Counting the Omer: Four Myths about Jewish Meditation

[vimeo http://vimeo.com/86436446]

Thank you to our congregant, Elise Luce Kraemer, who helps to lead our regular Friday evening Shabbat-prep meditation, for this below article about helpful hints that make Jewish meditation more accessible for us all!

  1. I tried meditation once, but I couldn’t stop thinking, therefore I am “bad” at meditating.

Typically, meditation involves focusing on breath, a sound, or a prayer with the intention to quiet the mind.  However, everyone who has a working mind experiences thoughts while meditating.  The goal of meditation is not to get rid of you mind, but instead to cultivate mindfulness.  That is, to become aware of your thoughts and emotions, acknowledge them without judgment, and gently return to your practice, e.g. your breath.  Even very experienced meditators often experience “monkey mind” (where your mind is all over the place, jumping from thought to thought) when they meditate – it is simply human nature.Continue reading

Counting the Omer: In Honor of the Memory of Maya Angelou

For teaching us the redemptive healing in telling our stories, for inspiring civil rights work not yet complete, for captivating a country with written and spoken word, thank you, Maya Angelou.  May your memory be a blessing.

On today’s Omer counting, in honor of Maya Angelou’s memory, we pray that, in her words, we may “give birth again to the dream.”Continue reading

Counting the Omer: Liberated, Only to Be Bound

What is freedom in a world of obligation?  Liberation in a religion of responsibility?  As we move further from Pesach and closer to Shavuot, consider David Brooks’ ideas about how we are liberated, only to be bound.

Baruch Ata Adonai, Elohenu Melech ha-olam asher kidishanu b’mitzvotav vitzivanu al s’firat ha’omer. Blessed are You, Eternal our God, Ruler of the universe, who makes us holy with sacred actions and enjoins us to count the omer.

Hayom shloshah v’arba-im yom, shehem shishah shavuot v’yom echad la-omer.

Today is 43 days which is 6 weeks and 1 day of the Omer.

Counting the Omer: Today’s Gratitude for Our Teachers

“Find yourself a teacher and acquire for yourself a friend,” Pirke Avot teaches.  This article about child care and early education rather than “day care” is an interesting reminder about the learning and care our Buerger Early Learning Center teachers bring our children every day.  Today, we were thrilled to honor our Buerger Early Learning Center pre-K teacher Suzy Curcio, winner of the Howard and Terri Abrams Teacher Recognition Award!  Thank you, Suzy, for being a teacher to us all!  We devote this 38th day of the Omer to all of our ELC teachers for the guidance and care your bring to all our children.

Baruch Ata Adonai, Elohenu Melech ha-olam asher kidishanu b’mitzvotav vitzivanu al s’firat ha’omer. Blessed are You, Eternal our God, Ruler of the universe, who makes us holy with sacred actions and enjoins us to count the omer.

Hayom shmonah ushiloshim yom, shehem chamishah shavuot ushloshash yamim la-omer.

Today is 38 days which is 5 weeks and 3 days of the Omer.

Counting the Omer: No Appeal on Justice

10269140_10203147345139620_1557462738109838941_oStill in the afterglow of yesterday’s ruling to strike down Pennsylvania’s ban on same-sex marriage, we just learned that the governor will not appeal!  The rejoicing for this step towards LGBT civil rights now feels even more real.  At this moment in the Omer, we look back from where we came, we look forward to what is yet to achieve, and we stand solidly in the present moment, grateful for what is.

Baruch Ata Adonai, Elohenu Melech ha-olam asher kidishanu b’mitzvotav vitzivanu al s’firat ha’omer. Blessed are You, Eternal our God, Ruler of the universe, who makes us holy with sacred actions and enjoins us to count the omer.

Hayom shivah ushiloshim yom, shehem chamishah shavuot ushnei yamim la-omer.

Today is 37 days which is 5 weeks and 2 days of the Omer.

Counting the Omer and Counting on Equality

photo 3 (1)What a thrill it was to gather with congregants in celebration of today’s ruling that Pennsylvania’s ban on same sex marriage is unconstitutional!  There is plenty of work still to do in our commonwealth and our nation, for the cause of LGBT civil rights.  But today, we celebrate.

Thank you, Michael Riccardi, for sharing this article:Continue reading

Counting the Omer: Imagine What Could Be

In her book, Omer: A Counting, Rabbi Karyn Kedar identifies a theme for each week.  This 5th week, beginning today, she names, “Imagine.”  Kedar writes:

“God declared that the land was flowing with milk and honey.  But it was not.  the land had date palms, tall, ready to yield their fruit that could become honey.  And it had goats grazing peacefully on the side of mountains, ready to give milk,  And we bless God who brings forth bread from the earth.  But God does not.  Rather, the fields are abundant with golden grain, waiting for harvest, waiting for human endeavor.  The sustenance from milk, the satisfaction from bread, the sweetness of honey all require us to see what is, imagine what could be, and create what we can.

“This is the secret of our power: To see the invisible!  Continue reading

Counting the Omer: Our Kids Leading

Ever seen a young boy stand up to lead, and then a second child stand with him, starting a small movement? At today’s service for this year’s last day of Berkman Mercaz Limud, when Rabbi Freedman was about to announce the year’s total in collected tzedakah (righteous giving), one boy stood up, held a dollar high in his hand, and brought it to the front of the sanctuary.  A second child then stood with him and brought tzedakah to the front of the room.  Child by child, then adults too, brought more money to add to the collection to go to people in need.  Our year’s tzedakah total was increased by over $100 in just one morning, because one kid stood up, and then another.

“Teach them to your children,” Rabbi Kuhn reminded us this morning, the Torah teaches us to teach the words of Torah to the next generation.  And yet, Rabbi Kuhn said, so often it’s the children who teach us!  When was the last time a child taught something to you?Continue reading

Counting the Omer: The Lighter Side

http://www.nbc.com/late-night-with-seth-meyers/video/seths-story-seths-jewish-enough/2776163

For Lag b’omer custom teaches us to lighten up the Omer intensity a bit with picnics, bonfires and celebration.  Enjoy!

Baruch Ata Adonai, Elohenu Melech ha-olam asher kidishanu b’mitzvotav vitzivanu al s’firat ha’omer. Blessed are You, Eternal our God, Ruler of the universe, who makes us holy with sacred actions and enjoins us to count the omer.

Hayom shloshah ushiloshim yom, shehem arbah-ah shavuot vachamishah yamim la-omer.

Today is 33 days which are 4 weeks and 5 days of the Omer.

Counting the Omer: Deeds of Lovingkindness

“The Torah begins with deeds of lovingkindness and ends with deeds of lovingkindness” (BT Sotah 14a).

The renowned and beloved singer-songwriter Debbie Friedman, of blessed memory, observed that it tends to be easy for us human beings to be loving with babies and old people.  The challenge is to off that kind of easy affection toward everyone. (Thank you to Rabbi Amy Eilberg for sharing this teaching in her book: From Enemy to Friend: Jewish Wisdom and the Pursuit of Peace).

As we count the Omer today, can you think of a recent time when you found it difficult to offer someone lovingkindness?Continue reading