Showing posts with label reconciliation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label reconciliation. Show all posts

Praying with their Feet

Jan 15, 2011 at 10:30 PM | Posted by Rabbi Joshua


This weekend we remember the inspiring legacy of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and his role in not only the civil rights movement in America, but for his contributions to humanity, and his leadership to a generation.

But why discuss MLK on a Jewish blog?

Many people today are unaware that Jewish individuals and clergy played a tremendous role in the civil rights movement. One of the most prominent Jewish figures in this struggle was none other than Rabbi Dr. Abraham Joshua Heschel - one of the greatest Jewish theologians of our time (Heschel is pictured at far left in the above picture, along with Rabbi Maurice Eisendrath (carrying the Torah), and Rabbi Everett Gendler).

In a tremendous article on the two great figures, Dr. Susannah Heschel (Heschel's daughter) points out that "Heschel and Dr. King marched arm in arm at Selma, prayed together in protest at Arlington National Cemetery, and stood side by side in the pulpit of Riverside Church."

According to Susannah Heschel:

"The relationship between the two men began in January 1963, and was a genuine friendship of affection as well as a relationship of two colleagues working together in political causes. As King encouraged Heschel's involvement in the Civil Rights movement, Heschel encouraged King to take a public stance against the war in Vietnam. When the Conservative rabbis of America gathered in 1968 to celebrate Heschel's sixtieth birthday, the keynote speaker they invited was none other than King. When King was assassinated, Heschel was the rabbi Mrs. King invited to speak at his funeral."

For Heschel, the march from Selma had tremendous spiritual significance. Following the march, he wrote:

"For many of us the march from Selma to Montgomery was about protest and prayer. Legs are not lips and walking is not kneeling. And yet our legs uttered songs. Even without words, our march was worship. I felt my legs were praying."

On this day, as we remember the legacy of MLK, we also recall his friend and colleague, Abraham Joshua Heschel. A holy pair who truly learned to pray with their feet - and taught others to do so as well.



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Awesome Days

Sep 24, 2009 at 10:10 AM | Posted by Rabbi Joshua

We are currently in the Yomim Nora'im - the 10 days between Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur - known as the Days of Awe.

During these 10 days, we are focused on Teshuva (Repentance) and preparation for Yom Kippur. Special insertions are added to our daily prayers which focus on the themes of G-d as King, G-d's judgement, and G-d's holiness. We also recall prayers referring to the Book of Life.

Remember us for life, O King Who desires life, and inscribe us in the Book of Life - for Your sake, O Living G-d ... Who is like You, Merciful Father, Who recalls His creatures mercifully for life ... Blessed are You, our G-d, the Holy King. (From additions to the Amidah during the Days of Awe).

These 10 Days of Awe (and the whole High Holiday period) are meant to recall G-d's mercy. As Rabbi Wayne Dosick notes, although our "prayers are solemn and serious, they are also filled with joy and with hope. For Judaism teaches that G-d is ready and very willing to forgive the transgressions of those who come in sincere repentance."

HaShem's desire is for relationship with us. And the High Holidays are opportunities to meet with G-d in the most intimate of times. The 10 days help us to more intently focus on those things which hold us back in life, and from the presence of HaShem.

Although we should be focusing on repentance, forgiveness, and overcoming life's obstacles every day - G-d, also knowing the procrastinate nature of humanity, has built into the calendar specific times in which we are obligated to deal with those shortcomings. Otherwise we might just continue to sweep them under the rug. For most of us, the last thing we want to do is go to someone we may have hurt in the last year to seek forgiveness. Or confront a person for the hurt they have caused us. But by doing so, and allowing forgiveness to take place, we remove more of those spiritual stumbling blocks. We are able to break free of the weight of guilt, shame, anger, and inadequacy.

The Days of Awe are awesome days because they are what you make of them. My deepest prayer would that they would be for you a time and blessing and restoration.

Shabbat Shuvah

The Shabbat that always falls between Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur is very special, and called Shabbat Shuvah (literally, the Shabbat of Repentance). This Shabbat continues those themes which started during the month of Elul, flowing through Rosh HaShanah, and the 10 Days of Awe. Special prayers are added to the liturgy, and special readings for the Haftarah are read - emphasizing the themes of repentance and forgiveness.

The special Haftarah readings for Shabbat Shuvah are from Hosea 14:2-10, Joel 2:15-17, and Micah 7:18-20. Each of the readings emphasize repentance, preparation, and G-d's readiness to forgive.

G'mar Chatimah Tovah - May you be sealed for a wonderful New Year!

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