“Doing?”
When
our daughter Tali was just a little over a year old, she already talked and
communicated with words. If we were busy with something, she would run over and
look up with a questioning expression on her face, and say, "Doing?" A whole
sentence there... clearly meaning, "What are you
doing?"
We
have kept that expression all these years in our family and often ask each
other, "Doing?" meaning we are interested in everything that is going on in
your life and want to hear news.
So,
I thought of taking a moment to answer the question, "Doing?" regarding your
rabbi's current activities and projects.
I
have begun an art project of mixed media collage, paint, and calligraphy,
depicting letters of the Hebrew Alef-bet, with a brief explanation on the back
of the small canvases about the letter's mystical energy and meaning. These
“Alef-bet Collages” on canvas are available exclusively in our gift shop.
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Letters Yud, Shin, Daled, part of the Alef-Bet Collage series by Rabbi Alicia
Magal
In
the Interfaith community, I have been participating since October, and will
continue through February, in a bi-weekly Social Justice Public Policy Seminar
for Faith Leaders. I am the sole rabbi in our cohort this
year. This informative series is funded through the Monsignor
Edward J. Ryle Fund, with the mission of “Working for justice, dignity, and the
common good.” The program presents faith leaders with information
about communicating effectively on public policy issues, within the limits of
functioning under a 501C3 status. The series is designed to enable
faith leaders to explore and understand Arizona’s social justice public policy
issues and to demonstrate and communicate the importance of these issues to
their congregations and communities. Some of the topics include Health and Human
services, Education policy, the Environment, Justice System and Prisons,
Immigration, the Arizona Legislature, Faith Communities and Public Policy,
Money: How Government Gets It and Spends It, and Translating Knowledge into
Action.
I
look forward to sharing some of these issues with you and hearing your
response. Our prophetic tradition demands that we raise our voices
and take action for justice.
A
personal area of development that I am pursuing is through the Mussar Institute,
from January through this coming summer: an in-depth, spiritual immersion for
Rabbis and Cantors. The
6-month online study program will culminate in a retreat at Brandeis-Bardin
Institute campus in the Los Angeles area this summer. The goal is to nurture and
develop personal, spiritual practice with the tools and traditional Jewish
wisdom literature of Mussar. The
Hebrew term Mussar (מוּסַר), is from
the book of Proverbs 1:2 meaning righteous, moral conduct, instruction,
and spiritual discipline.
I
will share insights from this study and practice in the coming
months.
So,
besides preparing weekly “journeys” we take together here at the JCSVV at
Shabbat services and Torah study, offering prayers and visits to congregants who
need blessings for healing, teaching classes, and performing life cycle
ceremonies, I am fully occupied with continuing personal growth and learning
which I bring to you, my beloved congregation and community.
And…
of course, Itzhak and I are personally awaiting the birth of grand-baby girl
twins, hopefully sometime in late January. Now you know a bit of
what I’m “doing.”
--
Blessing for Tevet
(Dec. 23, 2014 - January 20, 2015)
May we show
patience during the darkest, coldest time of year, and use the time to bring
warmth and light to those around us. May we offer gratitude as we
turn the corner toward longer days and more light.
May we each embody this time of turning by demonstrating an intention to
grow, learn, and continue to gain insights, so that we improve our positive
speech and action. –Amen.
PS. If you want my review (negative!) about the new Exodus movie, check out my blog. http://www.redrockrabbi.blogspot.com
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