Self care. It is a challenging and much overlooked notion – especially for those of us who work in the “helping professions”. After all, our work is much more than a job – it is “sacred service” and “holy calling”. Is there really any room for self care in our line of work?

As some of you already know, the programmatic/academic year 2011-12 will be my 7^th as the Senior Rabbi of B’nai Amoona. And as such, I will be on Sabbatical leave (October 2011 - June 2012). Our family intends to spend the Sabbatical in Israel – developing closer bonds with our people and our homeland. In addition, it will serve as an opportunity for some much needed self-care. A time to reflect, refresh, reinvigorate and deepen so that we can return to B’nai Amoona with renewed energy, vitality and enthusiasm.

As always, if you have any questions or concern about this (or any matter), please feel free to call or email me.

"The older we get, the greater becomes our inclination to give thanks, especially heavenwards. We feel more strongly than we could possibly have felt before that life is a free gift, and (we) receive every unqualifiedly good hour as an unexpected gift. But we also feel, again and again, an urge to thank our brothers and sisters, even if they have not done anything special for us. For what, then, do I thank you?  For really meeting me when we met; for opening your eyes, and not mistaking me for someone else; for opening your ears, and listening carefully to what I had to say to you; indeed for opening up to me what I really want to address - your securely locked heart."

Carnie Shalom Rose – Senior Rabbi

Rabbi Rose has lived, studied, and taught througout the world, including stints in Canada, Israel, Japan, and Europe.  Deeply committed to Jewish Pluralism, Rabbi Rose served as a Fellow at CLAL - the Center For Learning and Leadership, in New York.  He is a member of the Federation's National Young Leadership Cabinet and is deeply concerned about making Jewish Tradition existentially relevant for contemporary Jews. Rabbi Rose is presently engaged in advanced academic work in the field of applied Jewish Mysticism.  He was recently honored by being selected to STAR Rabbis: From Good to Great, the first initiative to explore excellence in leadership with rabbis who have at least 10 years of experience and allow each of the selected 17 to reflect on how to become more inspirational leaders while motivating their communities to achieve their shared vision.  Additionally Rabbi Rose was requested to serve on the International Leadership council which will advise the Chancellor of the Jewish Theological Seminary, Dr. Arnold Eisen. Rabbi Rose is a dynamic and passionate teacher and continually seeks to bridge the ways of the past with the needs of the present for the sake of the future. Rabbi Rose can be contacted at ravroseba@aol.com.

 

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Shalom my dearest friends!

As many of you already know, I spent several weeks this past summer in the Holy City of Jerusalem. Unlike previous trips, this one was neither a family vacation nor an educational tour/mission. Rather, it was my first summer as a member of the Rabbinic Leadership Institute (RLI) Initiative of the Shalom Hartman Institute; an intensive 3 year training program for a cohort of “hand-picked” Rabbis from across the denominational spectrum.

Our schedule was truly jam-packed! We began each morning at 8:30 am and often did not conclude our time together until 10:00 pm. We were blessed with the unique opportunity to hear from some of the finest minds in Israel and to wrestle with some of the thorniest, most complex and vexing issues facing the Jewish Homeland as well as the Jewish People.

However, by far, the greatest privilege was to sit with other passionate, inspired and dedicated Rabbinic colleagues who daily toil in the "Lord's Vineyard". I left Jerusalem exhausted and exhilarated; most excited to return to our Shul and Community with a renewed sense of mission, vision and focus. Reminded once again that the Holy work that is done in our Shul remains - in so many ways - the single most important way to influence the future of our Tradition and Heritage.

Clearly, there is no better time to be filled with this kind of spirit than now as we enter the month of Tishrei and usher in the New Jewish Year of 5771. I eagerly look forward to seeing you in Shul and hope that each and every one of you will make a special point of coming over, sharing a hug & kiss along with a personal blessing for a New Year filled with light, hope, optimism, peace and meaning.

One of the main foci of our time at The Hartman Institute was a return to the Mekorot – our classic and timeless Jewish Sources. In the spirit of renewal, which permeates the air particularly at this time of year, I want to share a brief selection from the Zohar; the main source of what we call Kabbalah, the Jewish Mystical Tradition. It is my most fervent prayer that this profound text will serve as one our congregation's "leitmotifs" for the coming year - awakening us to the power we each individually - and as a community - have to help shape the world we inhabit.

"Awakening in the upper (celestial) spheres of reality is produced only in direct response to awakening in the lower (earthly) spheres of reality. For the awakening of Divine engagement in human affairs & needs is dependent upon the longing & desire of humans for Divine involvement". (Zohar, Volume 1, 86b)

Now for many of us, this passage may seem deeply antithetical; in direct contradiction to what we have been taught throughout our lives. Is it truly possible that humanity triggers God's hand in human history? Is this not the height of arrogance and hubris? Isn't God omnipotent and therefore, doesn’t God act with complete independence and autonomy? How can we possibly claim that the Almighty is influenced in the slightest by the actions of mere mortals? What might this Zoharic passage, in this most quizzical statement, be suggesting to us by way of a "take home message"?

My sense is that the Zohar is positing something quite poignant and radical. We humans have - far too often and for far too long - viewed ourselves as passive recipients of Divine decrees and judgments. And though God possesses the power to rule the universe in this fashion (and may very well have done so at some point) this no longer is the Holy Blessed One's modus operandi. These days, God waits patiently (and longingly?) for us to initiate the flow of Divine energy. Only when we - consciously and intentionally - take the initiative to act, does God respond to our most heartfelt yearnings.

This, of course, shifts the locus of power in ways that we never understood or imagined. It now becomes OUR responsibility to activate God's immanent involvement in the affairs of our world. It is WE who must invite God in. Without OUR awakening, the Almighty will remain distanced and removed from the needs of the world.

There is a beautiful tale of a young Chassid who - despite his best efforts - could not seem to connect with the Almighty. He prayed thrice daily, observed Kashrut, Shabbat, Tzedakah along with all the other ritual behaviors of Jewish life punctiliously, but it was to no avail. Frustrated and on the verge of despondency, he sought the counsel and guidance of his Master. "Rebbe - I have tried everything and yet I cannot seem to make a connection with the Holy One of Blessing. What am I doing wrong? Why don't I sense God's presence in my life?"

"My son, I have but one question for you. In all that you have done, in all that you have observed, in all that you have tried, have you once simply turned to God and earnestly invited God in? Have you ever extended an invitation to God to be part of your life?"

Needless to say, once awakened by this insight, the young initiate was quickly able to reframe his life and establish a deep, intimate and abiding relationship with the Almighty.

Chaverim Yekarim (cherished friends) - as we enter the Holy Days, the Days of Awe, let US work to awaken ourselves - both individually and communally - to the need to invite God into the framework and fabric of our lives. And in so doing, may OUR awakening on the earthly plane, trigger an awakening from On-High which will in turn bestow Shefa Brachot, a Bounty our Blessings, upon us, our families, our Congregation, our Community, our Country, the State of Israel and the entire Human Family. Amen!

 Paulie, Noa, Zakai, Lev & Ellior join me in wishing each of you a Shanah Mevorechet - a blessed New Year,
 
B’Ahavah (with much love),
 
Carnie