The silence is all there is. It is the alpha and the omega, it is God's brooding over the face of the waters; it is the blinded note of the ten thousand things, the whine of wings. You take a step in the right direction to pray to this silence, and even to address the prayer to "World." Distinctions blur. Quit your tents. Pray without ceasing.
Introduction to The Counting of The Omer -
49 days, seven weeks between Passover and Shavuot
On Thursday I received a call from Ilan. I hadn’t heard from him all week. That is not unusual – when he is in training he often doesn’t call until Thursday or Friday. His voice was strong, sure and yet I could tell that he was trying to be measured in his speech. Adrenaline was making his breath shallow.
“Hi Mom.”
“Hey Ilan how are you?”
“I’m fine. Can you call me back on this phone?”
“Where is your phone?”
“I left it on the base.”
“Oh. Where are you?”
“A kibbutz.”
“Awesome. Are you out for the weekend? “
Last week, along with millions around the world, Ezra and I watched the Oscars. I admit, I like watching the pretty people, but mostly I was on my computer checking email and Facebook, while glancing at this fascinating pageantry of pop culture. I was proud, as a Jew and as a Zionist, that a short documentary about Israel won an Oscar, and when Natalie Portman won for Best Actress, Ezra and I commented once again on her Jewish and Israeli heritage.
There are eight ways to practice the attribute of humility and each corresponds to a place on the body. (Moshe Cordovoro, Tamar Devorah)
The eighth practice is with one’s mouth, as Cordovoro writes:
“Express good words of Torah. Do not speak ugliness, curses, anger, or frivolous talk. Speak well, expressing benevolence and blessing.”
And so we approach the New Year. Hours from now, the sun will set, and we will stand remembering the miracle and wonder of creation. The eighth practice of humility is with our mouth. God created the world with a word – Let there be light. God gave us the Ten Commandments with ten utterances. What we say creates worlds. What we say can also destroy. We all know that child who is now an adult and grew up with criticism, constant utterances that diminished the light of who he was and still is. And then there is the person who grew up with words of wild unfettered praise—what a gloriously positive and joyful person she is.
