See You at Sinai

A recent e-mail from a colleague closed with the parting words, “see you at Sinai,” followed by a winking emoticon.  The reference was to the upcoming holiday of Shavuot – a celebration linked with our receipt of the Torah at Har Sinai/Mount Sinai. In Torah, this connection is not explicit. Shavuot is, instead, identified in three ways that were extremely resonant in ancient times when, as an agrarian people, the grain harvest lasted seven weeks and was a season of hard work and gratitude for the fruits of the land:

  • Hag haShavuot (Holiday of Weeks – we are instructed to count seven weeks
    between Pesach/Passover and Shavuot)
  • Hag haKitzir (Festival of Reaping – the end of the grain harvest period that begins with Pesach)
  • Hag haBikkurim (Festival of Offerings - the first fruits of the seven species of the land of Israel were to be offered to God) 

It is in Talmud and our unfolding spiritual journey as a People that revelation of Torah becomes linked with this time of year. Reb Zalman Schachter-Shalomi, beloved zaide of Renewal thought and practice, recently wrote, “Shavuot is a yearly opportunity to renew our Judaism by asking: What revelation is coming to us today? What is the Torah of our times?” He notes that it is no coincidence that we
receive Torah during 
the springtime, as blossoms are coming into their full fragrance and new beginnings are so vividly visual, evoking Shekhina’s (Divine Indwelling) presence . “It is during this season, with its promise of abundance, that we receive the gift of the Torah meant for us,” he concludes, suggesting that we are most receptive when we see the pregnant potential of beauty in our world.

The gift of Torah is not a passive event for us. It is our responsibility to receive Torah as active partners in the continuation of creation and movement toward redemption (the other two essential themes of our Jewish legacy which bookend revelation). Receiving is an active and co-creative event. Torah was not just given at Sinai … it was received as well. And receiving Torah is a perpetual process. Our covenantal relationship with the Source obligates us to continually participate in the process of creating a redeemed world, thus “earning” our freedom.

The morally outrageous gap between perfection and present human reality can be highly dispiriting. Our great sages fortify us with what we need to believe and make true: ”It is not incumbent upon you to complete the work, but neither are you at liberty to desist from it.” (Avot 2:21, attributed to Rabbi Tarfon) In the connections that comes through communal participation and personal spiritual refreshment and re-soul-ment we recommit to the challenge.

The individual overcomes isolation through communal participation, and the community overcomes isolation through the connection of generations. In analyzing the covenantal nature of Shavuot,  Rabbi Yitz Greenberg notes that what appears to some to be blind “tribalism” among Jews “is really an urgency communicated between generations. . .Each generation is a partner entering into the covenantal responsibility and process and thus joining the transgenerational covenantal community.” (from The Jewish Way Living the Holidays) It is in this light, that one can marvel at the ingenuity of rabbinic tradition around revelation. We were all there at Sinai. All Jews who ever lived or who ever will live stood at Sinai and heard the proclamation of Torah.

What is your Torah? Do you need to listen again? You chance is coming. See you at Sinai!

Artwork by Jordana Klein. Text and photography by Jessica K. Shimberg.

Posted in Eco-Judaism, Hagim/Holidays, Israel, Reb Zalman, Spiritual Seeking, Torah | Leave a comment

An Attitude of Gratitude – מודה אני

An inspiring lesson within Judaic learning is observing the effort, in every generation, that has gone into understanding what tradition brings forward and creating modern meaning around ancient text, customs, and events. An example – Counting the Omer. Initially a biblical command to enumerate the days of the season of the grain harvest (barley to wheat), counting the omer was transformed into a spiritual practice during the rabbinic period to prepare us to receive Torah (revelation being associated with Shavuot).

The Kabbalists/mystics of the 16th and 17th centuries used the period of the omer as spiritual cleansing of sorts – preparing one’s soul to receive Divine guidance on Shavuot. Each week was assigned a spiritual quality (using seven of the ten s’firot/divine emanations through which the mystics believed God revealed Godself in the world), and each day of each week also received one of these qualities. Thus, the seven qualities intersect in different couplings for the 49 day period and these pairings afford ample opportunity for spiritual exploration.  

