“In a place where no one is human, one should strive to be human."~Rabbi Hillel
We do what we can in our lives. Sometimes we create magic, but most times we just find meaning in the ordinary.
Magic To Do (from Pippin) Music and Lyrics by Stephen Schwartz
**Blog Elul is the brainchild of Rabbi Phyllis Sommer. Her blog and various links can be found at http://imabima.blogspot.ca
Monday, 12 August 2013
Sunday, 11 August 2013
Blog Elul Day 5-Know
"Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited to all we now know and understand, while imagination embraces the entire world, and all there ever will be to know and understand."~Albert Einstein
We have a tendency to become condescending and patronizing in what we think we know, especially when that knowledge concerns other people. We need to imagine what it is like to be them. Only then might we truly understand what it is to stand in someone else's shoes.
You Don't Know/I Am The One (from Next to Normal) Music by Tom Kitt; Lyrics by Brian Yorkey
**Blog Elul is the brainchild of Rabbi Phyllis Sommer. Her blog and various links can be found at http://imabima.blogspot.ca
We have a tendency to become condescending and patronizing in what we think we know, especially when that knowledge concerns other people. We need to imagine what it is like to be them. Only then might we truly understand what it is to stand in someone else's shoes.
You Don't Know/I Am The One (from Next to Normal) Music by Tom Kitt; Lyrics by Brian Yorkey
**Blog Elul is the brainchild of Rabbi Phyllis Sommer. Her blog and various links can be found at http://imabima.blogspot.ca
Saturday, 10 August 2013
Blog Elul Day 4-Accept
"Intolerance lies at the core of evil.
Not the intolerance that results
from any threat or danger,
but intolerance of another being who dares to exist.
Intolerance without cause. It is so deep within us,
because every human being secretly desires
the entire universe to himself.
Our only way out is to learn
compassion without cause. To care for each other
simply because that ‘other’ exists."~The Kotzker Rebbe
"Just as we love ourselves despite the shortcomings we have, so should we love others despite the shortcomings they have."~Baal Shem Tov
Acceptance of ourselves can only come once we have accepted others.
I Am What I Am (from La Cage Aux Folles) Music and Lyrics by Jerry Herman
**Blog Elul is the brainchild of Rabbi Phyllis Sommer. Her blog and various links can be found at http://imabima.blogspot.ca
Not the intolerance that results
from any threat or danger,
but intolerance of another being who dares to exist.
Intolerance without cause. It is so deep within us,
because every human being secretly desires
the entire universe to himself.
Our only way out is to learn
compassion without cause. To care for each other
simply because that ‘other’ exists."~The Kotzker Rebbe
"Just as we love ourselves despite the shortcomings we have, so should we love others despite the shortcomings they have."~Baal Shem Tov
Acceptance of ourselves can only come once we have accepted others.
I Am What I Am (from La Cage Aux Folles) Music and Lyrics by Jerry Herman
**Blog Elul is the brainchild of Rabbi Phyllis Sommer. Her blog and various links can be found at http://imabima.blogspot.ca
Friday, 9 August 2013
Blog Elul Day 3-Bless
I guess I am on a Heschel kick this week. The great rabbi once said:
“Just to be is a blessing; just to live is holy”
We make the ordinary extraordinary by taking the time to revel in the holiness.
Sabbath Prayer (from Fiddler on the Roof) Music by Jerry Bock; Lyrics by Sheldon Harnick
Shabbat Shalom all.
**Blog Elul is the brainchild of Rabbi Phyllis Sommer. Her blog and various links can be found at http://imabima.blogspot.ca
“Just to be is a blessing; just to live is holy”
We make the ordinary extraordinary by taking the time to revel in the holiness.
Sabbath Prayer (from Fiddler on the Roof) Music by Jerry Bock; Lyrics by Sheldon Harnick
Shabbat Shalom all.
**Blog Elul is the brainchild of Rabbi Phyllis Sommer. Her blog and various links can be found at http://imabima.blogspot.ca
Thursday, 8 August 2013
Blog Elul Day 2-Act
Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel famously wrote: “A Jew is asked to take a leap of action rather than a leap of thought. He is asked to do more than he understands in order to understand more than he does.”
We must become committed and passionate participants in our own lives. We must battle injustice wherever and whenever we encounter it. We must take on the mitzvah of Tikkun Olam, the reparation of the world, in order to become full partners in our covenant with God.
Seize the Day (from Newsies) Music by Alan Menken; Lyrics by Jack Feldman
**Blog Elul is the brainchild of Rabbi Phyllis Sommer. Her blog and various links can be found at http://imabima.blogspot.ca
We must become committed and passionate participants in our own lives. We must battle injustice wherever and whenever we encounter it. We must take on the mitzvah of Tikkun Olam, the reparation of the world, in order to become full partners in our covenant with God.
