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Monday, 29 June 2015
Monday, 22 June 2015
Aleph, bet, vet ...
At first when I looked in our new siddur and saw there was a
transliteration of the Hebrew, my heart filled with joy. Now I would be able to
join in prayers and sing along with the choir. Because my Hebrew had never been
very good. As a child, my Orthodox cheder did not prioritise the teaching of
girls, and I fell by the wayside. When I joined Jackson’s Row I was helped to read
Hebrew, but I never practised and although I could recognise letters, spelling
out words was a painfully slow process. Hence my happiness at the
transliteration.
But I always felt just a little guilty that I wasn’t doing
it properly. Then, just under a year ago, inspired by the ice bucket challenge,
a group of people in the MRJ initiated the Elul challenge here in the UK – in the
run up to Yom Kippur, we challenged ourselves to do something in preparation. I
decided to read 15 minutes of Hebrew a day.
Now here’s a thing. I found I enjoyed it. And my Hebrew even
got a little bit better. After Yom Kippur, I didn’t want to stop. So I asked
Rabbi Silverman if he’d lend a hand, and he agreed to go through some prayers
in the siddur with me. I felt like someone had turned on a light. I began to
learn what each prayer was about as well as being able to read it. Prayerbook
Hebrew is an incredible language – each root word has little bits tagged on the
beginning and end – you have to know what these mean, and add them to the root
word – it’s a bit like one of Harry Potter’s spells!
I still practised my Hebrew at home, and then began to need
something more structured. So the Rabbi directed me to The First Hebrew Primer,
and I’ve begun to work through that.
I’m doing all the basics I should have done years ago –
learning how to write Hebrew letters, and really paying attention to those
pesky little vowels. My fluency is slowly improving, and sometimes in shul
Rabbi reads something – even from the Torah – and I actually understand it! I have
to refrain myself from punching the air!
I love this passage from Sayings of the Fathers on p718 of
our siddur:
“Elisha ben Abuyah says, If people learn as children – what do
they resemble? They resemble ink written on clean paper. If people learn when
old – what do they resemble? They resemble ink written on worn-out paper.”
Well, Elisha ben Abuyah – this piece of paper is not quite
worn-out yet, and though I might have to work a bit harder than young people, I
think I appreciate all the more deeply how wonderful Hebrew is – a mine of
treasure which is truly limitless.
If this inspires any of you, Rabbi is only too happy to
arrange tuition as he has done for me.
SA
Thursday, 11 June 2015
Golems and Zionism!
Two things to stimulate you today - the first is a book review...
THE GOLEM AND THE DJINNI
Helene Wecker
It’s New York, 1899, and among the throngs of immigrants are
two very unusual beings – one is a female golem, whose master died en route to
America. The other is a djinni who travelled – as djinnis do – in a copper
flask. Both golem and djinni must establish themselves and work through their
destinies. And of course, before too long, they meet each other and a very
unusual friendship is forged.
This magic realist novel is unlike anything I’ve read before.
In fact it’s more real than magic – the golem, Chava, and the djinni, Ahmad,
are as believable as you or I. Chava responds to the hopes and fears of all
those she meets; Ahmad is a creature of fire and intolerant of the humans
around him. Chava wishes to be bound;
Ahmad, to be free.
New York is beautifully realised, and the portrait of the
Jewish community of the Lower East Side is brilliantly done. A host of rich,
minor characters flesh out this novel and make it an utterly absorbing read.
You can find it on Amazon here ...
And the second is a link to a Times of Israel blog on shy Zionists penned by Anthony Ashworth-Steen, Informal Education Director of UJIA and husband of a student rabbi ...
The novel and the blog are not connected, but both will make you think!
Friday, 5 June 2015
An understanding of many worlds
From Rabbi Silverman
Last Shabbat I ended the service with a new blessing from the MRJ Siddur (p.324). New to us but originating from the Dead Sea Scrolls and based on the priestly blessing in the Torah.
People found it uplifting.
Here it is :
"May God bless you with all that is good, and guard you from all that is harmful. May God enlighten you with the wisdom of life and give you understanding of many worlds. May God in faithful love offer you enduring peace."
