Author: artefact_admin

Mildah Kneged Mildah: Burn-out

In Mussar literature as well as in parenting, we are taught the concept: “midah k’neged midah”. This can be loosely translated as “measure for measure.” In parenting, we try to make sure that we are responding appropriately to our children at the same level, or “measure” as they are behaving, whether answering their questions or consequences for breaking a rule. We’re probably most comfortable applying this concept to the latter, or in more plain language, making sure the punishment fits the crime.

Even in Judaism, the idea of “measure for measure” has that connotation. We analyze the Torah and the reward/punishments attributed to following the mitzvot according to that standard and sometimes even judge God’s behavior that way as well.

Mussar, which started developing in the Middle Ages, is a Jewish spiritual practice that gives concrete instructions on how to live a meaningful and ethical life. Musar literature has a different view of “midah k’neged midah”. Mussar understands midah as a characteristic, and each characteristic can be taken to extremes on either side of a spectrum. Our goal is to find the right balance for us.

Mussar, spiritual practice, and most of all balance all came to mind when I read an article from the Harvard Business Review titled, “Your Burnout is Unique, Your Recovery Will Be Too.” I was directed to this article from a clergy organization talking about organizational burnout, and how organizational burnout is rooted in individual burnout. We can’t solve burnout at an organizational level because each person’s burnout is unique; it must be solved at the individual level.

The article identified three kinds of burnout and specific actions that can be used to “balance” each kind to help mitigate the negative effects. If we have a particular kind of burn-out, and yet try an action that is better aimed toward a different kind of burn-out, then the action may even backfire. For example, taking extra time off and practicing self-care is not the solution to everyone’s burn-out. It’s hard to imagine, but for some who may be feeling lonely from lack of human contact, having more focus on themselves isn’t necessarily helpful.

I encourage all of us to read this article for two reasons: I expect that in some way everyone is feeling burn-out or trauma from the changes in our society, and I believe this article is helpful. The article also reminds us that we’re all different and we all need different things.

“Midah K’neged Midah” – Measure for Measure

The need for balance, though, is certainly one thing that we all have in common.

Entering Shabbat: A Time for Healing and Gratitude

Last Shabbat, I spent the morning moving my son Gabriel into his dormitory at Clark University. I know, not a typical Shabbat morning activity for a Rabbi; but when your child’s college sets the move-in time, a parent is not going to argue.

I returned home, cold and exhausted, trying to warm up and relax. Not long after I got home, I received a text and a phone call almost simultaneously from two different friends: “Turn on CNN” and “Are you sitting down? I need to make sure you know something…” They were talking about the hostage situation at Congregation Beth Israel in Colleyville, Texas. It was frightening and horrifying, and finally, after 11 hours of being held at gunpoint, Rabbi Charlie Cytron-Walker helped the other hostages escape. That’s the short version.

I told my husband Jonathan that Colleyville was my second worst nightmare.

Now, almost a week later, many of us are still processing what happened to these four hostages. What will now forever be a part of history to the small, once unknown Jewish community of Colleyville, and to our global Jewish community. It has echoes of too many other recent attacks: Tree of Life in Pittsburg; Chabad in Poway, CA; a Kosher supermarket in Jersey City; and so many more.  With the image of the white supremacists marching in Charlottesville there as well.

I imagine each of us is responding differently to the events of last Shabbat – how could we not? There are so many layers to what happened, to our own histories and personal traumas, to the communal trauma we continue to live in, and to how much our hearts and heads can handle.

Some of us may be numb or even desensitized; after all, gun violence is so commonplace.

Some of us may be angry and horrified because gun violence is so commonplace.

Some of us may be reliving all the anti-Semitic events of our past, or it has triggered other personal traumas.

Some of us may be grateful that they survived, and proud of Rabbi Charlie’s actions.

Some of us may be so tired and exhausted, we don’t know how to describe our feelings even if we try to.

Some of us may be scared to go to temple.

Some of us may be demanding that we never unlock our doors again to protect our members, following the Jewish value of saving lives.

