Rabbi Birdie Becker
  • Home
    • Blogs and Videos
    • Rabbi In The News
  • Services and Fees
    • Tutoring Policies
    • REFERENCES
    • Contact Form
  • Prayer Practice
  • Music
  • Conversations at the Well
    • Teaching Supplement: Conversations at the Well
  • Jewish Calendar: Basics
    • High Holidays
    • Chanukah
    • Tu B'Shevat
    • Passover/Pesach
  • Israel
  • Non-clickable Page

Entering Joy

2/5/2013

0 Comments

 
As we head into the joyous month of Adar, many people look around and ask what they should be celebrating? Indeed, much of the world is at war, in poverty, dealing with unprecedented climate events, not to mention all the individual issues of inequality for women, the LGBT community, those with disabilities of all types, and as the King of Siam said in the King
and I
, “etc., etc., and so forth”. 

Now that I’ve depressed you, let’s turn our viewpoint on its head.

Did you awaken this morning? That’s a start! You have a new day to fill with memories of your choice.
Did you open your eyes and look around? How joyous to see all the colors of the world, the designs of nature and of
man.
Was there a roof over your head when you opened your eyes? Then you are not on the streets by choice or necessity.
Were you awakened by an alarm clock, ringing phone or other sounds? Then you can hear. Lucky you! Listen to the wind, the birds, the voices of animals and people that share your world.
Did a voice awaken you or greet you during the day? Then you have companionship in your life. Even though someone is not constantly by your side, you don’t walk through the world alone.
Were you able to wash your hands, face, body today? Then you have access to water, probably modern plumbing – for others these are miracles.
Did you have to choose which clothes to wear? Then, in addition to having clothes, you have the ability to make decisions. You have the freedom to be independent in thought and in deed. 

There are blessings we recite for all these and more; blessings for everyday activities. When we bless a mundane event, we elevate it to a higher level. In that way, our normal activities become reminders of how lucky we are, how grateful we can be.

The holiday of Purim celebrates the release of the Jews from physical destruction. When we are free from the threat of physical destruction, we can turn to emotional, intellectual and spiritual needs. 
 
The holiday of Pesach celebrates the release of the Jews from physical suppression and from spiritual destruction. They became a free people able to rejoice in each day, able to recognize the designs of God, nature and man, able to listen to the trembling mountain at Sinai, able to walk together toward a future, able to gather manna, able to choose to follow the path to freedom or return to slavery. 

Does this mean you don’t have the right to complain or be discontent? Of course, not. There are many who are truly in need. On the other hand, if we can learn to celebrate freedom of body, mind and/or spirit every day, life will become more joyous. 

As we enter the month of joy (Adar) followed by the month of redemption, the time of freedom (Nissan), I wish you beautiful, healthy holidays. Days of delight.

0 Comments

    Categories

    All
    9/11
    Abortion
    Acceptance
    ADL
    Akeida
    Anti Semitism
    Anti-Semitism
    Apartheid
    Bds
    Blessings
    B'nai Mitzvah Poem
    Broken Heart
    Cancer
    Caretaker Blog
    Carl Levin
    Chanukah
    Civil Discourse
    Civil Rights
    Community
    Congressional Funding
    December Dilemma
    Dominion Over The Earth
    Dor L' Dor
    Ehud Barack
    Environment
    Eulogy
    Forgiveness
    Gaza
    Gratitude
    Gun Control
    Hallel
    Hameitim (hamatim)
    Health Care
    High Holidays
    Holocaust
    Human Rights
    Human Rights Council
    Hunger
    Immigration
    Invocation
    Iron Dome
    Israel
    Jewish Council For Public Affairs
    Justice
    Kabbalat
    Kaddish
    LGBTQ
    Link In Chain
    Love
    Lulav And Etrog
    Memories
    Middot
    Miracles
    Mi Sheberach
    Mourning
    Mussar
    Occupation
    Palestinian Aid
    Palestinians
    Paris Climate Accords
    Passover
    Pay Equality
    PCUSA
    Pesach
    Politics
    Prayer
    President Obama
    Pres.Obama
    Purim
    Reb Zalman
    Reproductive Health
    Rocket Attacks
    Security Wall
    Seder
    Separation Of Church & State
    Service
    Shabbat
    Shema
    Shofar
    Steve Sheffey
    Stress
    Sukkot
    Teshuva
    Tikun Olam
    Together Colorado
    Tu B'Av
    Tzedek
    Tzedek Terdof
    Uahc General Assembly
    United Nations
    U.S. And Israel
    U.S. Presidents And Israel
    V'Haya Im Sh'moa
    Violence
    Voting
    Women's Rights
    Women's Rights
    Women's Rights
    World Council Of Churches
    Wow Women Of The Wall
    Yahrzeit

    RSS Feed

    I'd love to hear from you. Please leave a comment. To subscribe to this blog leave your email at RSS FEED.

    Author

    Community educator, choreographer, composer, performer, Becker, M.S.W., M.Ed., M.R.S., Ph.D., serves as rabbi for Temple Emanuel-Pueblo, cellist for Apples and Honey and is a Storahtelling Maven.

    Archives

    March 2022
    February 2022
    November 2021
    April 2021
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    November 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    September 2018
    January 2018
    September 2017
    August 2017
    June 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    October 2016
    July 2016
    February 2016
    December 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    May 2015
    March 2015
    December 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    November 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    June 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012


    FOR MORE INFORMATION ON ISRAEL
    https://www.standwithus.com/
    http://www.standforisrael.org
    http://unitedwithisrael.org/

    WOMEN OF THE WALL http://www.nytimes.com/video/2012/12/22/world/middleeast/100000001969698/women-at-the-western-wall.html
Proudly powered by Weebly