The phrase 'understanding of many worlds' aroused the most interest. What does it mean? - I was asked.
Cosmic understanding? A sense of oneness with all nature the more we learn about it? Connection with our fellow human beings, each one of whom is a whole world ? All of the above?
Doing my homework I quickly found that from the original Dead Sea Scroll text the meaning clearly gets lost in our translation.
'Olamim' is ambiguous. It can mean 'worlds' or 'eternity'.
Over and over again in the section of the Dead Sea Scrolls where it comes it is very frequently, consistently and, as far as I could tell, exclusively used adjectivally to mean eternal, long-lasting, or as it is correctly translated from the last words, li-Shelom Olamim - 'enduring' (peace).
Later in the week Prof Steven Hawking made a statement on assisted dying. He said that he would 'consider' assisted dying only if he were in great pain or had nothing left to contribute to the world.
I would want to apply the blessing to him. You and I can have nothing approaching the knowledge of the 'many worlds ' of the universe that such minds as his have contributed to science and life generally.
But, like him, we can bring ourselves honestly to grapple with the dilemmas and distresses of those who lose their faculties, and hope that we will be blessed with enduring knowledge and ability to continue giving of ourselves until we reach eternal peace.
Last Shabbat I ended the service with a new blessing from the MRJ Siddur (p.324). New to us but originating from the Dead Sea Scrolls and based on the priestly blessing in the Torah.
People found it uplifting.
Here it is :
"May God bless you with all that is good, and guard you from all that is harmful. May God enlighten you with the wisdom of life and give you understanding of many worlds. May God in faithful love offer you enduring peace."
The phrase 'understanding of many worlds' aroused the most interest. What does it mean? - I was asked.
Cosmic understanding? A sense of oneness with all nature the more we learn about it? Connection with our fellow human beings, each one of whom is a whole world ? All of the above?
Doing my homework I quickly found that from the original Dead Sea Scroll text the meaning clearly gets lost in our translation.
'Olamim' is ambiguous. It can mean 'worlds' or 'eternity'.
Over and over again in the section of the Dead Sea Scrolls where it comes it is very frequently, consistently and, as far as I could tell, exclusively used adjectivally to mean eternal, long-lasting, or as it is correctly translated from the last words, li-Shelom Olamim - 'enduring' (peace).
Later in the week Prof Steven Hawking made a statement on assisted dying. He said that he would 'consider' assisted dying only if he were in great pain or had nothing left to contribute to the world.
I would want to apply the blessing to him. You and I can have nothing approaching the knowledge of the 'many worlds ' of the universe that such minds as his have contributed to science and life generally.
But, like him, we can bring ourselves honestly to grapple with the dilemmas and distresses of those who lose their faculties, and hope that we will be blessed with enduring knowledge and ability to continue giving of ourselves until we reach eternal peace.
Tuesday, 26 May 2015
Cupcakes and milkshakes
Pam Walker imagines what the kids thought of their special Shavuot service ...
"We had such fun at the children's service on Shavuot Sunday. Rabbi helped us to understand the meaning of Shavuot through singing, playing instruments, drawing and playing together.
"We had such fun at the children's service on Shavuot Sunday. Rabbi helped us to understand the meaning of Shavuot through singing, playing instruments, drawing and playing together.
Rabbi helped us to get into the mood, as did Simone (piano) and David
(lead guitar). Rabbi was very jolly, helping us to do the actions to the
songs( he was even dancing and twirling about!) Tambourines, shakers
and much slapping of out thighs and toe tapping helped us to make such
great music as we sang along to the tunes.
Whilst we were doing this, Rabbi cleverly helped
us to learn about the meaning of Shavuot. We learnt that Ruth, who lived a long time ago, really wanted to belong to the Jewish
faith and said to Naomi, "Where you go, I will go; where you live, I will live." She was really keen to belong and the Jewish people at the time told her
that she was very welcome.
We also learnt that we celebrate the Torah being given by God on Mount
Sinai, and that the Ten Commandments were really important for everyone
to follow so that they could be good people, just like we all try to be
now. We even read some of them on the Ark. Of course the letters were
quite high up, and we are only little, but we could make some of them
out.