Seize the Day (from Newsies) Music by Alan Menken; Lyrics by Jack Feldman
**Blog Elul is the brainchild of Rabbi Phyllis Sommer. Her blog and various links can be found at http://imabima.blogspot.ca
Wednesday, 7 August 2013
Blog Elul Day 1-Preparation
I sing for a living. Some might say I am marginally ok at what I do, while others might argue that I should pack it in. Whatever one's opinion, it is what I do. Singing is an organic part of my psyche. It is part of my self-definition and I tend to do it all the time, even when I am not aware I am doing it. (Singing show tunes in the aisles of grocery stores has proved a public embarrassment on more than one occasion.)
**Blog Elul is the brainchild of Rabbi Phyllis Sommer. Her blog and various links can be found at http://imabima.blogspot.ca
When my children were younger they had a pat response to my habit every time I would unwittingly open my mouth in song.
"Mom, Shut up!!"
Funny?
I have people praise me all the time for my talent and my own sons could barely tolerate it. This was especially true when I would come out with some non-sequitor line or verse from a Broadway musical to prove a point in any discussion had around the dinner table. The clear truth is that many Broadway composers have a brilliant way of describing exactly what I want to say in a manners far more eloquent than I could ever hope to achieve.
It is why I will take my boys' advice and "shut up" during this attempt to blog the Jewish month of Elul and instead allow some of Broadway's geniuses to express my feelings and emotions. This month that serves as our preparatory time on the calendar leading into the Yamim Noraim, is necessary to examine and take stock of our physical, emotional, religious, and spiritual journeys. Today we begin to arrange and assemble our thoughts as we head toward the New Year.
From Stephen Sondheim. Putting It Together (originally from Sunday in the Park with George)
Sung here by Barbra Streisand.
**Blog Elul is the brainchild of Rabbi Phyllis Sommer. Her blog and various links can be found at http://imabima.blogspot.ca
Friday, 5 July 2013
Nature's Miracle at My Back Door
Proverbs 12:10 states;
"The righteous person regards the life of his animal."
This statement provides the perfect counterpoint to;
"God is good to all, and God's tender mercies are over all creatures" (Ps. 145:9).
In Judaism, one who is cruel to animals cannot be regarded as a righteous individual. This commonly held ideal is summarized in the Hebrew phrase ts'ar ba-alei chayim, the biblical mandate to not cause pain to any living creature. And while we bi-peds are consistently exerting our dominion over the less formidable, it is our sacred duty to protect, cherish, and reduce their suffering whenever the opportunity arises.
Such has been our month-long encounter with our duck squatter. Removing the nest that Mama Mallard dug into my geranium flower box would have been oh so easy. Destroying the eggs would have required no thought whatsoever. The idea of little ones soiling the backyard and pool area was not one easily swallowed, and several people told me to simply ditch the duck. But, I just couldn't bring myself to do it. You see...I have to at least attempt to live by the premise of not causing undue pain to any living creature. Moving the nest would have been cruel and torturous to the mother. Destroying the life that she created was unthinkable. My guilt overwhelmed me. So instead, we allowed the miracle to play itself out on our deck. And what a miracle it turned out to be!
We interacted with nature in a way that is almost unthinkable here in the suburbs. Our Mama Duck became quite calm in our presence once she knew that we meant neither her nor her eggs harm. She simply understood that we were sharing the space, and we in turn became enraptured by her routine. There wasn't a day that passed that both The Husband and I weren't staring and gaping at this patient and most probably bored mama doing what comes naturally. We were totally captivated.
There also wasn't a day that passed whereby some friend, either in real life or via the connection of social media, didn't enquire as to the health and well-being of our duck. Regular updates became a necessity by virtue of the constant questioning. We embraced the new-found celebrity. We posted pictures, blog posts, videos, and even the odd satire or two. Friends (and friends of friends) were now emotionally invested in the well-being of our mallard. We sought out advice from experts in the subject, and even those authorities kept up with us through regular email and phone call briefings.
This past Monday, I begged The Husband to set up a webcam. We knew that this whole experience was coming close to its end and so many people wanted to be in on the fun. It wasn't an easy venture given the outdated equipment that we had on hand, but my genius was able to make it work and on Tuesday we began sharing our duck with the world. Our timing was perfect. On Wednesday afternoon the magic started. The fledglings began hatching. We were glued to the live-stream and to our backdoor windows watching as one by one little heads, eventually totalling eight, began poking up through Mama's wing feathers. We were live-chatting with friends from across the continent as they joined us in watching our little miracle unfold. We answered questions as best we could, all the while totally engrossed.
Yesterday was the piece de resistance. As daybreak arrived, The Husband urgently summoned me downstairs to watch the little guys literally leap off of the railing and follow Mama into the pool for their first swim.
What followed was an extended comical farce of attempting to help the babies out of the pool. Mama didn't give much thought to that end of the deal. They can't yet fly and are certainly too small to jump out on their own. Watching The Husband, clad only in sweat pants, run around with a skimmer net in the pouring rain trying to help reunite mother and children was priceless, but so in keeping with our credo of ts'ar ba'alei chayim.
