Monday, April 16, 2012
The Royalty of Oneness
This week’s Torah portion is Tetzavah, which means, “you will command.” It gives the commandment for the Ner Tamid, the continual light, shining forth from the golden Menorah that the priests were to light within the Tabernacle. This commandment is the reason every synagogue has a light above the ark. Most of the rest of this portion describes the clothing the priests were to wear. Briefly: a robe and a sash, a breastplate, and a turban that looked like a crown, with a golden plate at the forehead, very similar to the way our Torahs are dressed today. The breastplate of the High Priest had twelve jewels arranged in four rows, to symbolize each of the twelve tribes of Israel, and it was attached by golden chains to a kind of apron. The breastplate and apron were made out of a special woven material containing red, blue, and purple wool, white linen, and real gold thread. An outfit of royalty – fit for a king! In the Torah (Levit. 19) there is a prohibition against wearing mixed fibers, such as wool and linen, yet the Priest was commanded to do so: to be elevated above all others. But it was not to aggrandize the Priest himself, the man who served as Kohen Gadol or High Priest. For the High Priest represented the people. He expressed the royalty and elevation of the people, joined together in holiness, who came before him to elevate themselves: to worship God, express their gratitude, and become finer human beings by atoning for their sins. Tonight, Jewish people across the United States and Canada – Orthodox, Conservative, Reconstructionist, Reform, and others – have come together to celebrate Shabbat for the same purpose: to pray; to thank God, and to ascend in goodness. By joining together we are greater than the sum of our parts, our individual selves. Abraham Joshua Heschel’s book, The Sabbath, speaks of Shabbat as holiness in time. Tonight, Tetzaveh also shows us that this Shabbat is royalty in time: an expansion of who we are, through our solidarity and participation. Both the gold in the High Priest’s vestments and also the eternal light reflect our holy souls, given to us by God, which shine forth on Shabbat like the brightness of the ancient Menorah. When we transcend our differences and join together for a holy purpose we express a royal unity, where the Oneness of God’s Presence can dwell. The Psalmist said, “Hineh matov umanayim shevet achim gam yachad: How good and pleasant if is when brothers and sisters dwell together.” May our souls shine forth on this Shabbat, allowing us to experience how good and pleasant Oneness is; and may this feeling allow us to elevate ourselves and express our royalty, our innate goodness, and our beaming inner light.
Monday, April 9, 2012
Guest Bloggers: Passover Package Deliveries with Dorot
I want to thank you all for taking time from your busy lives to bring smiles
to those people who are further along in their lives and who are now coping
with the problems "staying alive" brings. The person I visited was very
grateful that we came.
Iris Berger, Aron Bederson and Florence Cohen went to visit a terrific woman
on West 73rd Street. She was so happy to see us and share memories of her
very full life which started in Germany and brought her to America with her
parents and sister, fortunately before WWII. She must be in her 90's and
although physically somewhat incapacitated her mind and memory are very
active. She edited books and wrote beautiful poetry which we were able to
read. Her determination and good spirits keeps her going and she is able
to participate in activities at the senior citizens center. Aron sang an
aria from Tannhauser in German which thrilled our lady along with Iris, the
aide and myself. By Florence Cohen
Ruth Sandberg and I visited a woman who imigrated from India many years ago. She received most of her education in India and England then came to the US for her doctorate in Economics. She was only able to get part time jobs then was not able to complete her PhD. She was most hospitable to Ruth and I. Ruth and Jharma shared some experiences they had at the various Jewish Community Centers in the neighborhood--Jharma lives on West 77th Street in the luxury Hotel on the Avenue. However she and some others are rent stabilized tenants and the landlords are always looking for reasons to evict. The hotel cleans her apartment--a room and a kitchen--and makes her bed weekly. She also has keys to a kitchen on her floor but only for her. She is very interesting and likes to have discussions and company. I am happy to have visited her as is Ruth as well. By Barbara Bova
Barbara Nathan and I visited a wonderful Brooklyn native named Herbert. He's 97 and all smiles. He regaled us with sweet stories of his days as a hair dresser and shared some of the challenges, such as having an absent father, he's faced in his long life. He was so appreciative of our visit and it was touching to see how much he likes his assistant, Sal, from the Philippines. I happened to wear a yarmulke that day and when Herbert asked me about it, Sal promptly brought Herbert his yarmulke, which he put on the man's head. It had his Hebrew name, Tzvi, embroidered on it. 97th birthday decorations were on the wall behind him and in the kitchen. They spelled out his nickname "Hoopert" because his grandkids couldn't say Herbert when they were very young. Herbert says the decorations remind him of his age when he forgets. It was such a warm and fulfilling experience. Thank you, Michael, for making these happen and getting the Actor's Temple involved in such mitzvahs. By Philip Rosenbaum
We would like to take this opportunity to express our sincere appreciation to you and all the Actors' Temple volunteers who participated in DOROT's Passover Package Delivery on Sunday, March 25, 2012.
