Diamonds and Shmaltz: An Erev Rosh Hashanah Story 5784

 

Shana Tova!  As has become our tradition, I’d like to begin these High Holy Days with a story as told by the great rabbi, the Chofetz Chaim. 

Long ago,[i] in a far-off town lived a kind merchant named Shai.  Unfortunately, misfortune after misfortune seemed to befall Shai.  No matter what Shai did, bad luck seemed to follow.  A ship laden with Shai’s supplies sunk in the Ocean.  Shai’s faithful horse broke its foot.  And just when Shai’s canal boat business was looking to succeed, the railroad came to town.  No job seemed to work out.  There was never enough money to feed and take care of the family.    

One day walking by the city’s docks, Shai heard a rumor about riches found on a far-off island.  The island was so remote that it took a yearlong boat trip just to get there.  The journey and the hardship were well worth it because the island was covered with diamonds and jewels.  The diamonds were so plentiful that they lined the streets.  And these diamonds were for the taking.  If Shai could get to this island and collect some diamonds, the family and the community would be taken care of for a lifetime or longer!

Shai began preparations for the long and risky voyage.  Bags packed, the family informed, and then the waiting began.  Only one boat a year would travel to the far-off island.  The boat would toot its horn three times and just minutes later would set off for the yearlong voyage.

A few weeks later, three toots bellowed from the port.  Shai rushed to say goodbye to the family, gave them big hugs, and readied for the three year’s journey.

The travel was arduous with horrible waves and many bouts of seasickness, but finally the island could be seen in the distance.  Shai looked with anticipation and excitement for the riches that would be found there.  As everyone disembarked from the boat, Shai saw diamonds everywhere.  The rumor was true!  There were so many diamonds on the island; they even paved the streets with them. 

Shai was shocked!  People were oblivious to the diamonds.  They walked right over them; they ignored them.  It was such lunacy!  These diamonds would bring such riches to each person’s life.

Shai immediately sat down in the middle of the street and put pocketful after pocketful of diamonds into a bag.  And then Shai noticed something strange.  Everyone was pointing and laughing.  “What’s the rush?  You have a full year to collect diamonds.  Enjoy your time here.”

Shai didn’t know what to think but decided to pocket two of the smallest diamonds.  For Shai was so hungry after the long journey.  At the nearest restaurant, Shai ordered the most expensive item on the menu, a fancy 12-ounce steak.  When the bill came, Shai proudly paid with one of those tiny, beautiful diamonds.  “Keep the change!”  

Once again, people laughed and pointed!  “Those jewels are worthless here.” 

“What is the currency here?  What is valuable to you?”

“Shmaltz”

“Shmaltz?”

“Yes, shmaltz, chicken fat!  Fat used for cooking and frying."

“What do you mean shmaltz?  At home, shmaltz smells, it’s disgusting, it’s not even worthy of putting on the table.  How can shmaltz be valuable?”

“Shmaltz is a luxury here!  It’s so hard to obtain fat on our faraway island.  Anyone who can produce, store, and sell shmaltz will make a killing!”

As Shai began washing dishes (you need to pay for that expensive dinner somehow), a plan was hatched on how shmaltz could be developed, produced, and sold.

Soon, Shai became immersed in the shmaltz business.  The merchant skills from home came in quite handy.  First a small batch of chicken fat was produced.  Soon an assembly line was created.  A factory built and dozens of employees began to work there.  Overnight, Shai became one of the richest people on that island.

Like all the others, Shai often forgot the purpose of this voyage!  Every once in a while, Shai would look down and see the diamonds.  They’d sparkle and gleam in the sun.  Shai remembered that they were important, but here on the island, it was all about shmaltz!  Shai stepped over the diamonds, oblivious to their worth.  Instead, Shai doubled down on shamltz, continuing to build a bigger and bigger supply of fat!

And just like that (as often happens in these stories), days became months, and months became a year.  Shai remembered that the boat would be returning to port shortly.  “Listen for the three toots of the horn” as I’ll only have minutes to board the ship for the return trip home.

Shai began preparations for the voyage.  Bags readied, friends and co-workers informed, and the shamltz packed up in barrels ready for transport.

One Friday afternoon, three toots were heard bellowing from the port.  People began running to the boat.  Shai hurried as friends helped load barrel after barrel of shamaltz on board, dozens of barrels, worth millions on the island.  All of the inhabitants waved goodbye to Shai as the boat departed. 

