The Luster of the Pearls - Erev Rosh Hashanah Story 5782

 

As has become our tradition, each year on Erev Rosh Hashanah I begin our High Holy Day season with a story.  This year, I’d like to share a story with you entitled “The Pearls of the Habsburgs.”  For many years a story similar to this one was told and retold by Milton Bendiner, the Education Director of Temple Beth-El in San Antonio.  Generations of children and adults in San Antonio grew up with this story and I proudly share with you my own version this evening.

Long ago,[i] lived the great European rulers known as the Habsburgs.  As you might know, the Habsburgs ruled an empire spanning east to west, over tiny hamlets as well as the large and elegant cities of Vienna, Budapest, and Prague.  The Habsburgs were known for many things: their magnificent palaces, their love of music, their collection of art, but most especially for their crowns and their jewels.  Their tiaras and swords, orbs and scepters, were the most stunning in the world.  Gold, silver, rubies, and diamonds, but most precious, were their very rare pearls.  The emperors, empresses, dukes, and duchesses regaled the world with their beautiful pearls.

Over time, the Habsburgs saw that their pearls began slowly to lose their luster.  The pearls didn’t sparkle in the same way; they no longer shimmered; they became dull, ordinary.  The pearls were no longer unique or as precious as before.

“Call, the Imperial Jeweler,” screamed the Emperor. 

“Yes, your majesty, how can I be of assistance” 

“Imperial Jeweler, our pearls have lost their luster.  As you know, the coronation of our son, the Duke, will occur in three-months-time.  Our jewels can’t be ordinary; our pearls must shimmer.  Find someone, anyone, to restore these pearls to their original luster.”

“Yes, your majesty!”

The Imperial Jeweler tried his best, but nothing he did could restore the pearls.  He decided instead to send officials to every town in the land asking for guidance and assistance.

The officials began in Vienna, the capital city.  The owner of the most prestigious jewelry store suggested using a cloth to buff the pearls.  But that didn’t work.

Onward the officials traveled to Budapest.  The Imperial Jeweler of the East suggested setting the pearls in sunlight for seven straights days.  But that didn’t work either.

Onward the officials traveled to Prague.  An important gem collector suggested rubbing the pearls with sand.  But unfortunately, that didn’t work either.

Onward the officials traveled, from larger city to smaller town, from smaller town to even teeny tiny village, but no one could come up with the correct approach to restore the pearls’ luster.

Finally, with only days left until the three months deadline, the officials arrived at the very end of the empire, at a small hamlet on the Adriatic Sea.  There they saw a tiny house that stood next to the water.  Inside, they met an old woman who glanced intently at the pearls. 

“I know what must be done,” she said.  “Leave them with me and in three-days-time, I will return them to their former beauty.”

True to her word, three days later, the woman entered the capital city of Vienna.

The Imperial Jeweler and the Emperor quickly rushed her into the Throne Room.  There, she pulled out a small mesh bag, opened it, to reveal the shimmering, sparkling pearls.

“They are beautiful once again!” cried the Emperor.  “How did you return them to their former luster?”

“These pearls are very special.  I recognized them immediately as the pearls found near my village on the Adriatic Sea.  Only one thing can revive pearls such as these.  To return to their former luster, the pearls must be immersed in the waters where they were originally formed.  And it must be done annually, at the same season!”

And so, every year at this time, the Imperial Jeweler is entrusted to take the pearls to the shore of that distant land.  The pearls are placed in the same mesh bag and immersed in the waters where they were originally formed.  And once again their luster is restored for another year.”

Rosh Hashanah is a moment turning, of returning.  We even call this season Aseret Yamei Teshuvah, the 10 Days of Return.  We return to be renewed by our Jewish tradition.  We return to deepen our connection to our Jewish community.  We return with the hope to become our best selves.  We return with the dream that together we can build a better world.

Each year, as summer comes to a close, as September begins, we recognize that like those pearls, we too have lost a little bit of our luster.  We see that our shells have dulled; no longer do they shimmer or sparkle.  This year especially, has been very long and difficult.  Each of us, in small and in big ways, have struggled with how best to cope in this changing world.  So many of us are tired, beaten down, dulled by many challenges of this past year.

How many of us are angry?  How many pessimistic for our future?  How many of us are cynical?  How many of us depressed, worried, or anxious?  Our pearls no longer shimmer.  We need spiritual renewal; we need hope, optimism, and a sense that things will get better.

And so, on this start of the New Year, I welcome you back home!  Whether you are with us on Zoom or gathered in our Meadow, you have returned again for another service, another High Holy Days, a new year.