Your delivery of Passover treats and welcome company helped brighten the holiday for nearly 525 isolated elders, and helped forge yet another loving link between the generations. From Dorot, the Agency under whose auspices the deliver was accomplished.
to those people who are further along in their lives and who are now coping
with the problems "staying alive" brings. The person I visited was very
grateful that we came.
Iris Berger, Aron Bederson and Florence Cohen went to visit a terrific woman
on West 73rd Street. She was so happy to see us and share memories of her
very full life which started in Germany and brought her to America with her
parents and sister, fortunately before WWII. She must be in her 90's and
although physically somewhat incapacitated her mind and memory are very
active. She edited books and wrote beautiful poetry which we were able to
read. Her determination and good spirits keeps her going and she is able
to participate in activities at the senior citizens center. Aron sang an
aria from Tannhauser in German which thrilled our lady along with Iris, the
aide and myself. By Florence Cohen
Ruth Sandberg and I visited a woman who imigrated from India many years ago. She received most of her education in India and England then came to the US for her doctorate in Economics. She was only able to get part time jobs then was not able to complete her PhD. She was most hospitable to Ruth and I. Ruth and Jharma shared some experiences they had at the various Jewish Community Centers in the neighborhood--Jharma lives on West 77th Street in the luxury Hotel on the Avenue. However she and some others are rent stabilized tenants and the landlords are always looking for reasons to evict. The hotel cleans her apartment--a room and a kitchen--and makes her bed weekly. She also has keys to a kitchen on her floor but only for her. She is very interesting and likes to have discussions and company. I am happy to have visited her as is Ruth as well. By Barbara Bova
Barbara Nathan and I visited a wonderful Brooklyn native named Herbert. He's 97 and all smiles. He regaled us with sweet stories of his days as a hair dresser and shared some of the challenges, such as having an absent father, he's faced in his long life. He was so appreciative of our visit and it was touching to see how much he likes his assistant, Sal, from the Philippines. I happened to wear a yarmulke that day and when Herbert asked me about it, Sal promptly brought Herbert his yarmulke, which he put on the man's head. It had his Hebrew name, Tzvi, embroidered on it. 97th birthday decorations were on the wall behind him and in the kitchen. They spelled out his nickname "Hoopert" because his grandkids couldn't say Herbert when they were very young. Herbert says the decorations remind him of his age when he forgets. It was such a warm and fulfilling experience. Thank you, Michael, for making these happen and getting the Actor's Temple involved in such mitzvahs. By Philip Rosenbaum
We would like to take this opportunity to express our sincere appreciation to you and all the Actors' Temple volunteers who participated in DOROT's Passover Package Delivery on Sunday, March 25, 2012.
Your delivery of Passover treats and welcome company helped brighten the holiday for nearly 525 isolated elders, and helped forge yet another loving link between the generations. From Dorot, the Agency under whose auspices the deliver was accomplished.
Guest Bloggers: Passover Package Deliveries with Dorot
I want to thank you all for taking time from your busy lives to bring smiles
to those people who are further along in their lives and who are now coping
with the problems "staying alive" brings. The person I visited was very
grateful that we came.