The voyage lasted months.  Slowly a smell began emanating from the hold of the ship.  A stench that something might be wrong, but Shai continued to be oblivious.  “I can’t wait to share my riches with my family.  They will be so excited to see all of this shmaltz!”

As the boat returned to Shai’s hometown, the entire community came out to greet the ship.  Barrel after barrel was unloaded from the hold.  With each new barrel, Shai’s family became even more and more excited.  “Oh my, the richest we will receive!”

Shai came down the gangplank with thunderous applause!  Roses were thrown at Shai’s feet, the entire community excited to see the treasure found inside those barrels!

Shai gave a very long and drawn-out speech and then with a flourish, excitingly opened the first barrel: “Now, I present to you, my three year’s work, the riches of riches … shmaltz!”

“Shmaltz?”

The family went over to look inside the barrel, but they couldn’t get close enough to see because of the smell.  The stench was so powerful that the barrels needed to be thrown away immediately!

The family was confused.  Where were the diamonds?  What about the jewels that were supposed to make our lives worth living?

Shai was mortified, realizing immediately the mistakes and failures of the years away.  Shai was humiliated.

It was at this moment that Shai felt something in a pocket.  The two small, beautiful diamonds that were put there on the first day on the island.  The local jeweler whistled!  “These two diamonds are worth a fortune.  They will feed your family for a full year!”

Shai’s family was so excited about these two small diamonds.  Yet, Shai was mournful.  “I had the ability to spend my time mining diamonds and yet foolishly, I only grabbed a couple of jewels.  Instead of collecting diamonds, I spent my time and efforts with shmaltz… doing absolutely nothing.”

The great rabbi, the Chofetz Chaim, teaches that the reason we came into this world is to collect diamonds – which he defines as the mitzvot – the commandments and responsibilities of being a part of our Jewish community.

And yet, it’s so easy to be influenced by those that surround us.  It’s simpler to lose site of the responsibilities we have for our Jewish community and human family.  When so many in our world focus their energy on shmaltz, on what’s trivial, it’s easy to be influenced by them and by their perceived riches.

There are so many diamonds in our world – diamonds that line our streets, our homes, and our lives.  There are diamonds, mitzvot, that involve chesed, kindness.  Mitzvot such as visiting the sick, helping the poor, working against injustice, providing tzedakah, consoling the bereaved, and lifting up all those in need.

There are diamonds, mitzvot, that involve our Jewish community.  The study of Torah, the learning of our Jewish tradition, the gathering together in prayer, the building and strengthening of our synagogue.

The Chofetz Chaim reminds us that our days are filled with choices.  Diamonds and shmaltz are everywhere, always competing at every turn, at every decision.  And yet, we have so much time.  Minutes that add up to hours, days, and even years.  How do we want to live our days?  Do we wish to spend our time focusing on shmaltz or do we wish to search for the jewels: righteous deeds, works of tikkun olam, study of Torah, celebrating Jewish holidays, and uplifting our community.

A few diamonds here are there are lovely but imagine what we each could achieve if we made diamonds our life work.  Shana Tova!

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[i] Adapted from “Diamonds in the Street” found in The Maggid Speaks by Rabbi Paysach J. Krohn, p 253 as well as version of the story told by Rabbi Dan Milner

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

Look Out the Other Window - Erev Rosh Hashanah 5781

 

Shana Tova!  I’d like to begin this High Holy Day season with a story as told by Rabbi Leora Kaye from the Union for Reform Judaism.  I urge you to sit back, take in a deep breath, and relax!

There[i] once was a young girl who lived in Baltimore City.  She loved our city.  She loved seeing her neighbors, watching the dogs as they walked by, hearing the car horns, and riding her bike to and fro down our streets.  Yet, each year, the girl looked forward to leaving Baltimore for her annual trip to visit her savta, her grandmother.

Now, the girl’s savta did not live any place like Baltimore.  Her grandmother lived far away, an hours long car drive, deep in the country.  The girl loved being with her savta because her home was so different from Baltimore.  The sounds were different, the sights were different, even the smells were different.  There were so many things to do, so many places to explore, and so many people to meet.

Most special of all, the thing that the girl most looked forward to, was an annual tradition, a train ride.  Each year, her grandmother would come up with an excuse for just the two of them to ride the train together.  The girl and her savta loved these train rides.