Some of us may be emphasizing the Jewish value of welcoming the stranger, reminding us that this essential value cannot be compromised, because then who are we?

Some of us may be thinking about the reports of escalating Anti-Semitic incidents, and in fear for ourselves and our people.

Some of us may have heard the story, been relieved that no one died, and then moved on to respond to how our life is calling out to us.

For some of us, this feels surprisingly personal.

The “Some of us…” statements could go on and on.

A colleague and mentor of mine referred to this as “The Swirl”.

At times like these, the Jewish community has always responded by gathering in prayer. We need each other, the “some of us” becoming all of us, as we work toward healing, sharing gratitude that the story ended in survival, praying for a future without so much hate, and starting to think about the action that will get us there. We may be online for services, but we are still together.

Entering Shabbat: A Time for Healing and Gratitude – please join special guest Cantor Rosalie Will and Rabbi Valerie Cohen for a musical Shabbat Service. As we leave the week behind us, we do what Jews always do after trauma, whether personal or communal: we gather in prayer. Through our shared presence, with open hearts, and led by music that is both new and familiar and always inspiring, we will set aside this time – making it holy – for healing and gratitude.

Following services, we will gather on Zoom for our Shabbat Schmooze, where there will be an opportunity for people to share how we are feeling as we reflect on the hostage situation that took place last Shabbat at Congregation Beth Israel in Colleyville, Texas.

 

Shabbat Shira, 1-13-22

We celebrate the power of song this week with our Torah portion Beshallach, which includes the Song of the Sea – the song that Moses and the Israelites sang after they crossed the sea onto dry land escaping the Egyptians. Every year, the Shabbat of Beshallach is called “Shabbat Shira” – the Sabbath of Singing.

Music, and the actual act of singing, often comes forth from emotion. Music, like most art forms, can be an outlet for any emotion. As I imagine the Israelites leaving Egypt, the swirl of emotions seems almost palpable. I say swirl because there wasn’t just one emotion. We may think that the Israelites were celebrating their newfound freedom with joy, and perhaps many were. But swirling around with joy must have been fear and grief, relief and anger, excitement and anxiety. How beautiful that they could express their feelings in song. And what kind of song? Not a discordant cacophony as we might expect such conflicting emotions to produce, but rather a complex harmony. The words don’t really matter in this moment; it is the emotion that speaks out loud.

Music is powerful. The experience of singing is differently powerful. We sing and stretch muscles; we sing and feel the vibrations created by our own voice; we sing and move our breath, sometimes to the point of breathlessness.

One melody can inspire a different emotion in each listener and in each person who sings the tune. On this Shabbat Shira, I invite you to pay close attention to how you respond to the music of Tefilah: what emotion does it evoke in you as you listen or sing along? Does it reflect what you were feeling as Shabbat began, or did the music move you to a different place? What music did you want, what music did you need, and what music did you receive?

My hope is that the music of Shabbat Shira brings us healing and release; joy and comfort; an opportunity to express grief and anxiety; and most of all, an encounter with the Divine.

TES COVID Task Force Update – December 2021
TES COVID Task Force Update: Temple is Temporarily Remote
Date: December 29, 2021

Dear Congregants,

As we watch the expected surge in local COVID numbers post-holiday travel, we have decided, out of an abundance of caution and to keep our community safe, to temporarily make all activities at the temple remote.

This means that all services and programming will be remote for the time being. Office staff will work remotely when they return on January 3, 2022. Religious school and Kehilla High families will receive additional communication from Tali Mugg about plans for those programs.

As we face another surge, we would like to take this opportunity to remind our community that COVID vaccines are recommended for ages 5 and up. Boosters are recommended for those over age 16 whose second dose was given more than 6 months ago (2 months for Johnson and Johnson). New CDC guidelines recommend those who are eligible for a booster obtain one in order to remain “fully vaccinated”.