Just as the pearls were revived by the waters where they were originally formed, so too, do you venture back home.  May you be revived in the waters of Torah.  May you be renewed through the words of our Jewish tradition.  May your luster shine once again through the companionship of your Jewish community.  May you sparkle and shimmer through the renewing acts of prayer, study, and lovingkindness.

The Habsburgs pearls continued to dull year after year.  It was only when the Duke’s coronation arrived, that the Emperor recognized the urgency of the situation.  For all of us, it’s often easier to ignore our troubles and to pretend everything is ok.  We need those moments of urgency to awaken us, to propel us to repair ourselves and our world.

We’ve all had those moments of urgency this past year: loss, saying goodbye to loved ones, illness, and struggle. But, let us not forget the moments of simcha: new babies, graduations, birthdays, joyous celebrations!  What are the moments of urgency that awaken you?  What, my friends, brought you here tonight, to be with your Jewish community?  What propels you to join us on these High Holy Days?

The old woman reminds us that the pearls should be immersed each year, at the same time.  That is good advice, I recommend it!  But don’t forget that it took years and years until the pearls were first immersed in the living waters.  Let that be a reminder for all of us, that it’s never too late to return.  Whether you’ve been gone for years or this is your first ever High Holy Days, welcome!  It’s never too late to begin anew, to start again, to return again.

These next few weeks and months will be difficult.  We will need to change and adapt in order to transform ourselves and our world.  Returning will be different this year, just as it was last year.  Yet, here we are and together we will make a difference, build a community, and heal our world.  Like the Habsburg pearls, may you be revived in the waters of Judaism.  May you find our moments together a source of blessing and renewal.  May prayer, community, and acts of kindness provide you with the strength you need to not only survive this year, but to thrive this year.  Here we are, as we return again.  Amen.

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[i] My own story which is adapted from a version told by Milton Bendiner of Temple Beth-El San Antonio

I'm too busy...

One of my favorite things about living in New York is the energy, the feeling that pervades everything we do.  As a person who grew up in the Midwest, New York just feels different.  There’s always so much to do; so much to see.  Broadway plays, the Opera, the Museums, an incredible meal… the world is our oyster.  And New Yorkers never slow down.  We’re constantly moving and going, running from place to place.  Yet, with all on our plate, I often hear these three most dreaded words: “I’m too busy!”  Let’s go to a show: “I’m too busy.”  Let’s grab dinner: “I’m too busy!”  Let’s get together, “I’m too busy!” 

This week’s double Torah portion, Vayakhel-Pikudei, is perfect for the busy New Yorker!  Over the course of five chapters in the Book of Exodus, we have a to-do list to rival any other!  Our ancestors worked together to build the Mishkan, the sacred prayer space that existed in the wilderness.  The Israelites built the furniture for the Mishkan: the lampstand, the altar, the Ark of the Covenant, and the planks for the sides and the doors.  

They wove tapestries of all colors that formed the walls.  And they fashioned the clothing of the Cohenim, the priests of Israel: the headscarf, the pants, the coat, and all of their accoutrement.  This was serious work.  Our ancestors with the help of Betzalel and Oholiab, the chief architects, spent hours upon hours creating this sacred prayer space for the Eternal One.  There was no time to do anything else… they were just “too busy”!

Yet, what I find most inspiring is the first two lines of this week’s Torah portion.  We begin with this address from Moses: “These are the things that the Eternal One has commanded you to do: On six days work may be done, but on the seventh day you shall have a Sabbath of complete rest, holy to the Eternal…”  Prior to sharing this massive to-do list, prior to the doing and making, the creating and designing, Moses reminds the people that they must rest.  You can’t work, work, work without Shabbat.  You can’t keep going, without a moment to pause or a day for renewal.  Even when creating sacred space, our ancestors put down their tools and rested.

This is truly a lesson for our age.  We spend far too much time at work.  We focus much too much of our energy and our thoughts on all that we must accomplish.  It’s almost impossible to unplug; we are tied to the world around us 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with no real ability to break away.  We are just “too busy!”  Moses reminds us that in order to be our best, we need to turn on the OFF button.  We need one day out of seven, to stop, rest, and refresh.  

The Holy One commanded us to focus on the world around us, to fulfill our responsibility to act and do and work.  Yet, God also commanded us to focus on ourselves, to transform ourselves for the better.  So, let’s work hard, but let’s also take some time to renew ourselves… to unplug, to sleep-in, to study some Torah, and read a book; to spend time with loved ones, to go out to dinner, to see a show, have Shabbat dinner, and to just rest.  Shabbat Shalom!

A Prayer for 5777: May Our Conscience be Stirred

Avinu Malkenu – 

Hear Our Voice.

As we begin the New Year 5777,

we reflect upon the year that has just passed:

a year where we didn't acheive our best,
and our world hasn't acheived its highest hopes.