Today, spiritual practitioners continue to utilize the counting of the Omer as a way to heighten awareness. Rabbi Yael Levy in her spiritual guide entitled Counting the Omer – A Journey through the Wilderness offers this kavanah/intention for tomorrow, the 35th day of the omer:

Let these be the first words you say upon awakening: מודה אני Modeh/Modah ani – I am grateful.  Throughout the day, pause ten times and offer gratitude. Give thanks for the food you eat, for a beuatiful sight or sound. Offer praise for an insight, a moment of connection, a memory of joy.

Such a simple suggestion; so important that it is part of our daily liturgy. Yet how many of us do this? And what if we were to all do it together? How would that shift our collective energy? And is it merely a coincidence or, perhaps, a spiritual couplet (like the pairing of Divine qualities during the counting of the omer) that a Little Minyan friend shared the following insight just yesterday as we lamented the teeny turnout for Shabbat morning services:

“Reb Zalman is a very big on the concept of opening windows.  If you open them a crack and breathe the fresh air coming in, you will want to open them further.  So here is my suggestion for opening a prayer window for our kehilla. Why not encourage everyone to start each day with a deep breath followed by Modeh Ani. Emphasize that we are doing this as a community; that when we give thanks for the restoration of our own soul we are also giving thanks for the souls of everyone in the community.  Imagine the power of renewing the bonds of the community in 30 seconds a day.  Imagine the comfort of knowing that we are doing something as a community every day.”

Just as my wise and spiritually resonant ancestors, I am choosing to find personal relevance in ancient ritual and liturgy. I am renewing my Judaism, reconstructing it. I invite you to do this with me. Shavuah tov!

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Join Little Minyan for a SOUPer Shabbat

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We love this event – whether the weather is cold or tentatively warm. It’s a reprise of our SOUPer Shabbat. We won’t get you to the airport in a big blue van. That’s Super Shuttle. We won’t decide who is … Continue reading

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Little Minyan Hosts Intergenerational, Eco-Friendly, Vegetarian Passover Seder on Sixth Night of Passover 5773

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The Little Minyan extends a warm welcome to all members of the central Ohio community to join us for a festive evening on Saturday, March 30th, at Covenant Presbyterian Church in Upper Arlington. We will combine our community’s dedication to environmental … Continue reading

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Shabbat Zahor – Morning Service and Potluck Luncheon

Join us this Shabbat morning for services culminating with a luncheon meal before we scatter to don masks and costumes and listen to the whole Megillah!

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This Shabbat will be SOUPer

We won’t get you to the airport in a big blue van. That’s Super Shuttle. We won’t decide who is the champion of the National Football League. That’s Super Bowl. We’re not a format of Kodak film, a scifi movie or … Continue reading

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Meditative Service – Shabbat v’Tu B’Shvat

This Shabbat brings us the convergence of Tu B’Shvat (“The New Year of the Trees” marking the beginning of the growing season/the rising of the sap) and Parsha B’Shalach – the Torah portion that includes the crossing of the Red Sea.

Tu B’Shvat, a holiday referenced in Talmud as a time when most of the winter rains had fallen and fruits began to grow, gained spiritual significance when the Kabbalists created a seder – celebratory meal – to connect the fruits of the land of Israel with the spiritual aspects of people and Torah.

B’shalach – a Torah portion full of wonders – the faith and exodus of a people and the parting of a sea – and joy so resonant in our People that we include it in daily worship.  Moses’ song of the sea, Miriam and the woman dancing with their timbrels.  

Wear comfortable clothing and bring a yoga mat, blanket, pilllow – whatever you have that will help you to relax and connect.  We will meet at Covenant Presbyterian Church in Upper Arlington.

NOTE: Mini minyan will not be meeting on Shabbat this week, but at the seder on Sunday.

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Secular New Year and The Birthday of the Trees – The Little Minyan Hosts 7th Annual Tu B’Shvat Seder

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2013 has just begun; students are just back in school.  It is winter, and snow remains on the ground from the most recent storm.  Yet the sap is beginning to rise in the trees and, in the land of Israel, … Continue reading

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One for Each Night – An Eco-Happy Hanukkah

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The fabled Hanukkah story we love to tell our children is the miracle of how a tiny cruse of oil which should only have been able to burn for one night lasted for eight!  Although just a story used to simplify … Continue reading

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Hanukkah ~ Rededication and Light

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Happy Hanukkah! This year, Hanukkah begins on the evening of December 8th. For eight nights, we will celebrate with great greasy food (latkes/potato pancakes or sufganiyot/doughnuts), family, friends, and light. In the dark days of winter, so many faiths chose … Continue reading

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