Taking care of our own health and that of our community is a Jewish value we all hold, and as such it is our hope that all our congregants who are eligible and able become fully vaccinated and get their boosters. In addition, we encourage you to be tested if you are ill or know you have been exposed to someone who has the virus.

Below are some resources for finding vaccines and testing in our community.

https://vaxfinder.mass.gov/

https://www.mywpl.org/?q=article/vaccine-clinics

https://www.mass.gov/info-details/find-a-covid-19-test

We will continue to monitor local data and trends to determine how long our programming will remain remote. We anticipate that updated communication will be sent at the end of January, 2022.  In the meantime, we will keep you apprised of any changes.

Thank you,
TES COVID Task Force

Chair: Meg Hoey, Dean of Health and Natural Sciences, Fitchburg State University

Jerry Gurwitz, MD

Nancy Berley, MD

Germán Chiriboga, MPH, Program Director Population and Quantitative Health Sciences, UMass Chan Medical School; City of Worcester Health Equity Task Force

Liza Spitalnic Carrigan, RN MSN

Jonah Cuker, TES Treasurer

Patti Gould, Chair, TES Lifelong Learning Committee

Paula Selvitella, TES President

Rabbi Valerie Cohen

Moroccan Vegetable Soup

Ingredients

  • 3 Tbsp oil
  • 3 medium carrots, peeled and diced small
  • 2 stalks celery, diced small
  • 1 large yellow or white onion, diced small
  • 3-4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 Tbsp harissa paste, or 2 tsp harissa spice blend (or to taste)
  • 2 tsp ground turmeric
  • 1 tsp ground ginger
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 1 tsp ground coriander
  • 1 tsp freshly ground black pepper
  • 2 Tbsp tomato paste
  • ¾ cup dried chickpeas (soaked overnight), or 1 (15 oz) can
  • ½ cup French green lentils, rinsed
  • ½ cup red lentils, rinsed
  • 6 medium tomatoes, or 1 (14.5 oz) can diced tomatoes
  • 8 cups vegetable stock, or water with 1 added bouillon cube
  • ¼ bunch fresh parsley, stems and leaves chopped fine
  • ¼ bunch fresh cilantro, stems and leaves chopped fine
  • 1 cup fine egg noodles or vermicelli
  • salt, to taste
  • lemon slices, for serving (optional)
  • olive oil, for serving (optional)

Directions

  • For stovetop: Add oil to a large pot over medium heat. Add the diced carrot, celery and onion to the pot. Sauté for 5-6 minutes, or until starting to soften. Add the minced garlic to the pot and sauté for 1-2 minutes, or until the garlic is fragrant.
  • Add the harissa, turmeric, ginger, cinnamon, coriander, pepper and salt to the vegetable mixture. Stir until everything is well coated and sauté for 1 minute. Add the tomato paste to the pot, stir and sauté for another 1-2 minutes. Add the soaked chickpeas (if using canned chickpeas do not add them at this point) and stir. Add the green lentils and red lentils to the pot. Stir everything so that it is well coated in the tomato paste mixture.
  • Add the diced tomatoes, vegetable stock, chopped parsley stems and chopped cilantro stems to the pot, then increase the heat to high. Bring the liquid to a boil, then reduce it to a simmer. Allow the soup to simmer for 60-90 minutes, or until the chickpeas are tender and the soup is starting to thicken.
  • Add the noodles and simmer for 15 minutes. If using canned chickpeas, add them along with the noodles. Taste and season as needed, add more liquid if needed. Turn off the heat and add the freshly chopped parsley and cilantro.
  • For Instant Pot or slow cooker: Combine all of the ingredients except the noodles in a pot and cook according to the manufacturer’s recommendation for soups and stews. Add noodles to the soup after it is cooked; simmer for 15 minutes or you cook the noodles separately and add them to the soup when serving.

First Anniversary of January 6th, 2021

I imagine we can all name a few decisive moments in our lives around national crisis or trauma which we will never forget. We can picture exactly where we were when we heard the news, what we were doing, and what we were thinking or feeling.

