It is customary for Rabbis to give longer sermons on the Shabbos before Yom-Kippur, known as Shabbos Shuvah (Repentance/Return). Last year for Shabbos Shuvah 5774 / 2013, instead of a long speech by the Rabbi, we asked students and guests around the table to each share something meaningful or inspirational on this Shabbos Shuvah. Collectively, we indeed had a long Shabbos Shuva speech!
Below is most of what was shared this year 5775/2014, as we remember it. It was a small Shabbos Lunch being right after Rosh Hashanah when most students were still away.
DON’T GIVE UP ON LIFE
by Sam S.
Earlier this summer I was in Washington Heights to visit my uncle. He was ailing, he was very sick, in the hospital on a respirator. I went in to see him, the situation wasn’t good. He could hardly speak, but he did manage to tell me that he wanted to live. The Yankee game was on the TV and he also asked me who was pitching for the Yankees. So I knew he still had his wits about him. My aunt came in and told me she wanted me to stay because the doctors were having a big meeting with her soon and she didn’t want to deal with it alone. It was Friday afternoon so I changed my Shabbos plans and stayed with her. The doctors sat down with us and told it that way it was, he was a very sick man, he didn’t have a chance, he had 3-4 weeks to live at the most. They recommended removing the respirator and letting him die with dignity. I spoke up, sharing what he told me in the room, and that he even asked about the Yankees pitcher. The doctors dismissed it, but we insisted. I boldly told them, that when it comes down to things like this, I believed in G-d and not in the doctors. So they kept him on the respirator, he slowly got back to himself, and is now in a nursing rehab center where he is learning how to walk again.
PRAYING WITH FAMILY
by Avi S.
This Rosh Hashanah I’m away from family, and there are certain parts of the prayer that remind me most of my father and my grandmother. Whenever we sing the “Hashem, Hashem…” 13 Attributes of Mercy I am reminded of praying with my father, and the “B’Rosh Hashanah…” of Unesaneh Tokef reminds me of my grandmother. People do Teshuvah on their own, and there’s also Teshuvah that you do as a unit with others, whether as a family or as a community.
RABBI AKIVA’S LESSON
by David W.
One of the classic stories of Teshuvah was Rabbi Akiva of the Mishna. Until age 40 he was an ignorant shepherd who actually hated scholars with a passion. Thanks to the encouragment of his wife he began to study, until he became the leading sage of Israel. His story is a lesson for all of us. It’s never too late to give it a try and be quite successful at it, despite whatever you thought of it up until that time.
RAISE THE GATES
by Aviva R.
I always liked the concept of gates. It’s a very meaningful concept to me. I remember being in Israel and looking into a place to study, and it so happened that the name of the school I was looking at had the name Gates right in it. This Rosh Hashanah when Rabbi Mendel spoke about “Raise the Gates” in Psalm 24 and why it says “Raise the Gates” instead of open the gates, I was thinking of a visual of a castle and moat, you know like from the storybooks, where the gates are raised to allow entry or to keep out intruders. It can be a very meaningful metaphor for all that comes and goes in our lives, and what we choose to let in or keep out.
GOOD YEAR, GOOD DAY
by Ariel B.
I like the way people this time of year wish each other “Shana Tova UMetukah” a Good and Sweet Year. It’s a long-term wish. But then again, in the 20 years I’ve lived so far, no two days have ever been the same. So, I kind of think we also ought to wish each other “Yom Tov UMetukah” which means a Good and Sweet Day, one day at a time, each one different, with its own blessing.
PRACTICAL STEPS
by Shachar L.
There are two simple stories, parables, that I heard as a teen that left a deep impression on me. They are not profound as much as they are practical.
The first one dates back to the early days of communism, when the process of re-education swept Russia and its republics. A communist re-educator came to a village and explained to all the villagers and farmers why property is best given to the state and everyone is better served by it. To test their knowledge, to see how well this message was absorbed, he asked a series of questions. “Suppose you owned a large forest, with mich timber, lakes and streams filled with fish. Who would be best to administer it?” Everyone agreed that it would be best in the hands of the state. “Then, what if you owned a big factory with machinery and many workers. Would that be best owned privately or by the state?” All were in favor of the state once again. “How about if you have a small barn with a cow and some goats and chickens?” This time he was met with silence. ” I don’t understand,” asked the communist re-educator, “you had no problem with the state running the vast forest or the big factory. Why not the small barn, too?” The farmers explained, “We don’t own forests or factories, but we do have small barns with cows, goats and chickens…”
The second story is about a husband and wife who agreed to a division of labor at home. He wanted his wife to take care of all the small things like what food they’d eat, how to take care of the kids, the laundry and home expenses. He, the husband, would deal with the bigger issues in life such as the weather, world politics, the national economy…
The bottom line of both stories is that meaningful change is in small practical steps that you can take right now. Don’t get carried away with the big talk or big issues or drastic change that might keep you from doing anything.
THE L.A. SHABBOS INVITE
by Stuart T.
I found myself without a job, and no idea of what was next, so I hopped on a plane and went west to visit an old friend for 10 days. I had little or no connection with Jewish observance at the time, but I did have a book on Kabbalah and mysticism, so I ended up in a Jewish bookstore to pick up a few more books. I got into a conversation with the lady behind the counter, who insisted that she invite me for Shabbos dinner. I explained that I had plans to go out with friends. She insisted that I sign up on her list of Shabbos invitees. I insisted that I had a plane ticket back to Philly that very Sunday and would not be in town. But she insisted, and made sure I knew where her synagogue was, and what time things were on Friday Night. In fact she went through the whole schedule of that Shabbat weekend. I was very amused by the whole thing because this was a 10-day trip out west, I was not from the area, and was in fact leaving for home that very weekend. Not lomg after this bookshop visit, things changed quite quickly. My friend called frantic from work that they had a major IT failure, and since that was my field, if I could help them get back up and running. I did help them out, and in very little time I was offered a consulting job there, for very good terms. I had no job at the time so I was in no position to refuse. I ended up in LA for over a decade. And yes, I did take up that bookstore lady for Shabbat dinner that week. It was the start of a lot of learning and exploring and Jewish experiences.
BELIEF & KNOWLEDGE
by Dan L.
When it comes to changing habits, you need a combination of knowledge and belief. Neither is enough to do the job alone. You have to know what needs to be done, what’s wrong with the way it is, how it can be better if changed, as well as the belief that you can do it.