Crossing Over and Jumping In

“Crossing Over and Jumping In” - Parashat Lech Lecha 2014

Rabbi Charlie Savenor

One of the bumps in Abraham and Sarah’s journey to the Land of Israel is the war between the kings, during which Lot, their nephew, is captured. Upon hearing the news, Abraham immediately springs into action to save him.

In the context of this biblical battle Abraham is referred to as "Ha-Ivri", which we understand as “The Hebrew”.  Since this is a regional conflict, it makes sense that Abraham’s allegiances be identified.  However, this moniker is complicated because “Ha-Ivri” literally means “one who crosses over”. Our traditional commentators believe that he got this name because he crossed over the Euphrates River to reach the Land of Israel.

According to the Midrash, this name is not about Abraham’s origins, but rather his place in the world. The rabbis teach that the whole world stands on one side, and Abraham and Sarah on the other. This is true not just in their acceptance of only one God, but also their commitment to justice, peace and action.

I believe that Abraham’s dramatic response to the news of Lot’s predicament teaches us another aspect of what it means to be an "Ivri". Embedded in our spiritual DNA is the inclination to cross over from passive spectators to history to proactive shapers of the future. To be an "Ivri" connotes the willingness to jump in when we can make a difference.

Another biblical figure who identifies himself as an Ivri is Jonah. This puzzling prophet receives his calling, and, instead of leaving for Nineveh, flees to the Jaffa seaport and catches the first boat out of town.

Only hours after setting sail away from Nineveh, God creates a storm to stop the boat. This storm is so horrible that every passenger on the boat prays to their God for help, except Jonah.  In order to attribute responsibility for the storm, they draw lots. No surprise to us, Jonah draws the short straw.

After explaining that he is running away from God, he assures them that he knows how to quiet the sea.  He tells them: “Pick me up and throw me overboard.” One can read this directive as Jonah’s desire not just to escape from his responsibility of going to Nineveh, but also his yearning to leave this world entirely.

While suicide appears to be one plausible explanation for his desire to be thrown overboard, I believe that there is a clue that Jonah's actions communicate other intentions.

With the ship in danger, the crew and other passengers turn to Jonah and ask him, “What do you do? Who are your people?”  “Ivri Anochi,” Jonah replies, “I am a Hebrew.” I am a Jew.

Witnessing first-hand a boat being battered by the sea and countless lives at stake, Jonah's description of himself sets off a flare gun in his heart, mind and soul. At that very moment, Jonah realizes he can save these people.

Through this lens, we might understand his words as not "Throw me overboard", but rather "Help me jump in".  Jonah knew what needed to be done to save a ship full of people, so he embraced the opportunity to make a difference.

With many challenges facing the world today, Abraham and Jonah remind us that we have a responsibility to act because "Ivri Anochi", we are Jews. The world needs our help, so now is the time to jump in.

Hope Is Not Enough

Rosh Hashanah is not just the beginning of the year, it also marks the new month of Tishre. It is a day when we are supposed to raise our heads high, to hope about tomorrow and to dream about what we can become.

Psalm 27, the psalm that we recite from the beginning of Elul through the haggim, ends with "Be Strong. Have Courage. And place your hope in God."

Clearly hope can be a powerful tool, yet it is somewhat limited. Frankly, when life is at stake, hope is not enough.

To create the necessary changes in ourselves and in the larger world, hope needs to be coupled with action.

In Pirke Avot (the Sayings of Our Ancestors), Rabbi Eliezer advocates that we live in a state of perpetual reflection, repentance and teshuva. I can't think of a more appropriate message for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.  I believe his idea holds the key to not just responding to our contemporary challenges, but also to unlocking the door to a more meaningful life.

But how do we do this?

Bronnie Ware, an Australian nurse, spent several years caring for dying people in their homes. In her role as a palliative care nurse, she listened deeply as dying patients voiced what they regretted most in life. She recently wrote a book called The Top Five Regrets of the Dying.

The first regret of the dying is that they ignored their dreams. It's easy to let our responsibilities take over, and then suddenly we look back and many years have gone by without any progress on those aspirations that animate our souls. It might just be that as adults, we stop dreaming. I don't mean dreaming about pitching for the Red Sox; but rather dreams about places we want to visit, experiences we want to try, accomplishments we want to achieve.

The second regret has to do with working too much. All of these hours away from family and friends begin to add up. During an age of economic uncertainty hard work is a value, but what is the cost on our personal lives. Are we really present when we are home today, especially with our smart phones? 

