Lifelong Learning & Loving with Physical Distance
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Note from Rabbi Rappaport
:
Hello dear ones. My how life has changed, so much and so quickly. In this email you’ll find five sections: First, I want to offer some imagery from the heart of Torah as a guidepost for this time of fear and unknowing: the Wilderness. Following that, you’ll find some moments for learning and respite together during the weeks ahead; a section on Preparing for Pesach in the Time of Covid-19; a word about money; and a compilation of some exceptional Jewish learning offerings from our colleagues around the world.
A Metaphor for Today
Our people spent 40 years in the Wilderness after Egypt and before the Promised land. Most of the Torah - four of the Five Books of Moses take place predominantly in the Wilderness. What might we learn from our people’s time in the wilderness?
1.
Keep the wilderness metaphor in mind.
It gives context for a before and an after. Our people had experienced a radical rupture from life as they knew it. In that state, they were vulnerable, dependent on God’s goodness for every meal and every drink. Every attempt at controlling their situation backfired. They could not return to their prior lives, nor could they have any idea of what lay ahead. The pull to despair was strong - the Israelites, perhaps like us now, could not yet envision a different sort of future. Remembering this story helps us connect with the possibility that there is a Promised Land out there for us, even when we can’t yet feel it.
2.
Remember the manna.
Every day in the wilderness, God gave manna to the people to eat, with two portions on Friday so they wouldn’t have to gather on Shabbat. If someone tried to gather an extra portion it would literally rot with maggots! So the model for sustenance was to receive exactly what was offered that day. The manna reminds us to practice gratitude as we notice that we are receiving exactly what we need in each moment.
3.
Embrace the wilderness as part of life’s journey.
Yes, it’s challenging us at our core. And it’s a critical time to practice presence, faith, and humility – because it is profoundly humbling to be shown that we are not in control. If we can experience challenging times as valuable and important, then they can make us stronger and more able to give back to the community.
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Cultivating Resilience in the Wilderness
There is so much we don’t know about how everything will unfold, but one thing is clear to me: many of us have extremely stressed nervous systems. When our bodies are in “fight or flight” mode, everything else that helps our resilience is compromised: sleep, digestion, immune systems, clear thinking, and more.
In addition to the Zoom gatherings that have already been developing (Storytime + Shema; Thursday minyan; Erev Shabbat and Havdalah), these next two are intended to support a necessary sense of wellbeing and resilience.
Mincha Moment
is inspired by
Mincha,
the traditional afternoon prayer;
m’nucha
means rest or peacefulness. It’s a 20 minute time-out for intention-setting and meditation. The Torah study will be an hour, with a focus on texts that will remind us of the beauty and interconnectedness in life.
Both these programs are 3-week experiments, which means that the form, the times, and other aspects may morph after the first three weeks, based on the needs of participants.
Mincha
Moment - 4:00 to 4:20 pm Mondays and Wednesdays
starting March 25. Mincha is the traditional afternoon prayer;
m’nucha
means rest or peacefulness. Join Rabbi Rappaport and others for a brief check-in, teaching, and meditation to reconnect with a vital sense of wellbeing.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/790537452?pwd=ZFpVYVR5aStwb2N1SDFDdG5mNWF3Zz09
Meeting ID: 790 537 452
Password: 693408
Lunch & Learn “
Torah for Difficult Times” Thursdays 12:00 noon - 1:00 pm
with Rabbi Rappaport, starting March 26. What questions or insights might the parsha (the designated Torah portion for the week) offer us in these trying times?
Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/484632302
Meeting ID: 484 632 302
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Preparing for Pesach in the time of Physical Separation
Passover, beginning the night of April 8 (less than three weeks from now), will clearly be different this year. These Shir Tikvah virtual gatherings are intended to support members with learning, connecting, and resource-sharing. They are all “stand-alone” workshops, so join whichever ones work for you.
Wednesday, March 25, 6:00 pm “
Hosting a Seder 101
” with Rabbi Rappaport. What and how do we prepare, both logistically and spiritually? What are the key moments in a Seder? How can we lead a meaningful Seder with “just us” - a very small group? What resources can we call upon? Begin to establish the groundwork for your home-based ritual and feast of freedom during this workshop.
