Life, Holiness and Community

LIFE isn't about 'what you have' 'where you've been' or 'the title you're called by'...
HOLINESS isn't following religious rules to perfection—the rules are the means, never the end...
SUCCESS isn't determined by what you've accomplished for yourself...

LIFE is drawing each breath, using each moment, in a way that makes the Divine evident to others (and yourself)
HOLINESS is being in a way that makes the Divine want to come near you, and those around you want to come near the Divine
SUCCESS is what you've worked with others to accomplish together

The GOAL is to repair the damage and fill the voids in the lives (individual and collective) around us by bringing the Divine close and shining Divine light on the broken and damaged pieces. The Divine light is not for us to draw attention to ourselves, but to keep focused on the need(s). Resisting the urge to stand in the spotlight is STRENGTH

COMMUNITY is holy, it's being like the Holy One
The Holy One loves individuals, but needs communities—large and small —to be fully present with us and sanctified in our midst
We were created, and are filled, with Divine life-breath, so we too need more than just the Holy One, we need one another—in all our diversity—as much as we need the Holy One

As we LIVE HOLINESS, COMMUNITIES that unite synergistically, are able focus enough of the light of the Divine Who is drawing near to usus, giving us wisdom, strength and hope to HEAL this world we have damaged. Achieving this GOAL sanctifies the Holy One in our midst.

The struggle isn't getting the Divine to defeat the Evil
The struggle is getting US to accept what LIFE, HOLINESS and SUCCESS realty are rather chase the counterfeit goals of possession, position, and power.

COMMUNITY is powerful. It doesn't take a large community to move a large obstacle or make long-term changes to society IF we keep the GOAL in sight.
HOLINESS is contagious. We are designed to respond to holiness and inspire one another to increase it.

If you've read all this and felt uplifted and inspired, don't leave without asking yourself THREE QUESTIONS (today and every day):

WHAT am I really living for each day?
WHO am I focusing the light with and on?
HOW can I increase true holiness in myself and my community?

It's TIME to make each day count and repair this world TOGETHER—Starting NOW!

[Inspired by learning with and from Rabbi Aaron Alexander, Reb Mimi Feigelson, Rabbi Shai Held and Rabbi Michael Knopf]

MOURNING

Some losses you mourn with tears and sobs
Some with community, closeness and memories
Some losses you mourn with silence and reflection
Some with commitment to transformation

Then there are the losses that are so profound
that mourning with all of these is still not enough

Karla J Worrell
November 16, 2014
In memory of Cantor Edward Cohen

Today I Am Reborn

Karla J Worrell
5 May 2014 / 5 Iyar 5774

Today, I am reborn
Acts of a human body
Renew an eternal soul
Ordinary becomes holy

Water and breath
Blessing and silence
Known and unknown
Past ending, future beginning

Today I am reborn

"Opening Beth-El's Doors - Jewish Disability Awareness Month"

Karla Worrell
Temple Beth-El Bulletin February 2014

When I asked if the SATO Committee had anything planned for Jewish Disability Awareness month in February, I didn't imagine the answer would include me writing a bulletin article. However, after ten years of participating in services, classes and events at Temple Beth-El with disabilities, I'm glad to share a few thoughts from that perspective.

At first glance, you'd see my canes and probably think that mobility issues from my Cerebral Palsy were my most significant challenge at Temple Beth-El. Even though accessibility is a consideration, it's been the disability that's not visible, and most recent, significant loss of sight from glaucoma, that's presented the greatest challenge to my participation in activities that I enjoy at Temple Beth-El.

The first time I leyned Torah was as part of Rabbi Creditor's Adult Bnei Mitzvah class of 2007, and I was hooked, increasing my skill and participation steadily. Then, just two years later, sudden and severe glaucoma left me with much less vision. I had to find new ways of doing many things in my daily life and in my davening and leyning as well. I was able to memorize many prayers, which made davening easier and more spiritual rather than a struggle. However, this wouldn't work with leyning, since the Torah scroll must be read. I wondered if I'd ever again be able to participate in something that was both very meaningful and enjoyable. I explored many visual aids, but they just got in the way. I realized that I could do readings from the bottom of the scroll's columns, but not the top. Then, Rabbi Creditor asked me to leyn the third aliya of Yom Kippur Minchah, which spanned the bottom and top of two columns. Though the scroll used is shorter than our regular Shabbat scroll, it was still a challenge! At one point, while practicing with Rabbi Creditor, he asked, "What do you usually do when you're having trouble reading?" From that question, the adaptations that have made me comfortable returning to leyning began.