The third one ironically left me speechless. People regretted that they didn't speak up. They didn't speak up about inequality and injustice, they didn't challenge authority and some mentioned that they didn't say I love you enough to family.

People's fourth regret was losing touch with friends. No explanation needed.

Finally, people regretted that they did not choose to be happy. What is most amazing about this regret is that people realize that happiness is a choice, even a habit that can cultivated. We can choose how we respond to the world around us and about whether to sweat the small stuff. We can embrace an attitude of gratitude instead of letting fear, pettiness and conflict tarnish our appetite for life.

While we may be able to predict most of these regrets of the dying, there are countless people who  live with regret and fear. The question is, what holds us back? And how can we move forward?

The good news is that we don’t have to wait until we are on our deathbed to appreciate the opportunity that God gives us today on Rosh Hashanah - and everyday - to begin anew.

The experience of our Patriarch Isaac opens our eyes as to what happens when we live in fear.

While it is true that Isaac’s life is deeply affected by the Akeidah, his binding on the altar, he goes on to create a full life. He has other moments besides the Akeidah that define him as a person. He gets married, has children and becomes the second patriarch of the Jewish people. Eventually he develops his own dreams about the future and shares them with his children.

Despite the violence and anxiety that permeate our world today, we have the opportunity to live full lives, hopeful lives, happy lives, and lives without regret.

Walt Disney once said, "All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them." It is vital that the courage to hope be coupled with the conviction to pursue our dreams.

By living a life surrounded by those we love and living in concert with our principles, we have the power to transform our homes, our kehilla and our community into the "happiest place on earth"!

Shanah Tovah!

A Welcome I Will Always Remember

As I walked through the door to Park Avenue Synagogue for my first day of work, I was completely taken aback. At the entrance of this historic institution stood Rabbis Elliot Cosgrove, Neil Zuckerman and Ethan Witkovsky and Beryl Chernov, executive director, to welcome me to the team.

This greeting was a welcome I will always remember. I imagine this is how a guest must've felt when entering Abraham's and Sarah's tent and experiencing, what Dr. Ron Wolfson labels, "radical hospitality".

Still feeling the warmth of this personal reception, I sat down in my new office for the first time and reflected on the power of welcoming. It is amazing how a a simple and sincere "hello" can make us feel like we belong. Especially when entering a new synagogue, school, camp or meeting, welcoming can not only put us at ease, but also opens us up to new relational possibilities with the faces and spaces around us.

Just then, I noticed on my desk a placard with the principles of Park Avenue Synagogue "Leadership Culture". These include: "Provide a warm and welcome entry into our community - meet people where they are. .. Build the future - identify and and develop our long-term team. .. Continuously improve - be respectful of tradition but encourage innovation."

What I discovered over the course of my first day is that welcoming is an explicit and integral part of Park Avenue Synagogue's mission statement. So much so, the current lay leadership team has created plaques with these values that are displayed all over the building. With these plaques for all to see, the mission statement becomes a living guide for how we build relationships, create community and conduct our business with our stakeholders.

That the greeting I received represents an expression of a shared congregational value did not mitigate its impact; rather it amplified my excitement to work at a synagogue where these values are part of the mission and where the mission is a living expression of communal hopes and aspirations. Equally important, this greeting reminded me to pay it forward in the days, months and years ahead.

Publicizing purpose-drive principles is not a new phenomenon for the Jews.When the Israelites crossed the Jordan River into the Promised Land, they were greeted with the 613 commandments written on two mountainsides. This written testimony reminded our ancestors about where they came from and what kind of community they aspired to become.

Last year on Kol Nidre, the Chairman of Park Avenue Synagogue, Arthur Penn, spoke about the congregation's mission statement:

• You belong to a community that seeks to inspire, educate and support our members in Judaism.
• You belong to a community that aspires to foster deep connections with each other, our Torah, our God, the State of Israel and broader humanity.
• You belong to a community that is warm and welcoming and meets you where you are.
• You belong to a community with a legacy of family and faith.
• You belong to a community.

Art's linking belonging with community is more than about membership as a transaction. He describes how we can be transformed when we come together to learn, yearn, pray and play together.

At the end of my first day at Park Avenue Synagogue, a wonderful family dropped off a special welcome gift, a bag of personalized M&M's. This was a delicious bookend to my morning greeting.

On my first day of work, I can certainly say that my new community at Park Avenue Synagogue "had me at 'hello'".