Join Zoom Meeting: https://zoom.us/j/122015170
Meeting ID: 122 015 170
Monday, March 30, 6:00 pm: “
Justice themes in the Seder: Relevance for our Time
” with Carin Mrotz, Executive Director of JCA.
Join Zoom Meeting. https://zoom.us/j/569844650
Meeting ID: 569 844 650
Monday, April 6, 6:00 pm “
Last minute Seder questions & Counting the Omer
” with Rabbi Rappaport. Beginning the second night of Pesach (Thursday, April 10) we are instructed to count, 49 days until Shavuot. What is the significance of this counting, historically and today? How might it support our spiritual practice during this time of physical distancing?
Join Zoom Meeting: https://zoom.us/j/662668821
Meeting ID: 662 668 821
Two more opportunities to connect around Passover are designed for families with children at home:
March 30, 3:00 pm: “
Pesach sing-along-at-home with Mr. Dennis
.” Dennis Guillaume, an integral member of Shir Tikvah’s Shabbat musical team, also leads music at preschools including Adath. Old and new Passover songs for young and young at heart!
Join Zoom Meeting: https://zoom.us/j/184028218
Meeting ID: 184 028 218
April 2, 3:00 pm “
Engaging Small Children During the Seder
” with Debbie & John Orenstein. Debbie and John have been engaging and delighting small children in Jewish life for decades! They have Passover skits and plays, coloring books, ideas for puppet shows, musicals and more.
Join Zoom Meeting: https://zoom.us/j/360531435
Meeting ID: 360 531 435
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A Word about Money
In order to break down barriers for connection during these moments of physical isolation, we are waiving the usual fees for our Sparks class. There is a wise rabbinic dictum that says,
Ein kemach, ein Torah; ein Torah, ein kemach
— “If there is no food, there is no Torah; if there is no Torah, there is no food” In other words, if there is no food in our stomachs or if we don’t have the physical or emotional essentials for life, then it is impossible for us to absorb the words of Torah or experience spirituality. And if we do not have spirituality in our lives, then we are missing the essential nutrition for our souls. This public health crisis is impacting each of us differently. Please partake of the sustenance of these offerings at no charge if that’s what you need. And please continue to give if you are able, so that Shir Tikvah can continue to build infrastructure and Torah to keep everyone connected.
Thank you for your gift to each other and this community. You can make a gift
online here
.
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More Jewish Learning - So Far and Yet So Near
We are excited to share with you a sampling of the wealth of inspiring Jewish learning being offered by our colleagues around the country and world:
Hineni
, Twin-Cities based Adult Jewish Learning and Contemplative Practice has moved all their offerings to Zoom. Up next,
Join J-Pride and Hineni for community driven learning that draws connections between stories in Noam Sienna’s
A Rainbow Thread
and classic Jewish texts. Taught by community lay-leaders we invite you into a conversation that transcends generations and invites those long on the margins, directly into the center. More details and registratio
n
here
. The Zoom link will be sent to those who pre-register and will be available via the Facebook event.
Full list of offerings at
Hadar
Virtual Beit-Midrash
Hadar empowers Jews to create and sustain vibrant, practicing, egalitarian communities of
Torah
,
Avodah
, and
Hesed
.
Hadar also pairs learners with a chavruta (study partner) for specific workshops through
Project Zug
.
Building Trust during the COVID-19 Era: Mussar Wisdom for Today.
March 25, 6:30 pm CT: “In this one-hour session we will study and discuss Jewish sources on Bitachon/Trust and try out a Mussar practice designed to develop trust. This webinar is free and open to all, including folks new to IOWA programming, as well as those who have previously participated in Mussar courses.” More information and
Zoom link
Rabbi David Jaffe, author of
Changing the World from the Inside Out,
f
ounded the Kirva Institute and leads the Inside Out Wisdom and Action Project. Mimi Micner is the Rabbinic Intern at IOWA. Read more about David and Mimi at insideoutwisdomandaction.org
SVARA
: A Traditionally Queer Yeshiva
T’ruah:
the rabbinic call for human rights
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