I always find New Year's messages a little difficult, partly because I'm usually so busy around this time of year that it's tough to stop and take stock of things -- to do a "spiritual accounting," as the Jewish phase goes ("cheshbon nefesh" ).
But let me say this: first, I am grateful for all the wonderful blessings our family has enjoyed. My daughter's bat mitzvah; my sister's new baby (my nephew), and now my own new baby boy, Rafael Micah. So many happy events in one year.
Then there is the war, which began a year ago and has haunted our lives, even here in the United States. I am grateful to have been able to travel to Israel often to write about things firsthand. Today, I feel confident of Israel's victory.
The U.S. election is looming, and while I usually feel nervous during election season, this time I am fairly confident that Trump will win. That will bring a kind of vindication, and open new possibilities, but there will be new challenges.
My own personal goals are to get my expanding waistline under control -- I have to figure out a new system, since I eat well and exercise. I also need to manage my finances more carefully in this inflationary environment.
I wish victory for all the forces of good in the world, comfort for the bereaved, and health and good fortune and love for all of the people in my life, especially those searching for the right partner, which is the greatest blessing in life.
This week’s portion launches the great story of Abraham, who is told to leave everything of his life behind — except his immediate family — and to leave for “the Land that I shall show you.”
There’s something interesting in the fact that Abraham is told to leave his father’s house, as if breaking away from his father’s life — but his father, in fact, began the journey, moving from Ur to Haran (in last week’s portion). His father set a positive example — why should Abraham leave him?
Some obvious answers suggest themselves — adulthood, needing to make one’s own choices, his father not going far enough, etc.
But I think there is another answer. Abraham (known for the moment as Abram) needs to establish his own household. This is not just about making one’s own choice, but really about choosing one’s own starting point. It’s starting over.
Sometimes we start over in fundamental ways even if much that surrounds us remains the same. Sometimes the journey we have to ...
The story of Noah is familiar; the details, less so.
Noah is often seen as an ambivalent figure. He was righteous -- but only for his generation. What was his deficiency?
One answer suggests itself: knowing that the world was about to be flooded, he built an Ark for the animals and for his own family -- but did not try to save anyone else or to convince them to repent and change their ways (the prophet Jonah, later, would share that reluctance).
Abraham, later, would set himself apart by arguing with God -- with the Lord Himself! -- against the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, saying that they should be saved if there were enough righteous people to be found (there were not).
Still, Noah was good enough -- and sometimes, that really is sufficient to save the world. We don't need heroes every time -- just ordinary decency.
Hi all -- as I noted last month, I'm going to be closing down my Locals page, at least for tips and subscriptions -- I may keep the page up and the posts as well, but I'm no longer going to be accepting any kind of payment.
Look for cancelation in the very near future. Thank you for your support!
