Rosh HaShanah Morning - A New Start
RH 2008/5769 – A NEW START
Have you ever seen the movie the Winged Migration? It’s an incredible and visually dazzling documentary that records the flight of dozens of different birds as they follow their navigational instincts and make the taxing journey to more temperate climates in the fall. They travel hundreds to thousands of miles each year! The white Ibis & Arctic gull travel over 10,000 miles each way annually. The Canadian goose over 3,000 miles each way! Have you ever seen a huge flock of geese in a strong V formation? It’s one of the fascinating aspects of nature that cause us to ask: “Why”?
Let me share a story with you:
This fall, when you see the Geese streaming across the sky [to us in
(1) As each bird flaps its wings, it creates uplift for the bird immediately following. By flying in V formation the whole flock adds at least 71% greater flying range than if each bird flew on its own.
(2) And when a goose falls out of formation, it suddenly feels the drag and resistance of trying to go it alone and quickly gets back into formation to take advantage of the lifting power of the bird in front.
(3) When the Head Goose gets tired, it rotates back to another place in the wing and another goose flies point.
(4) Geese make a lot of noise as they fly. But scientists have learned that Geese honk from behind to encourage those up front to keep up their speed.
(5) Finally, and this is important: when a goose gets sick, or is wounded and falls out of formation, two other geese fall out with that goose and follow it down to the ground to lend help and protection. Then, they stay with the fallen goose until it is either able to fly, or until it dies. Only then do they launch out on their own, or with another formation to catch up with their group.
It’s amazing what geese do by instinct alone. But they also create a model of what a community can be.
· People who share a common direction and sense of community can get where they are going more quickly and easily because they are traveling on the thrust of one another.
· If we have as much sense as a goose, we will stay in formation with those who are headed the same way we are.
· Also, it’s sensible to take turns doing demanding jobs before us.
· IF WE HAVE THE SENSE OF A GOOSE, WE WILL STAND BY EACH OTHER LIKE THAT.
I began my tenure with the TBO community only a short 3 months ago. A new experience for me, having worked at a “mega-shul,” Beth Am, with all of its programs and schools and staff and members. 1200 or 1400 is very different from ~100 families believe you me! As a rabbi in a very large synagogue, everything is large-scale – classes, counseling, teaching, services and life-cycle events. Did I mention life-cycle events?! Serving a pool of approximately 10,000 souls (do the calculation – for each family of 2-5/6 there are grandparents (God-willing 2 each), and sometimes aunts, uncles and cousins who are not “formally” members but “feel” that they are). Large synagogues have their own personalities and customs. And there is an important place for them in the Jewish world.
But at the other end of the spectrum, there are smaller Jewish communities here in Miami which likewise have found their own place. Havurah – which will be joining us for Simhat Torah in a couple of weeks; and Orthodox, Conservative and Reform shuls of different sizes, shapes and character as well. And then there’s us – somewhere north of 100 families who have banded together, creating something so special and so unique to have established its own permanent place within our diverse community.
There are other small Jewish communities all around the country – and I have served my share. In Ft Pierce, Gainesville, Deland, Orlando, Tampa, Granville, Ohio, Cairo, IL. &
And there are, shall I call them, the unusual ones. I remember my first HH pulpit as a student rabbi. There I was in Leavenworth, KS, a day before services, having entered the innermost bowels of a Federal Maximum Security Prison. I still recall each cell door slamming closed and locked behind me as I walked towards a RH gathering of folks who weren’t in there because of speeding tickets! But we created community – if only for an hour. A little weird and a tad scary, but for the Jewish prisoners, and others who were there because they were curious – and got a pass during their workday for attending our service – we made a unique sort of minyan!
At my first Shabbat service at Beth Or, I asked the question: “Why can’t there be a vital, active, welcoming Reconstructionist congregation in the mix of 3 Reform, 3 Conservative and 3 Orthodox synagogues here in South Dade?” My answer then, AND my answer today is an emphatic YES – OF COURSE there can be!
This summer I got to know you and Beth Or, become familiar with our services, customs and traditions. Now, having led Shabbat services, taught Torah classes, and the Chit Chat group, participated in thoughtful, energetic, hands-on meetings and intelligent conversations about the future of our beloved synagogue community – I am even more convinced why the community needs Beth Or.
We Jews also need community – in part, that’s why you’re here tonight. We need a place where we are known; where our unique gifts and contributions are acknowledged and appreciated; where we feel a part of something larger than ourselves or our family; a place where you and I truly connect to others. A place where we matter and are needed.
Hillel instructed: Al tifros min ha tzibur….don’t separate yourself from your community!
For those who want more, the core values of Reconstructionism are designed to engage you. Because, as the authors say in Exploring Judaism: A Reconstructionist Approach,
“One does not become a Reconstructionist simply by joining a Reconstructionist synagogue or paying dues to a national organization. [It’s NOT about membership!]
Our name - Reconstructionist - implies active participation in a shared process – “re-construction”. [Reconstructionist Judaism is] No mere passive adjective describing a ‘type’ of Judaism, our name says that each of us engages in the reconstruction of Jewish life and tradition to integrate it with the particular lifestyle each of us chooses.
In other words, Reconstructionist Judaism answers the question: “How can our lifestyles and choices fit into Jewish life. And how do we reconstruct Judaism to make it consistent and meaningful with who we are TODAY. How do we draw value-added from Judaism so that it will enhance our lives? What makes sense NOW?”
As such, “The Reconstructionist community is not a body of synagogues and rabbis that others merely support. It is rather a COMMUNITY in the full sense of the term, [it’s a COMMUNITY] in which no one’s duty may be done vicariously by others. [You’ve got to get into the game and have “skin” in the game.]
Every synagogue asks its members to step up and try something new today. At Beth Or you and I become equal partners in guiding this community. We are different because it’s a partnership! Reconstructionist Judaism is more than paying your annual membership dues. We ask for your input, feedback, thoughts and ideas – to help our community serve itself and you better!
Working together, we create and support our community. We deepen our Jewish knowledge and we celebrate life. That is a congregation.
So I challenge you to consider that what you find at Beth Or may shake the foundations of what you once thought a congregation was or is, or what you are used to.
After all, at the New Year, it’s the Jewish time to clean house, so to speak. To replace the old with the new. Clear out the cobwebs of the past years’ practices and try out some new ones. It’s time to re-evaluate how our lives are going – and ask ourselves what we want during this New Year.
It’s time to assess our lives and appraise our activities. Are we engaged in activities which truly give added value to our lives? (PAUSE)
Whether we put it down on paper or not, each of us has 2 lists. One list includes what we’re doing now. The other list is our aspirational list – the list of “if only”. If only I would read more rather than watch television. If only I would exercise more. If only I could be more loving to my wife/husband/partner/children….If only.
Friends, now is the time to change. We need each of you as a part of our community. And we need to be more like the migrating geese – supporting one another as we head forward in the same direction and take turns at the lead. Now is the time to decide to make a real difference in 5769.
Will you be there? AMEN