On February 15th, I'll leyn the third aliya of Parashat Ki Tissa in recognition of Jewish Disability Awareness month. I no longer use the yad, but lean in close to the scroll. I also learn my aliya with more digital aids, including photos of the scroll itself, which allow me much more practice seeing the actual reading than I would be able to schedule with either Hazzan Marian or Rabbi Creditor.

It's taken many people's resources, ideas and support to allow me to return to doing what I love. When it comes to making a place for those challenged by disabilities, whether lifelong or relatively new, building accessibility is important, but it's only the first step. It's even more important that we be a disability-friendly community. Every person is different and deals with their disability differently. The best way to include someone, is to get to know them for who they are, and not just their disability. My passion for Judaism, along with many other interests, aren't a product of my disabilities, they're just who I am. It's not unusual for people with disabilities to keep their concerns and frustrations private. The best way to know what ways you, or others, can help is to genuinely get to know them. As you build relationships, you'll learn more about their challenges and needs as well. I hope, beginning with this Jewish Disability Awareness month and continuing into the future, all of us will work together to make Temple Beth-El not only accessible, but disability-friendly as well!

A Radical B'Shallach Question

As I read B'Shallach on Shabbat, a somewhat radical question took shape (WARNING: Sometimes my brain prefers to play in deep left field all by itself rather than hanging out in the infield with everyone else)

"The angel of God, who had been going ahead of the Israelite army, now moved and followed behind them; and the pillar of cloud shifted from in front of them and took up a place behind them, and it came between the army of the Egyptians and the army of Israel. Thus there was the cloud with the darkness, and it cast a spell upon the night, so that the one could not come near the other all through the night." [Exodus 14:19-20 JPSTanakh]

"Then the LORD said to Moses, 'Hold out your arm over the sea, that the waters may come back upon the Egyptians and upon their chariots and upon their horsemen.'" [Exodus 14:26 JPSTanakh]

"Shmuel Ha-katan said: 'Rejoice not when your enemies fall. Don't let your heart be glad when another stumbles. God may see it, and be displeased, and turn away His wrath from your enemy.'” (Proverbs 24:17-18) [BT Pirke Avot 4:19]

"And there went out the song throughout the host: R. Aha b. Hanina said: [It is the song referred to in the verse.] When the wicked perish, there is song; [thus] when Ahab b. Omri perished there was 'song'. But does the Holy One, blessed be He, rejoice over the downfall of the wicked? Is it not written, [That they should praise] as they went out before the army, and say, Give thanks unto the Lord for His mercy endureth for ever; concerning which R. Jonathan asked: Why are the words, He is good omitted from this expression of thanks? Because the Holy One, blessed be He, does not rejoice in the downfall of the wicked. For R. Samuel b. Nahman said in R. Jonathan's name: What is meant by, And one approached not the other all night? In that hour the ministering angels wished to utter the song [of praise] before the Holy One, blessed be He, but He rebuked them, saying: My handiwork [the Egyptians] is drowning in the sea; would ye utter song before me!" [BT Sanhedrin 39b]

"And he [Abraham] said, 'Let not my Lord be angry if I speak but this last time: What if ten should be found there?' And He [God] answered, 'I will not destroy, for the sake of the ten.'" [Genesis 18:32 JPSTanakh]

WHAT IF MOSES HAD REFUSED TO STRETCH OUT HIS ROD TO HAVE GOD DESTROY THE EGYPTIANS??? WHAT IF HE HAD ASKED GOD FOR DELIVERANCE WITHOUT DESTROYING THE EGYPTIANS?

How would God have reacted?
Angry at Moses for disobedience...?
Destroyed the Egyptians without Moses acting...?
Provided deliverance without destroying the Egyptians...?
Pleased at Moses lack of desire for revenge...?

Would this have changed our history significantly?
Would it have changed us as a people significantly?

WHAT IF WE MADE THE SAME CHOICE IN SOCIETY—NOT TO USE VIOLENCE TO END OPPRESSION (OR EXACT REVENGE)?

Would this change our history significantly?
Would this change us as a people/society significantly?