Iris Berger, Aron Bederson and Florence Cohen went to visit a terrific woman
on West 73rd Street. She was so happy to see us and share memories of her
very full life which started in Germany and brought her to America with her
parents and sister, fortunately before WWII. She must be in her 90's and
although physically somewhat incapacitated her mind and memory are very
active. She edited books and wrote beautiful poetry which we were able to
read. Her determination and good spirits keeps her going and she is able
to participate in activities at the senior citizens center. Aron sang an
aria from Tannhauser in German which thrilled our lady along with Iris, the
aide and myself. By Florence Cohen
Ruth Sandberg and I visited a woman who imigrated from India many years ago. She received most of her education in India and England then came to the US for her doctorate in Economics. She was only able to get part time jobs then was not able to complete her PhD. She was most hospitable to Ruth and I. Ruth and Jharma shared some experiences they had at the various Jewish Community Centers in the neighborhood--Jharma lives on West 77th Street in the luxury Hotel on the Avenue. However she and some others are rent stabilized tenants and the landlords are always looking for reasons to evict. The hotel cleans her apartment--a room and a kitchen--and makes her bed weekly. She also has keys to a kitchen on her floor but only for her. She is very interesting and likes to have discussions and company. I am happy to have visited her as is Ruth as well. By Barbara Bova
Barbara Nathan and I visited a wonderful Brooklyn native named Herbert. He's 97 and all smiles. He regaled us with sweet stories of his days as a hair dresser and shared some of the challenges, such as having an absent father, he's faced in his long life. He was so appreciative of our visit and it was touching to see how much he likes his assistant, Sal, from the Philippines. I happened to wear a yarmulke that day and when Herbert asked me about it, Sal promptly brought Herbert his yarmulke, which he put on the man's head. It had his Hebrew name, Tzvi, embroidered on it. 97th birthday decorations were on the wall behind him and in the kitchen. They spelled out his nickname "Hoopert" because his grandkids couldn't say Herbert when they were very young. Herbert says the decorations remind him of his age when he forgets. It was such a warm and fulfilling experience. Thank you, Michael, for making these happen and getting the Actor's Temple involved in such mitzvahs. By Philip Rosenbaum
We would like to take this opportunity to express our sincere appreciation to you and all the Actors' Temple volunteers who participated in DOROT's Passover Package Delivery on Sunday, March 25, 2012.
Your delivery of Passover treats and welcome company helped brighten the holiday for nearly 525 isolated elders, and helped forge yet another loving link between the generations. From Dorot, the Agency under whose auspices the deliver was accomplished.
to those people who are further along in their lives and who are now coping
with the problems "staying alive" brings. The person I visited was very
grateful that we came.
Iris Berger, Aron Bederson and Florence Cohen went to visit a terrific woman
on West 73rd Street. She was so happy to see us and share memories of her
very full life which started in Germany and brought her to America with her
parents and sister, fortunately before WWII. She must be in her 90's and
although physically somewhat incapacitated her mind and memory are very
active. She edited books and wrote beautiful poetry which we were able to
read. Her determination and good spirits keeps her going and she is able
to participate in activities at the senior citizens center. Aron sang an
aria from Tannhauser in German which thrilled our lady along with Iris, the
aide and myself. By Florence Cohen
Ruth Sandberg and I visited a woman who imigrated from India many years ago. She received most of her education in India and England then came to the US for her doctorate in Economics. She was only able to get part time jobs then was not able to complete her PhD. She was most hospitable to Ruth and I. Ruth and Jharma shared some experiences they had at the various Jewish Community Centers in the neighborhood--Jharma lives on West 77th Street in the luxury Hotel on the Avenue. However she and some others are rent stabilized tenants and the landlords are always looking for reasons to evict. The hotel cleans her apartment--a room and a kitchen--and makes her bed weekly. She also has keys to a kitchen on her floor but only for her. She is very interesting and likes to have discussions and company. I am happy to have visited her as is Ruth as well. By Barbara Bova
Barbara Nathan and I visited a wonderful Brooklyn native named Herbert. He's 97 and all smiles. He regaled us with sweet stories of his days as a hair dresser and shared some of the challenges, such as having an absent father, he's faced in his long life. He was so appreciative of our visit and it was touching to see how much he likes his assistant, Sal, from the Philippines. I happened to wear a yarmulke that day and when Herbert asked me about it, Sal promptly brought Herbert his yarmulke, which he put on the man's head. It had his Hebrew name, Tzvi, embroidered on it. 97th birthday decorations were on the wall behind him and in the kitchen. They spelled out his nickname "Hoopert" because his grandkids couldn't say Herbert when they were very young. Herbert says the decorations remind him of his age when he forgets. It was such a warm and fulfilling experience. Thank you, Michael, for making these happen and getting the Actor's Temple involved in such mitzvahs. By Philip Rosenbaum
We would like to take this opportunity to express our sincere appreciation to you and all the Actors' Temple volunteers who participated in DOROT's Passover Package Delivery on Sunday, March 25, 2012.
Your delivery of Passover treats and welcome company helped brighten the holiday for nearly 525 isolated elders, and helped forge yet another loving link between the generations. From Dorot, the Agency under whose auspices the deliver was accomplished.
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