What We Can Do to Help Israel Now - by Charlie Savenor

What Can We Do for Israel? "The Mah Initiative"

At the end of December, 2013, I turned 45. In Hebrew every letter has a numerical equivalent in a system called gematria. The number 45 has the numerical value of the Hebrew word “mah” that means “what”.

Reaching this chronological milestone, I wondered what can I do to help the world?

With this in mind, I introduced “The Mah Initiative”, what we can do to make tomorrow better than today, to help lone soldiers in Israel.

In the Israel Defense Force (IDF), a lone soldier is defined as a serviceman or woman without parents or family in Israel. There are roughly 4,000 lone soldiers in Israel, mostly from North America and Russia. I find their commitment to Israel and the Jewish people to be deeply inspiring. Many lone soldiers frequently have no one to go home to and, in some cases, have no home at all on weekends. I have heard heartbreaking stories from these young soldiers who sleep in city parks because they had no place to go on leave, including Shabbat.

Recently my family and I visited Israel and had Shabbat dinner with several lone soldiers through United Synagogue's Family Israel Experience. We were deeply inspired by the soldiers' stories about making aliyah, joining the army and deciding to serve their country and people. One thread of their stories is that they had to make these choice on their own, without their families around them. The mere thought of making these commitments without parents and siblings is daunting.

To address this issue,United Synagogue’s Fuchsberg Jerusalem Center set up a program three years ago to provide meals and housing for lone soldiers who need a place to stay on weekends. The Fuchsberg Center has designated a room for lone soldiers in memory of Michael Levin z”l, a lone soldier from Philly who died in service of Israel.

It costs $10,000 a year to run this program. Our initial gift from Marc Savenor, my brother, ran out, so the time has come to raise funds for this vital cause.

It is my goal to raise $10,000 to cover next year, and we are nearly at $7,000. Any help you can offer will be much appreciated.


I invite you to support lone soldiers through a financial gift:

·         $2000 sponsors a holiday meal for 100 soldiers at Fuchsberg

·         $360 houses four lone soldiers for a weekend at Fuchsberg

·         $180 houses two lone soldiers for a weekend at Fuchsberg

·         $90 houses one soldier for a weekend at Fuchsberg

·         $45 covers meals for a soldier

·         And $18 shows you care about these brave men and women who protect Israel.

 
You can donate online at https://secure2.convio.net/uscj/site/Donation2;jsessionid=137D02F91AC61A6D3C05C6C66AC44F69.app202a?idb=309022701&df_id=1180&1180.donation=form1&idb=0. You can direct your gift to "lone soldiers". 

You can also send your gift to: United Synagogue – Lone Soldier Initiative, 820 Second Ave, 10^th Fl., New York, NY 10017


Your donation is not going toward bricks and mortar, rather every penny goes to room and board for these modern day heroes of Israel.


If you ever wondered what you can do to support Israel, I invite you to participate in “The MahInitiative”. Israel needs our help now more than ever!

Praying for Peace,

Rabbi Charlie Savenor

Update about The Mah Initiative

Update about "The Mah Initiative"

At the end of December, I turned 45. In Hebrew every letter has a numerical equivalent in a system called gematria. The number 45 has the numerical value of the Hebrew word “mah” that means “what”.

Reaching this chronological milestone, I wondered what can I do to help the world?

With this in mind, I introduced “The Mah Initiative”, what we can do to make tomorrow better than today, to help Lone Soldiers in Israel.

In the Israel Defense Force (IDF), a lone soldier is defined as a serviceman or woman without parents or family in Israel. There are roughly 4,000 lone soldiers in Israel, mostly from North America and Russia. I find their commitment to Israel and the Jewish people to be deeply inspiring. Many lone soldiers frequently have no one to go home to and, in some cases, have no home at all on weekends. I have heard heartbreaking stories from these young soldiers who sleep in city parks because they had no place to go on leave, including Shabbat.


To address this issue,United Synagogue’s Fuchsberg Jerusalem Center set up a program three years ago to provide meals and housing for lone soldiers who need a place to stay on weekends. The Fuchsberg Center has designated a room for lone soldiers in memory of Michael Levin z”l, a lone soldier from Philly who died in service of Israel.
It costs $10,000 a year to run this program. Our initial gift from Marc Savenor, my brother, ran out, so the time has come to raise funds for this vital cause.


It is my goal to raise $10,000 to cover next year, and we are nearly at $3,700. Any help you can offer will be much appreciated.


