A few weeks ago, I took out some DVD's from the public library. One of them was the story of Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King. I didn't watch it right away, and ended up watching it about a night before "Martin Luther King Day"by accident - not that I believe in a day like that, but I do have to say that I am quite impressed by him.
I must also say how shocked I was to learn again as an adult what happened to the blacks in this country only about 50 years ago! It is SHOCKING to think that some of our citizens were treated so horribly, and denied their rights in a country that proclaims to give freedom to it's citizens.
But it also puts a lot into perspective for me. For a while I have not understood the hatred that many blacks have for other groups, or why they are given preferential treatment in ways that seem at times to be "reverse racism", whereby a white person might not get a job or opportunity (college, etc...) simply because they are white! The world seemed so off kilter. Where was justice? And why would a white person be looked down on or excluded from black circles today? Why, I wondered was everyone harping on a subject that seemed to me to be clearly over?
Well, just imagine Jews living in Germany...To know that these people tormented you, that their grandfathers killed yours, and tortured yours. I am not equating the 2 situations, because they are very different on many many levels....but it did explain to me the feelings that some people are holding onto.
It gives me at least more compassion and understanding from where they are coming from, rather than seeing just how wrong they are. Yes, I do believe they are wrong (especially towards me, because my grandparents did no wrong to them), but 50 years is not that long, and it makes sense that there are some repercussions reverberating around today from the wrongs done to the past generation....These are some of the consequences.
I don't think they are being handled correctly, or all that well per say on either side, but it is what it is...I think a lot more understanding could be promoted on both sides, and both sides need to move on and promote healthy self respect and respect for others. I'm sure the damages done to the black community are STILL having their ripple effect in today's world, and am also sure that the white community has tried to do things to correct it. I think most importantly there needs to be an apology and worldwide recognition for how wrongly they have been treated.
It also explains a lot to me about other issues and social problems of the day. To watch that movie and see how insane an entire culture can be, (and not in relation to any issue directly affecting me) helped me see how truly insane and off kilter and out of balance society's can be, and so when things are accepted as a 'given' today, they may actually not be. And to see it and say something about it, while it might meet with tremendous opposition at first, may in fact be bringing healing and truth to the world. Sometimes. Sometimes not.
The first place to start is the workplace in America, and how the 'worker' is treated...I beleive there are major corrections that need to be done in this area. Another is relationships. Another is morality.
:)
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
Being on the Outside Looking In
And the inside looking out, like an actor who has to both live the part and be beyond it and true to him'self' is what we have to be doing in this world. Like Kirk Douglas described, per Rabbi David Aaron from Isralight.
He talked about the importance and necessity of being both in and out of a relationship at the same time to gain perspective. To be both within this world and above the personality, charachter, role you were given to play in this lifetime, seeking deeper within yourself to the soul and ultimately to know yourself, the deep spark within you that is like a "Ray of G-d." That is a part of seeking G-d in the world. He's not just 'somewhere out there'. He is deep within your core, your soul.
He said: Relationships should not be based on just the character, etc. they must be 'soul mates', reach above. We can't look "skin deep", we must look deeper to the soul. Ultimately, even a person who feels like a soul mate will be extremely different from us, because we are all entirely different and unique people, as similar as we may start out thinking we are...
Then, I went to the Carlebach Shul for a seminar on "Frum Jews Who Rebel", and there was a speaker there named Rabbi Russel who brought across the idea that - Every person comes to this world to do a tikkun, therefore inherently there must be something wrong with every person you will ever meet. And that is the gift. The challenge, and the hardest part of that person, is the place that challenges you to most love them, to seek to understand them, to understand what pains them. The struggle and the challenges we face in dealing within ourselves in connection to others is what brings us to grow in this life, and that is really what life is about.
Rabbi Schoenfeld (?) who runs the Thursday night chulent "get togethers" in midtown (they are vegetarian for any of you out there :)) also seemed compassionate to the importance of the process of asking questions honestly. He said that the struggle is what it's about.
He talked about the importance and necessity of being both in and out of a relationship at the same time to gain perspective. To be both within this world and above the personality, charachter, role you were given to play in this lifetime, seeking deeper within yourself to the soul and ultimately to know yourself, the deep spark within you that is like a "Ray of G-d." That is a part of seeking G-d in the world. He's not just 'somewhere out there'. He is deep within your core, your soul.
