This year we did things a bit differently than normal. Rather than try yet another new Hagaddah (there has been a decade-long search for a new family standard) we took the multimedia approach. Instead of everyone having their own Hagaddah, we sat in the den, seder plate on the coffee table, and "read" the Hagaddah that was projected on the wall.
It was an interesting family experiment and certainly "memorable". Moreover, since much of the ritual built into the Seder is intended to make it memorable and make the experience come to life, it is something I felt comfortable doing... at least once.
I thought I had pushed the envelope with the Seder this year but that was nothing compared to this...
I hope everyone had a wonderful Pesach.
dmc
April 17, 2009
April 11, 2009
Jake's Ceiling
Jake Silberg , one of this year's Confirmation students was on vacation in Italy a year ago last fall when when took ill. Turns out Jake had cancer. He was medi-vaced home, underwent chemotherapy and, a year and a half later, is doing GREAT!.
Last fall his mom, Char, happened to look up at his ceiling and noticed that Jake had done a little "remodeling".
Char shared the story and Jake's explanation with me and I was so moved that i wanted to share it with all of you. I asked Jake to tell me about it in his own words and this is what he said...
I wrote it on November 7th last year, the one-year anniversary on when I finished chemo.
I was not exactly sure how to commemorate the event. I was looking back, thinking about what it had taught me, on how I use that struggle to improve the rest of my life.
First and foremost, I was still alive. With all the effort that went into getting through that year, I needed to remember that every day after that I might not have had and that I should treat it graciously.
The second was that this experience was bigger than me alone. With all the other people who helped me on my journey, I needed to make a difference to make that hard-fought time worthwhile.
Finally, I needed to remind myself that sometimes the best way to make use of the gift of life was to enjoy it as much as possible. Those three ideas created the poem which I see every time I wake up to remind me of what is truly important.
Every day is a gift
Every day holds the hope of changing the world
Every day is a chance to make life AWESOME!
CLERGY NOTE: Kids- do not try this (the writing on the ceiling part) at home.
Last fall his mom, Char, happened to look up at his ceiling and noticed that Jake had done a little "remodeling".
Char shared the story and Jake's explanation with me and I was so moved that i wanted to share it with all of you. I asked Jake to tell me about it in his own words and this is what he said...
I wrote it on November 7th last year, the one-year anniversary on when I finished chemo.I was not exactly sure how to commemorate the event. I was looking back, thinking about what it had taught me, on how I use that struggle to improve the rest of my life.
First and foremost, I was still alive. With all the effort that went into getting through that year, I needed to remember that every day after that I might not have had and that I should treat it graciously.
The second was that this experience was bigger than me alone. With all the other people who helped me on my journey, I needed to make a difference to make that hard-fought time worthwhile.
Finally, I needed to remind myself that sometimes the best way to make use of the gift of life was to enjoy it as much as possible. Those three ideas created the poem which I see every time I wake up to remind me of what is truly important.
Every day is a gift
Every day holds the hope of changing the world
Every day is a chance to make life AWESOME!
CLERGY NOTE: Kids- do not try this (the writing on the ceiling part) at home.
Birkat Hachama In The Eagle Rock Reservation
Temple member Jeff DuBowy participated in a Birkat Hochama Service this past week and shared this beautiful picture with me. I asked Jeff to write a small blurb about the experience so I could share the image with all of you...
I participated in the Birkat Hachama service which has been the buzz of the Jewish community for the last year. Several local congregations gathered at the Eagle Rock Reservation at 6:00am this morning to "Bless the Sun". The blessing is said once every 28 years!
According to Wikipedia:
"Birkat Hachama ("Blessing of the Sun") refers to a Jewish blessing that is recited in appreciation of the Sun once every twenty-eight years, when the vernal equinox, as calculated by tradition, falls on a Tuesday at sundown. Jewish tradition says that when the Sun completes this cycle, it has returned to its position when the world was created."
I participated in the Birkat Hachama service which has been the buzz of the Jewish community for the last year. Several local congregations gathered at the Eagle Rock Reservation at 6:00am this morning to "Bless the Sun". The blessing is said once every 28 years!
According to Wikipedia:
"Birkat Hachama ("Blessing of the Sun") refers to a Jewish blessing that is recited in appreciation of the Sun once every twenty-eight years, when the vernal equinox, as calculated by tradition, falls on a Tuesday at sundown. Jewish tradition says that when the Sun completes this cycle, it has returned to its position when the world was created."
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