We could list some that many of us have seen in our lifetimes: the assassination of President Kennedy; the explosion of the Space Shuttle Challenger; 9-11; And now, January 6. These last two don’t even need descriptions – just dates.

Today, this first anniversary of the January 6 attack on the Capitol, feels both like it was years ago and just yesterday. Last night, I listened to a Capitol police officer speaking about his experience, and he said that January 6 hasn’t ended for him and many of his colleagues. The issues the instigated the insurrection persist, and they don’t see much change. His words as well as his voice, posture, and facial expression communicated his ongoing trauma.

We have a lot of work to do. On ourselves, as we continue to claw our way out of this pandemic, only to be shoved back down again; with our communities, struggling to find a way to live together even as we are separated by opinions, demographics, and masks; and for our nation, as we fight for the freedom and democracy that our country was founded on, and which is so precious to us as Jews.

Our current situation cries out for Hillel’s famous words: “If I am not for myself, who will be for me? If I am only for myself, what am I? And if not now, when?”

In commemoration of the events of January 6, 2021, on this first anniversary, I share these words written by Dr. Andrea Weiss as we gaze – always with hope – into the future.

“Every inch of America is sacred, from sea to shining sea. There is much to be done in our time, the sort of hard work on which God smiles because it is done for the sake of the dignity and well-being of all God’s creatures. Together, let us work to preserve and make manifest the values upon which our democracy was founded. The task of all people of faith is to call governing authorities to fulfill God’s purpose of bringing about justice, mercy, and peace. Individually and as a nation, may we heed our obligations to each other as we navigate the tensions of building a just society. Rather than a politics of divisiveness, may we move our country toward a politics of empathy. May we use our power well so we do great things for all God’s creatures, all those made in God’s image who yearn for an equal place at America’s table. If we do all this, may grace and peace be ours in abundance. May we be a beacon and a blessing to the world.”

Amen.

 

 

COVID Committee Update: TES Temporarily Remote

Dear Congregants,

As we watch the expected surge in local COVID numbers post-holiday travel, we have decided, out of an abundance of caution and to keep our community safe, to temporarily make all activities at the temple remote.

This means that all services and programming will be remote for the time being. Office staff will work remotely when they return on January 3, 2022. Religious school and Kehillah High families will receive additional communication from Tali Mugg about plans for those programs.

As we face another surge, we would like to take this opportunity to remind our community that COVID vaccines are recommended for ages 5 and up. Boosters are recommended for those over age 16 whose second dose was given more than 6 months ago (2 months for Johnson and Johnson). New CDC guidelines recommend those who are eligible for a booster obtain one in order to remain “fully vaccinated”.

Taking care of our own health and that of our community is a Jewish value we all hold, and as such it is our hope that all our congregants who are eligible and able become fully vaccinated and get their boosters. In addition, we encourage you to be tested if you are ill or know you have been exposed to someone who has the virus.

Below are some resources for finding vaccines and testing in our community.

https://vaxfinder.mass.gov/

https://www.mywpl.org/?q=article/vaccine-clinics

https://www.mass.gov/info-details/find-a-covid-19-test

We will continue to monitor local data and trends to determine how long our programming will remain remote. We anticipate that updated communication will be sent on January 10, 2022.  In the meantime, we will keep you apprised of any changes.

Thank you,
TES COVID Task Force

Chair: Meg Hoey, ​​​​​​​Dean of Health and Natural Sciences, Fitchburg State University

Jerry Gurwitz, MD

Nancy Berley, MD

Germán Chiriboga, MPH, Program Director Population and Quantitative Health Sciences, UMass Chan Medical School; City of Worcester Health Equity Task Force

Liza Spitalnic Carrigan, RN MSN

Jonah Cuker, TES Treasurer

Patti Gould, Chair, TES Lifelong Learning Committee

Paula Selvitella, TES President

Rabbi Valerie Cohen

Sheldon Low Music 12-9-21

There is something to be said about Chanukah falling in the darkest time of the year: when we need extra light, physically and spiritually, the lights of Chanukah bring it to us.