I invite you to support lone soldiers through a financial gift:

·         $2000 sponsors a holiday meal for 100 soldiers at Fuchsberg

·         $360 houses four lone soldiers for a weekend at Fuchsberg

·         $180 houses two lone soldiers for a weekend at Fuchsberg

·         $90 houses one soldier for a weekend at Fuchsberg

·         $45 covers meals for a soldier

·         And $18 shows you care about these brave men and women who protect Israel.

Please send your gift to: United Synagogue – Lone Soldier Initiative, 820 Second Ave, 10^th Fl., New York, NY 10017, Attn: Rabbi Charlie Savenor


Your donation is not going toward bricks and mortar, rather every penny goes to room and board for these modern day heroes of Israel.


If you ever wondered what you can do to support Israel, I invite you to participate in “The Mah Initiative”.

Best Wishes for a Joyous Purim,

Charlie Savenor

Living Up to Our Names

Living Up to Our Names - Vayakhel 2014

By Rabbi Charlie Savenor

This week in Parashat Vayakhel we are introduced for a second time to Betzalel, the chief architect and builder of the Mishkan. “And Moses said to the Israelites, ‘See, the Lord has singled out by name, Betzalel, the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. He had endowed him with a divine spirit of skill, ability and knowledge in every kind of craft, and has inspired him to make designs for works in gold, silver, and copper, to cut stones for settings and to carve wood – to work in every kind of designer’s craft – and to give directions.” (Exodus 35:30-34)

Of particular interest to us is how God announces Betzalel’s appointment. In our first encounter with this creative genius, the Torah employs the same awkward and puzzling wording.  "Re’eh karati veshaym Betzalel, which translates literally as “See, I have singled out by name, Betzalel.” (Exodus 31:2).

Moses could have made a straightforward announcement, but the Torah utilizes a peculiar phrasing for an introduction in both places.  The awkwardness of this wording is a red flag to our traditional commentators who pick up on the same point.

Rashi advocates that this strange statement in the Torah means no more than “I have designated Betzalel for this task.”  Midrash Rabbah, which predates Rashi, gives an explanation that complements his straightforward interpretation. The Midrash relates that when Moses was on Mount Sinai to receive the Torah, God showed Moses the Book of Life, containing the names of every Jew in every generation from Creation until the ultimate Redemption. At that time God says to Moses “I have predetermined the creation of all people, and this includes Betzalel, who will construct the Mishkan.”

Midrash Rabbah avows that God created everyone before the world itself was actually complete and that our leaders occupy a prominent place in this divine blueprint.  Thus, Betzalel had been named by God before time started because he possessed a unique role in the wilderness.

By contrast, we find a source in the Zohar which arrives at a completely opposite conclusion! The Zohar asserts that Betzalel, whose name literally translates as “in the shadow of God,” is not a surname he received at the beginning of time, but rather it is an honorific title that he achieved by fulfilling his divinely mandated duties. Applying the Zohar’s explanation to the introduction of Betzalel, we would read the verse as “Behold, I have designated that the name of the person to work in this holy endeavor should strive to be called Betzalel, in the shadow of God.”

In describing Betzalel’s responsibilities, the Torah includes another role in addition to that of architect and craftsman. In Exodus 35:34 we are told that “Ulehorot natan be’leebo,” which can be interpreted as “and the ability to teach was bestowed upon him.”  With everything else on Betzalel’s agenda, we wonder what role teaching plays for him?

The majority of our traditional commentators assert that Hashem grants Betzalel with educational skills because the Israelites, who had been slaves for generations, did not possess the necessary skills to construct the Mishkan.  Therefore, part of Betzalel’s job description included teaching others his trade.

Betzalel’s appointment teaches us something fundamental about the management of the construction of the Mishkan at one time, as well about leadership development for all times. In any profession or organization, leadership status requires that one be aware of the details, as well as the greater picture. Leadership begets responsibility and great attention to our words and actions. To be a leader also means living up to one’s name and earning the respect of others. Most importantly, to be a leader, one must see himself or herself as a teacher.

Ecclesiastes teaches us that “Whatever comes into being, the name was given long ago” (6:10). Similar to what we learned about the predestined course of Betzalel to become a leader, each human being is given a name and a unique purpose in the world.  It is our challenge to tap into the wealth of potential inside each of us and to capitalize on it to achieve, or earn, our names. 

While Betzalel merited living up to his name by working in “the shadow of God,” his true mission was to teach others how to find the shelter of God’s presence in their lives. As we strive to reach our potential and live up to our names as Jews and as human beings, we too can enter into the shadow of God.