Year after year, they’d board the same train that always left the station promptly at 2:36pm.  They’d sit in the same seats: left side of the train, second row from the back.  They’d look out the same window and her savta would share stories about the places they passed.  She would reminisce about the farms, the buildings, the people, and the community.  Her savta would remind her of what had changed during her lifetime and what still stayed the same.  It was an annual pilgrimage, a time to hold each other tight, to remember the past, and to focus on the present.  It was truly the highlight of their visit together.

One year, as the girl arrived, her savta saw that the train schedule had changed.   Instead of the 2:36pm train that they always took, they’d need to board a different train which left an hour later.  “Savta, we always take the 2:36pm train!  How could we not take our train?!”  “Don’t worry bubbele, we’ll catch the other train train instead!” 

But, as they boarded the new train, they saw that an older couple was sitting in their seats!  The couple was moving quite slowly and had just gotten settled.  “Savta, that’s our seats!  We always sit on the left side, second row from the back!”  “Don’t worry bubbele, we’ll sit in these seats instead!” 

 But, as the train began to leave the station, they saw that directly next to them, on the parallel track, was a very, very long freight train.  As they looked out the window, all they could see was the cars of that train!

The girl became dismayed.  “Savta, how can you tell me all of our stories if the train is blocking our view?”  Even though the girl knew these stories by heart, she wanted to hear them from her grandmother and to look out at the farms and the trees and the people that she loved to see.

With a wisdom that only comes from being a grandmother, her savta gently touched her shoulder and turned her granddaughter’s face in the opposite direction.  “Don’t worry bubbele, there is another side of the train!  We haven’t even looked out this window, in this direction!  I have so many new stories to tell you!”  And so, grandmother and granddaughter turned their view, and saw a whole new world.

This evening, as we gather to welcome the New Year 5781, we know that our train is cancelled, our seats are taken, and a freight train blocks our view.  We can’t celebrate Rosh Hashanah as we did in the past.  We can’t gather in our meadow with our picnic dinners.  We can’t hear the moving music led by Shir Chadash.  Tomorrow morning, we won’t be able to fill our beautiful sanctuary, to kiss each other, hug each other, feel the majesty that only comes when hundreds of us gather in the same space together.

The stories, rituals, and traditions that have been a hallmark for generations of Jews and a staple of our Bolton Street Synagogue community are just not going to be the same this year. 

Like the girl, we too can’t take all of these disruptions!  We too are a bit dismayed, more than a tad saddened that this year’s Rosh Hashanah will be different.  Although we can’t experience things as we did in the past, we do have the stories and memories.  Rosh Hashanah is called Yom HaZikaron, the Day of Memory.  Today, we are urged to remember the past and remember what’s been taken from us.  We are permitted to mourn everything that we’ve lost, but we must not allow ourselves to become fixated on the past.

For our view is blocked.  It’s time for us, at this moment, to change perspective.  I’m not saying it’s easy.  I’m not saying it won’t be a little bittersweet, but there is power and strength when we shift our perspective. 

With that change of perspective, we can gain a new sense of creativity and learn about old traditions that haven’t been at the forefront of our own experience.

Tonight’s Erev Rosh Hashanah was not the same, but we would have never celebrated a Rosh Hashanah Seder prior to covid.  Over the holidays, we’ll have other new rituals, new voices sharing their stories, new approaches to transform the customs of the past and make them meaningful to our life experience during covid.  Tonight, we also recognize that because of the power of zoom, we can gather in community with friends and family from across the globe.

As we begin another new year, as we mark another notch in our Jewish calendar, may we not forget that many of the generations that came before us also faced struggle and challenge.  They did not remain unmoved.  Their change in perspective pushed them to transform our religion and our world.  We possess the rituals and the traditions of today because they needed to create them.  And so, we must do the same. 

We can and must mourn that our view is blocked.  We can and must focus on the memories of Rosh Hashanah past, but at this moment we must change perspective.  For our future depends on it.  We must plant new seeds that will uplift our Jewish community and allow it to flourish far into the future.  It’s time to create new memories, new rituals, new stories for the covid and post covid world.  It’s time to change perspective and recognize the blessings of our family, our community, and our world.  It’s not easy, but it’s time to look out the other window.

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[i] Retold from a version shared by Rabbi Leora Kaye https://reformjudaism.org/podcasts/stories-we-tell/stories-we-tell-look-other-way