Community Corner
Exploring Faith: Life Lessons Learned at Temple Hatikvah
This week we visited Temple Hatikvah, a Conservative Jewish Temple in Flanders.
How far into the world do our words reach? And once uttered, can we ever take back what we have said? These questions were central to the the lesson that I encountered during my visit to Temple Hatikvah, a Conservative Jewish Temple in Flanders.
I participated in my first Shabbat on Saturday, April 9. In Christianity the day of rest is referred to as the Sabbath. In Hebrew, the day of rest is called Shabbat and is celebrated on Saturday.
While much of the ritual was spoken and sung in Hebrew, I was inspired and intrigued by the central lesson of the day–the concept of Lashon Harah or damaging speech.
Find out what's happening in Long Valleywith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Rabbi Moshe Rudin read from the Torah the scripture Metzorah, Leviticus 14:1-15:33, which is devoted to reflecting on the destructive disease of leprosy. But the Rabbi explained that the Torah uses leprosy as a symbol for the destructive power of speech or gossip in the world.
He amplified the lesson by telling a story from Jewish folklore about a villager who engaged in idle gossip. When the victim of the gossip challenged the villager, he replied by saying, well I can just simply take my words back.
Find out what's happening in Long Valleywith free, real-time updates from Patch.
But the Rabbi of the village wanted to send a very important message to the one who was gossiping. The Rabbi said, go to a rooftop with a pillowcase filled with feathers, then cut the pillowcase and scatter the feathers. Then, retrieve every single one of the feathers. The Rabbi said, this is how easy it will be for you to retract your words.
Rabbi Rudin said that what is considered damaging speech does not only refer to circulating statements that are untrue. Spreading information that has a negative effect, even if it is true, is also considered Lashon Harah.
I found this lesson to be very powerful, especially as a member of the news media and a professional communicator.
Examining the far-reaching effects of the words and the ideas that we choose to circulate in the world, requires profound reflection.
What I also found intriguing was the way the Conservative tradition interprets and practices Shabbat.
The Conservative Perspective: Upholding Tradition
As the Rabbi explained, Conservative Jews adhere to traditional prayers and rituals.
"As an adherent to tradition, I find great meaning in the language and rituals that have accompanied and preserved my people for millenia. I am unwilling to do violence to a liturgy that has been given to me by my ancestors," said Rabbi Rudin.
He said, "While there might be moments, language and concepts that I find difficult to understand, I also find it very fruitful to struggle with the text and find ways that I can say the words which may not be the literal meaning but are all the deeper and richer for it."
He explained that the word "Yisrael" or Israel means "God wrestler" and the struggle for meaning and clarity is what the tradition teaches.
"As the great and holy Rebbe of Kotzk, Menachem Mendel, said, 'I can't believe in a God that I can understand or in a religion that I can explain.' Spirituality is an encounter, not a dogma. It is a vital relationship with moments of closeness and distance," said Rudin.
Emphasis on Reflection, Rest & Rejuvenation
While I began my attendance at Shabbat taking copious notes, I was told by a member that I was not allowed to write during this time.
In fact, after the service I was told that writing and the use of electronic equipment is not allowed on Shabbat until sundown.
The purpose of Shabbat is a day of rest, prayer and reflection and one is not supposed to engage in any kind of work related activities until after sundown on Saturday.
This prompted me to think about our modern life that is accelerating beyond our wildest visions. We are invited to be plugged in every moment and the ability to multitask now makes one sort of a god or at very least a much sought after new employee. Just read the job ads.
How many of us actually give ourselves 20 minutes or even an hour, let alone a day to reflect, pray, meditate and rejuvenate?
We tend to think that unless we are actively doing something every moment, completing our endless “to do” list, that we’re not being productive. Somehow, just being is not allowed anymore.
When I was told by one of the members that I should not be writing at Shabbat, I put down my pen, and was then able to simply experience the ritual with its poetic words and beautiful song. Afterward we shared bread and wine and sumptuous desserts.
Exodus 31:15-17 tells us, “For six days you may perform melchah, but the seventh day is a complete Sabbath, holy to the Lord. It is an eternal sign that in six days, the Lord made heaven and earth and on the seventh day he rested and was refreshed.”
My visit to Temple Hatikvah invited me to consider a life that incorporates rest, balance, and time to reflect. While in many ways this is a radical concept today, it’s actually thousands of years old.
For more information about Temple Hatikvah in Flanders, NJ, visit the Web site at:http://www.templehatikvahnj.org/