Last Class

We had our last class on Monday and I think we all felt that we had barely started.  Self-examination, awareness and translating that to change is a long journey, and not one easily wrapped up in 5 sessions.  Still if each of us just improved 50 percent in terms of viewing others favorably, guarding our speech, performing daily mitzvot and living from the place of a good heart, the world would be a better place, for you and me...Wasn't that a Supreme's song?  Put a little love in your heart.   All the song writers in Hollywood channeling the thoughts of the ancient rabbis, the torah and the talmud. I'd like to think that Jackie DeShannon (nee Myers) who wrote the song with brother Randy Myers, has a Jewish heritage she doesn't even know about.  Somehow the attitude and verbiage channeling through generations on a subconscious level. 

One of the interesting aspects of the Middot class was that at least one -third of the students were Jewish by choice, ie: conversion.   This led to the conversation about how being Jewish by birth is a completely different experience, akin to never appreciating the ocean when you live a few blocks from it, versus us landlocked dwellers who crave a glimpse of water now and then.  Many Jews in American are comfortable with the lack of affiliation and ritual because they have never really connected in a modern way to so much of the teaching that is spiritually meaningful.  They may wander the globe seeking out insights from the Buddhist Monk, the Bahai Temple, the Sufi Imman and never realize how something equally cool exists within the faith that they associate with too much food, too loud conversation, boring services etc.    How does Judiasim get cool again?  This is the Rabbi's siren call,  putting together Shabbaton and Synaplex experiences, yoga and Torah.  I don't have any answers here, although I recognize the mitzvah in spreading this particular gospel of attitude and behaviors, am getting a little worn out on being the vocal proponent.  I am ready to take a break from the pursuit of sharing my breakthroughs and trying to persuade others, and just go back to my own quirky, inconsistent study of all things mitzvot, for better or worse. 

Upon finding myself feeling out of sorts for days, set aside time to catch up, write condolence notes, mail checks to charity and do Sisterhood related chores.  The envelopes sat in the mailbox waiting for pick-up during the long weekend, but once gone on a Tuesday, the air seemed to clear, the burdens got a bit lighter and I was able to once again just appreciate all the goodness and wonder around me.