportunity to continue our relationship with clergy that we not only had a connection with, but who we thought represented a good example for our selves and our children, and further...given the continuity that this choice represented for our family, we did make this our home, and this place is further becoming for us.
For those who may be reading this, who have not had a chance to visit Shirat HaNefesh, and who may wish to do so...I hope you will feel welcome to do this. We do mostly meet at the school across from the Parkway Deli. At least...at this time. It is possible we will move, too, this summer, so stay tuned.
Atmospherically, practically, SHN is a special place. Hopefully...it will not be a Brigadoon. We do not have a building. It could be wistful this way. We are a bit like sukkot...surviving in temporary shelter. Presuming we have a long life, these years will be seen for what they are in our life cycle...tender and really precious years. The community is diverse....and consistent with this, self defined as pluralistic. Folks who davven with us are from reform and conservative backgrounds. The service is in fact pretty traditional, and for some, I do see this is a challenge.
We are evolving. And, with respect to this blog, for now, it remains about this spiritual Jewish Journey that I and my family are engaged with. We'll continue to see how it goes...
Because we're small, at least, I'm pretty involved. I'm a memberof the Tikkun Olam committee, Education Committee (possibly just also became co-chair of that), and more recently, I'm an Avodah Committee member. Most recently, I volunteered to be on our Nominating Committee, to select replacement board members. I initiated this text during Passover, but we're really in the thick of this process now.l
Passover is always a special time otherwise. I enjoy preparing by considering what Hagaddah to use. I had been curious to see what Temple Shalom was scheduling for their community to recognize the holiday. This seems like a good place to note that in leaving Temple Shalom, we wrote to the principle folks in the administration there...the Rabbi, President, Treasurer, explaining what we were doing (leaving) and some of how we would like to do it...that is hoping the community would feel all right about not closing this door to us especially since Evan would continue to be invited to his friend's Bar Mitzvahs for a time. I offered, consistent with this, to continue to pay on the last year of our 5 year pledge to support the capital fund we had committed to 4 years earlier. And further, I offered also to pay an additional incremental amount to keep getting the monthly Shofar newsletter.
But when signing off that way, back then, Rabbi F was quick to both positively comment about my willingness to honor my commitment, and also share that creative thinking would have to be engaged by the Temple Treasurer to accomplish my request, since he knew of no system whereby a non-member could engage in this way, i.e., be billed monthly for payments to a building fund.
Apparently no such creative effort was mounted. The synagogue didn't need my money enough to figure out a way to capture it, nor did the Shofar arrive.
But, I could go to their web site. I saw nothing remarkable about Passover, however, I did see that -- during Sunday school, the previous week Rabbi F had offered a session dedicated to understanding the liturgy, and it included a discussion of Mindfullness in the heading. I wrote to Michael to ask him about his session, which would have just happened, and to inquire about what success he had with it. I did not hear back from him.
Let's continue forward. Today it is early May 5th. For Passover, I did select as a Haggadah the text created by the Velveteen Rabbi, and I was very pleased with it. We did our usual family Passover, first night at our house with Chinese food, but just us (that was a disappointment...we like to have the boys cousin and their Aunt/Betty's Sister over, but it wouldn't work out this year). The second night, we went to Bubby's.
Now, we're in the thick of this nominating process. Like with any organization, there are administrative details, and I'm not necessarily fun to engage with on such things in any organization, so why should it be any different here? This Wednesday, we'll meet as a committee for a 3rd time, and may pick our new members, in substance. Then, this Sunday, our Avodah Committee will meet for its 4th time, to discuss not only the hours of service, but also, to consider, and grapple with...what does it mean to make a minyan. At the end of this month, we will have our very first retreat.
We'll need to see how the summer looks. Our programming is such that it is easy to go to services. Saturday morning is when we have "Saturday" school for Adam, and that's when I go to services. Friday has always been hard to get to, and it continues to be...but we do commit to going to the 4th Friday night, because that's when we both have a Pot Luck, and also, when our family collects the food gathered, and brings it to Manna. Possibly...the summer will simply have other activities we'll engage in, and this will help make for our pattern of connection with our community. Some things may remain the same this way, as they had been with Temple Shalom.
At Temple Shalom, as documented earlier in this blog, I had struggled to find meaning in working with the text of the liturgy. This struggle continues. This connection is not profoundly different from now, than it was before.
What anyone might ask of themselves, I suppose, is how they find themselves engaged in their synagogue community. Well...they might ask themselves many things, of which this is one aspect. I do find that there is grist for the mill. Given the nature, and depth of connection that I had with the clergy, that included Gerry particularly, at Temple Shalom, it was too much of a wrenching without background for me for there to have been any easy landing pad to continue at the Temple, given the changes that happened in the summer of 08. As documented here, we did look at other alternatives last summer. Given a combination of things, including the selection of a siddur that features an attempt to "speak itself," and provide meaning, an opportunity to continue our relationship with clergy that we not only had a connection with, but who we thought represented a good example for our selves and our children, and further...given the continuity that this choice represented for our family, we did make this our home, and this place is further becoming for us.
For those who may be reading this, who have not had a chance to visit Shirat HaNefesh, and who may wish to do so...I hope you will feel welcome to do this. We do mostly meet at the school across from the Parkway Deli. At least...at this time. It is possible we will move, too, this summer, so stay tuned.
Atmospherically, practically, SHN is a special place. Hopefully...it will not be a Brigadoon. We do not have a building. It could be wistful this way. We are a bit like sukkot...surviving in temporary shelter. Presuming we have a long life, these years will be seen for what they are in our life cycle...tender and really precious years. The community is diverse....and consistent with this, self defined as pluralistic. Folks who davven with us are from reform and conservative backgrounds. The service is in fact pretty traditional, and for some, I do see this is a challenge.
We are evolving. And, with respect to this blog, for now, it remains about this spiritual Jewish Journey that I and my family are engaged with. We'll continue to see how it goes...
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