Repentance. Renewal. Returning to our pure selves. Looking in the mirror. T’shuvah.
One of my favorite midrashim is about Reb Zusya – who upon his death was worried that he had been emulating Moses and Abraham too much, and not achieving his own Zusya potential – “In the world to come, they will not ask me, ‘Why were you not Moses?’ They will ask me, ‘Why were you not Zusya?'”
In Mishkan T’fillah, the Reform siddur, you can find a text attributed to the Jewish Funds for Justice and associated with the Nisim B’chol Yom blessings:
I can stay the tears of others, if I can see myself
as diminished by their sorrows.
I can hasten time when everyone will be able
to rejoice in freedom.
And if I can see myself as the companion,
of those fighting against oppression,
I can honor the struggle of people everywhere
to gain dignity and deliverance from bondage.
When I look at myself in the mirror
who will I see?
As the year 5771 begins, may we remember that the way we connect with one another, even the stranger, is how we find God. Let’s not forget that we have worn the sandals and shoes of the oppressed. May we not allow ourselves to wear the boots of the oppressor.
Together we can make 5771 a year of freedom and justice and peace.
L’shana Tova u’M’tookah…May this be a year filled with goodness and sweetness.
Peter Eckstein began his career a Jewish educator in 1982 on Kibbutz Ketura, working with children of all ages and serving as the kibbutz Education Coordinator. In 1993 upon returning to the U.S. he became the Director of Education and Programming at Temple Israel in West Palm Beach. Currently he is the Director of Congregational Learning at Temple Beth David in Palm Beach Gardens. In addition, serves as the Technology Integration Educator for the Friedman Commission for Jewish Education.He was very active with the Coalition for the Advancement of Jewish Education as programming co-chair, Shabbat chair and conference chair for several conferences. He has taught professional development for educators, Judaic adult education classes, and the Palm Beach County’s “Introduction to Judaism” course for those seeking to become part of the community. He is specializing in teaching educators how to integrate Education Technology into the Jewish classroom. He has also served on the faculty at URJ Camp Coleman as an informal Jewish educator.Peter is fascinated by how technology and experiential education will aid in the transmission of Jewish awareness to the next generations
Latest posts by Peter Eckstein (see all)
- Bringing the Sand Home – Take Aways From the RealSchool Summer Sandox - July 22, 2013
- Playing in the Sand: Getting Ready for the RealSchool Summer Sandbox - July 7, 2013
- Swimming Lessons - March 4, 2013