Avinu Malkenu -

Hear the sound of our pleading,

listen to the voice of our prayers.

Avinu Malkenu – 

Bestow upon us the strength to change,

the fortitude to grow,

the willingness to move beyond ourselves.

Avinu Malkenu – 

As we call upon you,

may our cries awaken something deep within us:

the voice of our conscience,

that struggles with apathy, indifference, and laziness.

May our cries rouse us to return to our best selves,

May our cries stir us to feel empathy and compassion,

May our cries move us to make a difference.

and may 5777, 

be a year of peace, 

a year of growth, 

and a year of change.

Rabbi Andy Gordon

The Gates are Opened

It never matters!  It always seems that I make the wrong choice.  It begins about a mile before the toll plaza.  My hands grip the steering wheel; I look up. “Which lane is moving the fastest?  Do I stay where I am or move over?”  As I begin to slow down, I scan the horizon.  There seem to be countless EZ-Pass lanes with their purple lights beckoning me.  I choose a lane that looks to be moving, but without fail, the car in front of me approaches the gate and nothing happens.  The gate stays closed.  Not again!  I wait as always, for the police officer to come and write a ticket.  Slowly, I nudge up and the electronic signal beckons.  The gate goes up and I begin to cross the bridge, off on my journey.

We are in the midst of our own journey, our Jewish journey, towards our best selves, our highest selves.  This is the month of Elul, our moment in Jewish time when we reflect upon all of the choices that we’ve made.  According to tradition, the gates of our lives are about to open!  Over the next few weeks, we’re provided with an incredible opportunity to mend fractured relationships, to ask for forgiveness, and do our part to improve our lives.  The gates are now open: the gates of forgiveness, the gates of justice, the gates of kindness, the gates of renewal.  It’s during this time of year that we’re more willing to listen to our conscience; that our friends and neighbors are more open to forgiveness, even the Holy One looks upon our mistakes with more compassion.  The gates are opened, but in just a few weeks, on Yom Kippur, the gates will close.  Our best opportunity to begin anew will close, just like that toll plaza gate.

Our Torah offers us words and teachings to prepare for these High Holy Days, to provide us with the tools we need to enter that gate towards a better life.  Last week’s Torah portion, Ki Tetzei began with these words: “When you go out.”  That Torah portion spoke about the lessons our people learned after leaving Egypt.  We are reminded that before we can move forward, we must look backwards.  We can’t start anew, until we understand our past.  

These High Holy Days provide us with the perfect opportunity to reflect upon our past.  Moments of quiet, beautiful haunting melodies, and a chance to step-back from the hustle and bustle of daily life.  We need to seize these moments to remember the times where we personally missed the mark.  When didn’t we do our best.  When we could we have acted more kindly or justly or compassionately.  As we look to journey forward, we take time to remember who we were: looking at all of our warts and wrinkles, and all of our beauty and splendor as well.

Now, it’s not just the past we reflect upon, it’s the future as well.  This week’s Torah portion Ki Tavo begins with these words: “When you enter…”  Written there are the lessons our ancestors took with them as they entered the Promised Land.  Their hopes and dreams as they began a new life in a new land.  These the same question that we ask ourselves: what are our hopes and dreams in the year ahead?  What do we hope to accomplish?  What do we hope will come to fruition?

Now, our ancestors didn’t just enter the land of Israel empty-handed.  The Torah teaches us that they brought gifts of their first fruits with them.  These were their most prized possessions, their first fruits and vegetables as gifts of Thanksgiving to the Holy One.

As we begin our new year, we also think about the gifts that we possess.  And we each have many gifts.

We have our talents and passions, which make each of us unique.  Gifts that no one else possesses that we can use to better our families and our world.  What are those talents?  How can you use them to their fullest potential?

We also have the gifts of our time and energy.  We all are overworked, overwhelmed, and exhausted, but even with all of our complaining and all of our kvetching, we still have a few extra hours of time throughout the year.  How can we use this gift of time to give back to our community, to help?

Finally, we have the gift of money – tzedakah – which can be used to help our broader community and organizations who are doing incredible work.  How can we use our dollars to make a difference?

When I enter the toll plaza, I never seem to choose the right lane.  The gate always seemed closed, blocking me from my journey forward.  The gates of our lives are now opened, but shortly they will close, we’ll be unable make the change we hope possible.

As the gates open, we are given an incredible gift, the gift of reflection, openness, a new beginning.  May we take the time in the weeks ahead to think about our past, the mistakes we made and the times where we missed the mark.  May we reflect upon the journey ahead: our hopes and dreams for 5777.  And may we recognize all of the gifts provided to us: our talents, our passions, our time, and our tzedakah.  May we each journey forth to a year full of goodness, sweetness, and growth.  Amen.