He said: Relationships should not be based on just the character, etc. they must be 'soul mates', reach above. We can't look "skin deep", we must look deeper to the soul. Ultimately, even a person who feels like a soul mate will be extremely different from us, because we are all entirely different and unique people, as similar as we may start out thinking we are...
Then, I went to the Carlebach Shul for a seminar on "Frum Jews Who Rebel", and there was a speaker there named Rabbi Russel who brought across the idea that - Every person comes to this world to do a tikkun, therefore inherently there must be something wrong with every person you will ever meet. And that is the gift. The challenge, and the hardest part of that person, is the place that challenges you to most love them, to seek to understand them, to understand what pains them. The struggle and the challenges we face in dealing within ourselves in connection to others is what brings us to grow in this life, and that is really what life is about.
Rabbi Schoenfeld (?) who runs the Thursday night chulent "get togethers" in midtown (they are vegetarian for any of you out there :)) also seemed compassionate to the importance of the process of asking questions honestly. He said that the struggle is what it's about.
Thursday, January 04, 2007
Tonight at the Carlebach Shul
Rabbi Citron is speaking tonight at the Carlebach shul, teaching from Likutei Mohoran by Rebbe Nachman of Breslov. The lecture is called for 8 pm.
See you there? :)
See you there? :)
Isralight Rabbinic Internships 2007 Apply Now!
Fw: Isralight Summer Rabbinic Internships 2007 Apply Now!
Posted by: "lmechanick@aol.com" lmechanick@aol.com
Isralight Summer Rabbinic Internships 2007
June 18th - July 3rd , 2007
Isralight is happy to announce our Summer Rabbinic Internships to be held in Jeursalem from June 18th - July 3rd , 2007. The Isralight Rabbinic Internships will offer a hand-picked group of rabbinical students an opportunity to study, explore, and hone their skills at the Isralight Institute in the Old City of Jerusalem. Room, board (including most meals), materials and ground transportation will be fully subsidized for program participants. Select interns may be offered continued internships and additional on-going field work at Isralight programs in North America. The Isralight Summer Rabbinic Internships will train future rabbinic leaders in innovative and effective ways to communicate in a compelling and inspiring manner.
Additionally, it will expose participants to many of the fundamental texts that form the basis of Isralight's all-embracing educational philosophy and approach. Program Highlights * Interns will engage in guided think-tank sessions addressing challenging issues that contemporary Jewish leaders must face.
* Seminars will enhance skill in communication, oration, and informal counseling, honing participants' talents and abilities. Participants will have ample opportunities for practical hands-on informal hadracha (counseling and teaching) with Jewish adults from diverse backgrounds at the Isralight Institute program, and will receive constructive analysis and feedback.
* Interns will explore many of the essential writings of Rabbi Abraham Isaac Kook, Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik, and other giants of Jewish thought under the tutelage of Isralight teachers.
* Participants will be provided with unique trips and tours in Israel , demonstrating the Jewish homeland's viability to be a vibrant classroom without walls .
For more information or to apply to the Isralight Summer Rabbinic Internships program, please submit your resume together with cover letter to Rabbi Sam Shor, Isralight's Director of Community and Leadership Development via email _sam@isralight .org _ (mailto:sam@isralight. org) or fax to 212-947-4998 .
Only applicants who submit both a cover letter and resume will be considered.
Note: If I could do it, I think I would! ;)
Posted by: "lmechanick@aol.com" lmechanick@aol.com
Isralight Summer Rabbinic Internships 2007
June 18th - July 3rd , 2007
Isralight is happy to announce our Summer Rabbinic Internships to be held in Jeursalem from June 18th - July 3rd , 2007. The Isralight Rabbinic Internships will offer a hand-picked group of rabbinical students an opportunity to study, explore, and hone their skills at the Isralight Institute in the Old City of Jerusalem. Room, board (including most meals), materials and ground transportation will be fully subsidized for program participants. Select interns may be offered continued internships and additional on-going field work at Isralight programs in North America. The Isralight Summer Rabbinic Internships will train future rabbinic leaders in innovative and effective ways to communicate in a compelling and inspiring manner.
Additionally, it will expose participants to many of the fundamental texts that form the basis of Isralight's all-embracing educational philosophy and approach. Program Highlights * Interns will engage in guided think-tank sessions addressing challenging issues that contemporary Jewish leaders must face.
* Seminars will enhance skill in communication, oration, and informal counseling, honing participants' talents and abilities. Participants will have ample opportunities for practical hands-on informal hadracha (counseling and teaching) with Jewish adults from diverse backgrounds at the Isralight Institute program, and will receive constructive analysis and feedback.
