Category: Rabbinic Thoughts

Sukkot is one of my favourite festivals since my childhood in Israel, its the holiday of the open tent. We marry under a chuppah that is open on all sides to remind us of the mitzvah of hachnasat orchim ( welcoming our guests).We are encouraged to open our door to a stranger, but my question to you is how easy is it to actually open your heart to another person, a stranger perhaps, or how difficult would it be to open your mind to a foreign idea?Our patriarch Abraham and our Matriarch Sarah show us amazing example of hospitality when they welcome the three angels to their house (with out knowing who they are). It explores the exoteric idea, I would like to explore the esoteric idea behind the story. If we are to grow in life/ in this world, if one gives this principal some thought, we would soon realise that in order for us to progress (and after all we are progressive Jews) we will need to open ourselves up, in order for this to take place. One can look to God or nature if you prefer, to find answers – just observe how flowers open themselves up to sunlight – and if they did not, if they refused to open themselves up, what would become of such flowers?When new or strange ideas are put to humanity, humanity usually, more often then not reacts with inhumanity to such strange thoughts. Today is also a mini celebration for me, as we celebrate being a “progressive Jews,” this because we as a community have the right, and are actually encouraged to “think” about things, things that may well be strange at first. But if our hearts and minds are sufficiently open to such strange or simply new ideas, then we have a very real opportunity for growth – with a new idea or understanding of things, we can very well end up seeing things from a different, or higher perspective, then the one we are used to.Perhaps we see that someone close or indeed a stranger did something that really annoyed us, but when we opened ourselves up, even for just a little while to another possibility, we may well understand that they only did so out of genuine care or concern for us – for our wellbeing. If we do not open our hearts and minds up to new or strange ideas (and here I do not suggest that we simply or blindly accept such ideas) but only that we open ourselves up long enough to give a moments genuine consideration to them. Perhaps then with God’s blessings we will be opening ourselves up, just like the flowers, long enough to let in the light. I am only suggesting that we be open, that our hearts and minds are not closed on all sides, that just like our Sukkas, our hearts and minds are open to a possibility, a higher possibility, no matter how strange such a possibility may seem or appear to us at first sight.From the example of our Matriarch and Patriarch lets us strive to be better hosts, and me mindful to keep our tent doors open whether those doors are the doors of our home or the doors of our congregation. May we all be rewarded by God with many blessings for making the stranger feel at home among us.As we dwellthe next seven nightsunderneath the harvest/blood moonin our fragile sukkot,it seems to methat to make this chag–this festival of joyous abundance–real and aliveand holy,we must live as we built our sukkot:strong enough to let the wind through,open enough to see the stars,wide enough to let lots of love inside,powerful enough to let go of the stuff we don’t really need,insightful enough to realize most of the stuff we collect,is, in fact, unnecessary,and bold enough to stand resolute in the face of the unknown.For everyonelearning to liveand to loveand to be boldand fabulousand courageousand humbleand anxiousand honest,Moadim l’simcha:May this be a festival of joy,a new beginningof hope overflowing with abundance. (Author is uknown) Chag Sameach and Shabbat Shalom Rabbi Julia Margolis

Turn us unto You, Adonai, that we may be turned. Renew our days as of old. -Lamentations 5:21This Shabbat is Shabbat Shuvah – The Shabbat that falls between Rosh Hashanah andYom Kippur, in the midst of our High Holy Days. These are the ten days in which weare on a higher spiritual plane – having begun our reflections of our deeds in the pastyear and leading to a plea for atonement for the times we hurt others, hurt ourselves,and fell short of the level of behavior we set out to attain at this time one year ago.However, we are encouraged through prayer and the sayings of our sages not todespair –we can improve ourselves and come closer to those ideals we strive to reach.Eternal our God,open our eyes that we may see the needs of others;open our ears that we may hear their cries;open our hearts so that they need not be without succor;let us not be afraid to defend the weak because of the anger of the strong,nor afraid to defend the poor because of the anger of the rich.Show us where love and hope and faith are needed,and use us to bring them to those places.And so open our eyes and our earsthat this day we may be able to do some work of peace for YouGmar Hatima Tova. May You be inscribed in the book of life for Good.Rabbi Julia Margolis (Sourse: http://rj.org/wrj/)

We gathered,all of us,having walked this long roadBefore.

There is so much I don’tremember of it:Coldand dustand heat-cracked pavement

And noise!God, the noise–It could tear you apartand get inside your headand all you wantis just a little piece ofQuiet,A chance toBreathewithout feeling likeEverything–your hopeyour fearyour loveanddoubt–All of it,All of youwas caughtsomewhere in your chest,or maybe your throat,And all you want is just one smallBreathto be easyand quiet.

So we gatheredthere,Here

at the edge,

the very edge ofEverything;Stopped in our noiseand our doubtand fear.Stoppedat the edgeof loveand hunger:At the edge of want,to catch the lightof a thousand sunsand ten thousand moonsand absolute

Stillness.

Glinting of silverand an infinity ofBlue,Subtle variationsof colorand depth,Caughtin the reflection ofSky.Caught,all along the edges,with light.

We gathered here,Together,at the edge,bathed insilenceand bending light,weary andready,to leap.To dive into that poolfilled to overflowingwith loveand doubtand hungerand hope,that waiting pool ofSelf,there at the very edge ofEverything,

And filled now with sudden, shiveryStillness,and stars that reelin mirrored waters.

And so I leap

With the light ofHeaven,Of earth and sky,Reflectingall my doubtmy loveand longing.

And I rememberA road of dust andHeat-cracked pavementAnd I gather in the noiseAnd lightAnd breath-stopping fear,Gather them in, toRelease themIn a singleGraceful sweep:There is beauty in my pain.There is more inLetting go.

And so I breathe:I am returnedTo the edge of myBeginning.

(Stacey Robinson)

Wishing you a successful healthy and happy 5776. Shana Tova. Rabbi Julia Margolis 

One of the best rewards that I could receive as a Rabbi, teacher and a friend is the following letter that Neebashnee sent to me. Especially during this month of Elul, let’s strive to be more positive thinkers, be grateful for what we have all around us during our daily life. Let’s open our hearts to welcoming new members of the congregation. Appearing before a rabbinical court brings with it a feeling of trepidation and heightened anxiety. However there is something different in the air today; there is an added feeling of expectation, as this court will hopefully mark the culmination of my conversion process.Nothing can prepare one for the time when one comes before three Rabbonim. Not to mention, my Hebrew teacher, the part for which I am most fearful – when I will have to read aloud from the machzor, demonstrating my knowledge of a language so beautiful, that when I speak it, I literally feel suspended in a moment gone, reminiscent of ancient times.The questions are posed and my answers are tinged by my own nervous emotions. How can I hope to adequately enunciate the connection that I feel, between Divine and mortal, and yet which is impossible to fathom, all while sparking within me a feeling of peace so profound that I often “smile out aloud” at synagogue. The journey to this point hasn’t been easy. Learning to open my mind and wrap my heart around a faith and a lifestyle where I essentially had no inkling of what the barest basics were, while performing the simplest of rituals were challenging in their own right. However that’s what one does when one falls in love – You leave your own people, your own rituals, your own lifestyle to learn and embrace the one of the One you fall in love with. You walk a path that is foreign and unseen, never knowing and yet blindly trusting.And just as suddenly we’re done, and I can officially begin my Jewish life. And I know, that just as those who have walked before me, so will I walk. Just as those who have lived before me, so will I live. And just as those who have been loved before me, so am I loved.Shabbat Shalom – Rabbi Julia Margolis