When Rabbi took the Torah from the Ark we were really happy and even
though it was heavy, we helped to put it back and close the Ark
afterwards, which was a very special feeling.
We had our magnetic aleph bet and a game to help us with our Hebrew too!
After Rabbi had to go upstairs to make sure all the adults were learning
properly about Shavuot, we carried on with Pam, David and Simone,
making paper animals and drawing.
To round everything off we all had cupcakes and milkshakes, as of course
Shavuot also means that we celebrate our ancient land flowing with milk
and honey, very sweet in our mouths, just like Torah."
Friday, 15 May 2015
SHAVU'OT
Where did the custom of holding a marathon all-night study session on
Erev Shavuot (Tikkun Leil Shavuot) come from? Answer: the Kabbalistic
mystics led by Yosef Caro in the 16th Century in Thessalonica, Greece.
The experiment was mind-blowing! Caro and co. experienced the Shechina,
the presence of God talking directly to them, directing them to make
Aliyah to Israel. This would enable them to make Tikkun - repair - in at
least the Jewish world, if not the world. God, Torah and people would be
reunited in the land.
This coming Shabbat I will tell the dramatic story of Caro's Tikkun.
Next weekend, beginning on Motza'ei Shabbat/Erev Shavuot we will have a study-discussion on conversion to Judaism - "Your people shall be my people", as Ruth said. Conversion is a type of Tikkun, a repairing of your soul, a search for something missing, a seeking for rootedness. The call to join the Jewish people comes to each person in different ways. The response to make that Tikkun is an Aliyah, if not actually physically to Israel, then to make an internal Aliyah, a personal ascent. And it requires the help of those of us who have already made it or were born into it to help, for the good of our whole community.
Rabbi Silverman
This coming Shabbat I will tell the dramatic story of Caro's Tikkun.
Next weekend, beginning on Motza'ei Shabbat/Erev Shavuot we will have a study-discussion on conversion to Judaism - "Your people shall be my people", as Ruth said. Conversion is a type of Tikkun, a repairing of your soul, a search for something missing, a seeking for rootedness. The call to join the Jewish people comes to each person in different ways. The response to make that Tikkun is an Aliyah, if not actually physically to Israel, then to make an internal Aliyah, a personal ascent. And it requires the help of those of us who have already made it or were born into it to help, for the good of our whole community.
Rabbi Silverman
...
Our Tikkun study session starts at 9 pm, Saturday 23rd May, at our shul, with both Rabbis Silverman and Zalud. On the morning of Shavuot itself (Sunday 24th May) there will be a traditional service, and also a children's service - Cup Cakes and Milk Shakes - at 10.30 am. Lunch afterwards for everyone! Shul will be buzzing, so do come along. Ring the synagogue office if you intend to be there, for catering purposes.
Sunday, 10 May 2015
Music Review from Mandy
PENTATONIX – MANCHESTER ACADEMY – SUNDAY 3 MAY 2015
There are no words to describe just how fabulously talented this 5 piece accapella group actually is.
They are relatively new on the scene, winning
America’s Sing Off 2 years ago, then posting their music on You-Tube –
(start off with their “Evolution of Music” – you won’t regret it!)
The group consist of Avi (yes he is!!), Scott,
Mitch, Kirstie & Kevin whose voices are a perfect blend of harmonies
most of us only dream of.
Kevin is the Beatboxer – who knew that the human
voice can produce drum & bass sound that makes you think, “This guy
ain't human!!”
He also played a Cello Solo with his own “drum” accompaniment.
Their live performances far outweigh their
recordings as they have grown in confidence (since I saw them last year
at the M.A.), and their stage presentation has grown with them.
There are no gimmicks, nothing cheap or tacky - and they're nothing like today's plastic manufactured pop-talent who can't sing
without their pre-recorded backing track to mime to.
Almost 2 hours of live singing to 3,000 Pentaholix fans - all ages ranging from 10 year olds….. to erm 51+
9.5 out of 10 for this one.
My only criticism is the venue – no seating – otherwise they would have the perfect 10.
Must wrap up this review as I want to be first in
the queue for “Pitch Perfect 2” as the Pentatonix have a cameo
appearance….PTX PTX PTX!
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