How can faith bring about a happier New Year? - Asking the Clergy

Check out my latest column in Newsday's "Asking the Clergy."  This week's question: "How can faith bring about a happier New Year?

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Jewish tradition teaches that happiness is most often achieved when we change our outlook and appreciate the blessings in our lives.  In the Talmud, we learn of a man named Nachum Ish Gamzu who was considered to be the happiest person in his generation.  Nachum suffered the horrible tragedy of living his days without the use of his legs or arms, an experience that would lead most of us towards depression and self-doubt.  Yet, whenever something bad happened, Nachum would reply, “This too happened for a good reason.”  It was his attitude that made him the happiest person in the world.  He constantly appreciated all of the gifts he possessed and never focused on the negative.

In addition, Jewish tradition also teaches that happiness is achieved by being part of a spiritual community.  In Psalm 106:3 we learn: “Happy are those who act justly, who do right at all times.”  While in Psalm 86:5 we are reminded: “Happy is the one who finds refuge in You.”  Finally, Proverbs 3:18 clarifies the importance of wisdom and the happiness that is achieved through study.  These Jewish texts deliver a resounding message, that happiness is attained through engagement with others: through learning, prayerful experiences, and acts of kindness.

As the calendar turns from 2016 to 2017, may all of us appreciate the many blessings that are a part of our lives.  May we search out moments of connection with our own faith communities and with the broader world that surrounds us. 

Newsday Asking the Clergy: What makes a good summertime sermon?

This past weekend, I appeared in Newsday's "Asking the Clergy."  Check out my response to the question: What makes a good summertime sermon?

 

It should not matter whether a sermon is delivered on the hottest day of summer or the coldest evening in winter.  In Judaism, a sermon is called a d’var Torah, a word of Torah, which is based upon the weekly reading from the Five Books of Moses.  Luckily, the stories and lessons from the Torah don’t change!  Over the next few weeks, the Jewish community will delve into the Book of Numbers, which addresses the interactions between competing groups in the Sinai Desert.  Stories of rebellions and skirmishes remind us of the difficulty of navigating relationships with those around us, especially when we each possess such different viewpoints.

Although the Torah remains the same, the world around us is constantly changing.  It’s imperative that a sermon soothe the heart and uplift the soul.  Many of us are searching for comfort and healing after the devastating massacre in France.  Others are saddened by the recent shootings across our country and look for an approach forward around issues around racism, security, injustice, and violence.  Our eyes now turn towards the election, as we reflect upon the leadership traits of our next president, who we hope will lead us towards a better tomorrow.

A sermon is a sermon whether delivered in July or February.  The only difference is that we now possess a little more time for reflection.  May the words we hear guide us forward, pushing us towards action, to make our world a more caring, compassionate, and peaceful place.