But what about the week after? During this time of year, we need a little extra something to brighten up our days. For each of us, that can look different: spending time with friends and family, participating in a hobby or activity, sitting by a special lamp – like the ones which imitate sunlight, waking up extra early to experience the morning light, taking a vacation, walking outside … and much more. For me, listening to music and singing often bring light and energy when I need them most.

“There are palaces that open only to music.” (Hillel Zeitlin)

Music has the ability to unlock places (palaces?) inside that we never knew needed opening, to bring recovery in times of difficulty, to enhance a joyous moment, to make us think or even the opposite – to help us stop thinking so much! Music is powerful in our everyday lives and even more in our spiritual lives.

Temple Emanuel Sinai has been blessed to be on a musical journey this year, to be exposed to so many different types of music and musical leaders. This Shabbat, we will experience the musical leadership and teachings of Sheldon Low.

Sheldon is a not only a Jewish musician, performer, and social entrepreneur, he is also a highly regarded Jewish educator and innovator. With his music and leadership skills, he has raised money to feed the hungry, mentored young people, taught other musicians how to integrate music and technology, and so much more. Sheldon is also the creator and host of “Jewish Songwriter”, a podcast devoted to the people and stories behind contemporary Jewish music.

I’m looking forward to a Shabbat filled with music and meaning, and especially interested in seeing the “palaces” that will be unlocked by our Shabbat musical experience.

Meatless Mondays Climate Update 12-9-21

This week’s climate change update: climate change comes to the Northeast and mid-Atlantic states:

In a document issued this fall, the Smithsonian Institution warned that increased flooding on the National Mall threatened to outpace the Smithsonian’s ability to defend those museums and their priceless contents.

Just take this summer, for example: Massachusetts and eight other states experienced the hottest month of June on record!

Jeff Geddes, a BU College of Arts & Sciences Assistant Professor of Earth and Environment says the rise in temperatures has resulted in the deaths of hundreds of people per year in the northeastern United States.

Thanksgiving Message from Rabbi

In Judaism, thanksgiving is not relegated to one day of the year. We are taught to cultivate a daily gratitude practice, and express that gratitude as our first act of the day. The ancient rabbis tell us, “Let your first words be an expression of gratitude and job.” When we wake up – even before our first cup of coffee! – we are supposed to recite the prayer Modeh/Modah Ani. With these words, we thank God for the gift of life. From this we learn that Judaism considers the expression of gratitude as essential and powerful.

In anticipation of November, I signed up for a daily Gratitude Art Journaling Class. Online, of course, and pre-recorded. Which is a good thing since I only have time to view one video per week instead of per day.

The class combines gratitude prompts with new art journaling techniques. Early on, I found the gratitude prompts to be not only meaningful, but also thoughtful and deep, and even more rewarding than the art projects . One prompt in particular was especially uplifting. I still smile when I think about it.

The prompt began with a couple of questions: Whose wise advice do you still follow?  What lesson did you learn from a friend, parent, mentor that proved to be quite valuable? Once we identified the lesson or advice, we were instructed to do two things: first, create a page in a our journal based on the quote or lesson or advice that we still follow; second – and most important – contact the person who taught us the lesson and thank them for their wisdom.

Although I haven’t finished the artistic expression around the advice I still follow (I’m taking my time and enjoying the journey), the second was much easier. I emailed my mentor, told him about the class, and shared with him my immense gratitude for all that he had taught me. I probably would not have thought to contact him to thank him in this general and yet very important way. I had thanked him many times in the moments when he helped me. To go back in reflection and offer my thanks to him had a significant and long-lasting impact on both of us.

And, once I finish the page in my journal, I will always be able to look back at that page and remember: remember the good advice, my relationship with my mentor, and the effect of a few simple words.

I invite you to ask yourselves the same question, reflect on which lesson or advice you still follow, and thank the person who shared their wisdom with you.

Happy Thanksgiving: may we all find happiness in giving thanks, tomorrow and every day.