I WANTED TO SHARE THIS WITH EVERYONE: Amichai Lau-Lavie is the founding director of Storahtelling Inc and the spiritual leader of Lab/Shul. An Israeli-born Jewish educator, writer, and performer, he was hailed by Time Out New York as “Super Star of David,” an “iconoclastic mystic,” and as “one of the most interesting thinkers in the Jewish world” by the New York Jewish Week. He is currently a rabbinical student at the Jewish Theological Seminary of America. Amichai was a Jerusalem Fellow at the Mandel Leadership Institute in Israel (2008-2009) and is a consultant to the Reboot Network, a member of the URJ Faculty Team, and a fellow of the new Clergy Leadership Institute. He is the proud Abba of Alice, Ezra, and Charlotte-Hallel. Sad Note from Jerusalem. June 30 2014 To the Lab/Shul Community: Earlier today, on Jerusalems promenade overlooking the old city I officiated the B Mitzvah of Noah Kaye, a lovely young boy from NYC whom Ive seen grow up over the years. Noah and his family are part of the Storahtelling Lab/Shul community. Before we began the ceremony I asked Noahs grandfather Isaac to give his grandson a personal blessing - one good advice for life. Isaac quoted his own father Shlomo: fighting is easy, making peace is more complicated. Always try to make peace. At the ceremony Noah translated the Torah story of Balaam, the one eyed prophet who was hired to curse Israel but, thanks to his stubborn taking donkey, changed his mind, and blessed us instead with immortal words: How beautiful are the tents of Jacob. May you always know how to turn curses into blessing, face each challenge with creativity and find the good in everything I told Noah, after he completed his stunning rendition of the Torah story, Storahtelling style, and after we prayed together for healing and for the safe return of the three kidnapped boys. A few hours later I was sitting with a few friends at a busy Jerusalem cafe, with a large crowd watching soccer on a large screen. Nigeria vs. France. Then a news flash buzzed on my iphone. And I started crying. Around me, the game still went on, at a table near by a newly wed couple was sung to. For a brief moment the soccer game was replaced by a news channel but then the screen went blank. Slowly, the mood changed around us. The singing stopped. An hour or so later, after roaming the streets of Jerusalem we stumbled upon a large group of Israelis watching yet another soccer game on a large screen, cheering, tense. Whats the score? someone asked. And in typical Israeli dark humor someone replied: Well know tomorrow morning. Whats normal? What of this makes any sense? yes, life went on in many bars and restaurants tonight in the middle of Jerusalem. Its horrible, a friend said to me, but life, for now, goes on. Tomorrow they may call me up for army duty. Just this past Friday I sat with my brother and debated the exi stence of pure evil. Whoever kidnapped those boys, Hamas or not, he said - was guilty of pure evil. They were targeted, with clear intention of harm. How is that differrent than the blood of the 3 Palestinian boys killed during the search raids on Hebron, I asked. The intent may be different, but blood is blood, and evil no longer has a priority or purity attached to it when kids become war victims. he argued that intent matters, Hamas plays dirty while the I DF is never guilty of such malice, and that the enemy at our gates is here to destroy us. period. Our conversation ended abruptly. He got a phone call from the mother of the one of the three boys, a close friend of his, who needed his counsel and attention before Shabbat began, the third shabbat without the boys, the last shabbat of hope. Tonight, memorial candles burn in homes and city squares and streets, the media reports compete for horrid details, the loss is harrowing and the fear of what will happen next is stark and real. Whats the score? How have we all not tired of keeping scores. How long before these curses turn to blessing? I think of Grandpa Isaacs advice to his grandson Noah, just today -but yet so long ago - peace is harder, but much more worth it than the fight. I invite you, friends, near and far, to take a moment now, or three, with me, as you read this, to sit silently, close your eyes and ask for peace - within, beyond. Light a candle, with me, for the memory of these three newest victims and all the others of this conflict in the past few weeks. Maybe we can prevent more bloodshed in the weeks to come through our intention, through our hope for kinder days. Its impossible to fall asleep tonight. My heart is heavy thinking of the broken families. I think of the soldiers and the people up tonight in preparation for whatever lies ahead. I fear, like all of us, it wont be in line with Grandpa Isaacs blessing. I personally see no point in vengeance, in endless circles of retribution. There is no justice to be gained, even when decisive measures will and must be made to bring the murderers to trial and to stop such future actions. More blood will not bring the boys back. This is just one persons opinion. A former soldier, so tired of recycled rage. There must be another way. Grandpa Isaacs way. I pray for courage and compassion, patience and prudence in the minds and hearts of all decision makers, and all who are on the front lines of yet another round. The crescent moon is still up. From the old city I hear the early morning calls to prayer - it is almost the third dawn of Ramadan. What will tomorrow bring to this ancient land of broken hearts and promises? How will we not fuel the flames of hatred as we grieve and mourn and hold each others hand? Ramadan will end again and so will soccer season. Scores will settle. Or they wont. Soon the three weeks will commence - memories of Jewish persecution, loss and exile, mingling with the summer heat, culminating with another fast. Prayers will be prayed. Some boys will celebrate their coming of age and others will be buried. Blessings and curses will take turns. Sit with me tonight, in silence, pray for patience, healing, courage, kindness, consolation, hope. I welcome your reactions, thoughts and prayers. May all memories become blessings. Yehi Shalom: Pray for peace among your multitudes, for serenity in every home. Amichai Lau-Lavie
Posted on: Tue, 01 Jul 2014 00:55:17 +0000
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