And then....just as suddenly as it began, it was over. The ducks moved on to greener areas and murkier waters, probably to the pond a kilometre or so north of us. Last night The Husband remarked that we are now true empty nesters.
We will miss our friends, but I have no doubt, given the migratory and imprinting habits of mallards, that we will see them again.
When James Gandolfini passed away earlier this month, I couldn't stop thinking about the myriad of scenes during the run of The Sopranos in which Tony is either feeding the ducks or just watching them paddle happily in his pool. These creatures continually bring such joy and peace to this extraordinarily tormented character.
Even brutal Tony Soprano understood the balance that needs to exist between humanity and nature.
We have been blessed this month. We know it and we wouldn't have done it any differently. Thanks for coming along for the ride.
Baruch atah Adonai Eloheinu Melech ha-olam
She-kacha lo B'olamo
Blessed are You Adonai our God, Ruler of the Universe
Who has given us such things in the world.
"The righteous person regards the life of his animal."
This statement provides the perfect counterpoint to;
"God is good to all, and God's tender mercies are over all creatures" (Ps. 145:9).
In Judaism, one who is cruel to animals cannot be regarded as a righteous individual. This commonly held ideal is summarized in the Hebrew phrase ts'ar ba-alei chayim, the biblical mandate to not cause pain to any living creature. And while we bi-peds are consistently exerting our dominion over the less formidable, it is our sacred duty to protect, cherish, and reduce their suffering whenever the opportunity arises.
Such has been our month-long encounter with our duck squatter. Removing the nest that Mama Mallard dug into my geranium flower box would have been oh so easy. Destroying the eggs would have required no thought whatsoever. The idea of little ones soiling the backyard and pool area was not one easily swallowed, and several people told me to simply ditch the duck. But, I just couldn't bring myself to do it. You see...I have to at least attempt to live by the premise of not causing undue pain to any living creature. Moving the nest would have been cruel and torturous to the mother. Destroying the life that she created was unthinkable. My guilt overwhelmed me. So instead, we allowed the miracle to play itself out on our deck. And what a miracle it turned out to be!
We interacted with nature in a way that is almost unthinkable here in the suburbs. Our Mama Duck became quite calm in our presence once she knew that we meant neither her nor her eggs harm. She simply understood that we were sharing the space, and we in turn became enraptured by her routine. There wasn't a day that passed that both The Husband and I weren't staring and gaping at this patient and most probably bored mama doing what comes naturally. We were totally captivated.
There also wasn't a day that passed whereby some friend, either in real life or via the connection of social media, didn't enquire as to the health and well-being of our duck. Regular updates became a necessity by virtue of the constant questioning. We embraced the new-found celebrity. We posted pictures, blog posts, videos, and even the odd satire or two. Friends (and friends of friends) were now emotionally invested in the well-being of our mallard. We sought out advice from experts in the subject, and even those authorities kept up with us through regular email and phone call briefings.
This past Monday, I begged The Husband to set up a webcam. We knew that this whole experience was coming close to its end and so many people wanted to be in on the fun. It wasn't an easy venture given the outdated equipment that we had on hand, but my genius was able to make it work and on Tuesday we began sharing our duck with the world. Our timing was perfect. On Wednesday afternoon the magic started. The fledglings began hatching. We were glued to the live-stream and to our backdoor windows watching as one by one little heads, eventually totalling eight, began poking up through Mama's wing feathers. We were live-chatting with friends from across the continent as they joined us in watching our little miracle unfold. We answered questions as best we could, all the while totally engrossed.
Yesterday was the piece de resistance. As daybreak arrived, The Husband urgently summoned me downstairs to watch the little guys literally leap off of the railing and follow Mama into the pool for their first swim.
What followed was an extended comical farce of attempting to help the babies out of the pool. Mama didn't give much thought to that end of the deal. They can't yet fly and are certainly too small to jump out on their own. Watching The Husband, clad only in sweat pants, run around with a skimmer net in the pouring rain trying to help reunite mother and children was priceless, but so in keeping with our credo of ts'ar ba'alei chayim.
And then....just as suddenly as it began, it was over. The ducks moved on to greener areas and murkier waters, probably to the pond a kilometre or so north of us. Last night The Husband remarked that we are now true empty nesters.
We will miss our friends, but I have no doubt, given the migratory and imprinting habits of mallards, that we will see them again.
When James Gandolfini passed away earlier this month, I couldn't stop thinking about the myriad of scenes during the run of The Sopranos in which Tony is either feeding the ducks or just watching them paddle happily in his pool. These creatures continually bring such joy and peace to this extraordinarily tormented character.
Even brutal Tony Soprano understood the balance that needs to exist between humanity and nature.
We have been blessed this month. We know it and we wouldn't have done it any differently. Thanks for coming along for the ride.
Baruch atah Adonai Eloheinu Melech ha-olam
She-kacha lo B'olamo
Blessed are You Adonai our God, Ruler of the Universe
Who has given us such things in the world.
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