As I mentioned yesterday, learning leads to change. Change is probably the scariest thing in the world, to many people. Others restlessly seek it out, bored with the everyday. What is it about change? The need for security and safety is very fundamental to Maslow's hierarchy of needs, just above such basics such as food … Continue reading #BlogElul 16 – Change
Tag: High Holy Days
#BlogElul 15 – Learn
Oh my, Rabbi Sommer. I have so much to say about this, I don't know where to start. Learning is my absolutely favourite thing to do, and this High Holy Day season is no exception. We begin learning in the womb, when we become familiar with our mother's heartbeat and voice. If we're lucky, we … Continue reading #BlogElul 15 – Learn
#BlogElul 14 – Remember
One of the names of Rosh HaShanah is Yom HaZikaron, the Day of Remembrance. What is it that we need to remember during this time of year? Another name for the day (which is not called Rosh HaShanah anywhere in the Torah) is Yom Teru'ah, the day of shofar blowing. On Shabbat, we don't blow … Continue reading #BlogElul 14 – Remember
#BlogElul 13 – Forgive
Wow. Maybe it's time to accuse Rabbi Sommerย of some serious prescience. Not only is the transition from Trust to Forgive pretty darned seamless, I wrote a blog post about Not Doing Mean in between. I've posted many times on this blog about David Wood - in particular this post about kindness and forgiveness comes to … Continue reading #BlogElul 13 – Forgive
#BlogElul 12 – Trust
Trust is a fragile commodity. Hard to achieve, easy to lose. Where does trust come from, and how do we decide whom to trust? If we are to believe the psychologists, the stage for answering these questions is set at a very young age, in the relationship between a baby and its caregivers. That's a … Continue reading #BlogElul 12 – Trust
#BlogElul 11 – Count
Ah, here is another ambiguous keyword that can go in so many different directions. I feel like wrapping myself in a cloak and declaiming numbers in a fake Romanian accent. But no. Today - a different kind of counting. Ah-ha-ha-ha! In particular, I want to talk about making your life count. So many of us … Continue reading #BlogElul 11 – Count
#BlogElul 10 – See
It is a truism in everyday life that "seeing is believing". It is a deep reason for the creation of idols and icons, as people have done since time immemorial. But Judaism is completely opposed to it, as is its younger cousin, Islam. Everyone has heard of the Second Commandment: ื ืึนื-ืชึทืขึฒืฉึถืื ืึฐืึธ ืคึถืกึถื, ืึฐืึธื-ืชึฐึผืืึผื ึธื, … Continue reading #BlogElul 10 – See
#BlogElul 9 – Hear
I wrote a very long and complicated blog post last night, scheduled it to appear today, and then this morning I deleted it. That's how it goes sometimes in this business - you spend hours on something, and then you jettison it. It just doesn't have the voice that you want, it doesn't say what … Continue reading #BlogElul 9 – Hear
#BlogElul 8 – Believe
Hey, didn't I say just a few posts ago that Judaism is a religion of action, rather than belief? What gives now, Rabbi Sommer? The articles of the Jewish faith are usually expressed in the form given by Maimonides, a great twelfth-century rabbi who was hugely influential in creating the kind of Judaism we know … Continue reading #BlogElul 8 – Believe
#BlogElul 7 – Be
When I find myself in times of trouble, Mother Mary comes to me, whisper words of wisdom, let it be ... Now, of course, everyone is laughing at me, for quoting the great Rabbi McCartney. But don't forget what the Mishna says: Ben (the son of) Zoma said: Who is wise? He who learns from … Continue reading #BlogElul 7 – Be