* Interns will explore many of the essential writings of Rabbi Abraham Isaac Kook, Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik, and other giants of Jewish thought under the tutelage of Isralight teachers.
* Participants will be provided with unique trips and tours in Israel , demonstrating the Jewish homeland's viability to be a vibrant classroom without walls .
For more information or to apply to the Isralight Summer Rabbinic Internships program, please submit your resume together with cover letter to Rabbi Sam Shor, Isralight's Director of Community and Leadership Development via email _sam@isralight .org _ (mailto:sam@isralight. org) or fax to 212-947-4998 .
Only applicants who submit both a cover letter and resume will be considered.
Note: If I could do it, I think I would! ;)
Wednesday, January 03, 2007
Life Lessons
Some interesting lessons I've learned and/or been reminded of lately are:
1) Sometimes an extreme example of something in life, teaches us to grow in the same but lesser way and is a gift.
Looking at someting outside of ourselves, where another person overreacts to something (from our perspective) and it seems clear that their reaction is exaggerated from what should be from the situation) gives us the opportunity to look at our own lives and see if we are in fact making similar mistakes. Finding these mistakes can be such a gift, because having honest clarity and perspective on our lives gives us the chance to make real changes, that make our lives better.
Similar maybe to when Dovid Hamelech was asked to judge a situation by Hashem, and though the particulars of it were different, he was in fact passing the judgement that would stick to him. He was being judged based on his own value system, (possibly similar to the Shevatim when Yosef gave them tochacha - Ha'od Avi Chai? You said how much you cared about my father, and didn't want him to die from losing a loved son - what about what happened with me? - Shevatim aspect is based on a Devar Torah given by a friend of mine on Shabbos named Talya - am not sure what her source is though)
Another nice life lesson:
2) People give us gifts, not always the ones we want, they don't always show they care in the way we might wish they did, but if make the decision to take notice of the ways that they do in fact show up for us in the relationship, and remember the wonderful things they've done for us, when they don't come through in some other way, we may find there is more love coming at us than we quite realized :).
3) Life without focusing on growing spiritually is dry and stagnant. Are you stagnating and bored? There might be a reason why. Other things do not provide long lasting fulfillment...Growing does.
4) Just a reminder for a plug to read Chovos Halevovos...maybe I should start posting from it on here. It would give me a reminder to read it, and a sense of meaning and purpose to share it with others...Just an idea....Guess we'll see what happens with it.
5) Teshuva is a process. We can't expect it to happen in a day. (from a friend - Thanks, Friend :)) But be lighted (lit?) on fire searching for it. Not travelling forward is travelling backward, unless your process is different...
1) Sometimes an extreme example of something in life, teaches us to grow in the same but lesser way and is a gift.
Looking at someting outside of ourselves, where another person overreacts to something (from our perspective) and it seems clear that their reaction is exaggerated from what should be from the situation) gives us the opportunity to look at our own lives and see if we are in fact making similar mistakes. Finding these mistakes can be such a gift, because having honest clarity and perspective on our lives gives us the chance to make real changes, that make our lives better.
Similar maybe to when Dovid Hamelech was asked to judge a situation by Hashem, and though the particulars of it were different, he was in fact passing the judgement that would stick to him. He was being judged based on his own value system, (possibly similar to the Shevatim when Yosef gave them tochacha - Ha'od Avi Chai? You said how much you cared about my father, and didn't want him to die from losing a loved son - what about what happened with me? - Shevatim aspect is based on a Devar Torah given by a friend of mine on Shabbos named Talya - am not sure what her source is though)
Another nice life lesson:
2) People give us gifts, not always the ones we want, they don't always show they care in the way we might wish they did, but if make the decision to take notice of the ways that they do in fact show up for us in the relationship, and remember the wonderful things they've done for us, when they don't come through in some other way, we may find there is more love coming at us than we quite realized :).
3) Life without focusing on growing spiritually is dry and stagnant. Are you stagnating and bored? There might be a reason why. Other things do not provide long lasting fulfillment...Growing does.
4) Just a reminder for a plug to read Chovos Halevovos...maybe I should start posting from it on here. It would give me a reminder to read it, and a sense of meaning and purpose to share it with others...Just an idea....Guess we'll see what happens with it.
5) Teshuva is a process. We can't expect it to happen in a day. (from a friend - Thanks, Friend :)) But be lighted (lit?) on fire searching for it. Not travelling forward is travelling backward, unless your process is different...
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