A course is a course, of course unless of course it’s the inclusive community mini-course

(and a movie at the Bourse with a tad of remorse straight from the source)

I arrived in Philadelphia after 11p and headed over to Avis. Snow was coming down and the wind was picking up. The line in Avis was long and there were only two agents working. Each person seemed to take a long time. I watched a CNN special on Islam in London on the overhead TV. Part of it focused on the new Masjid that is being built and that is causing a stir because of both its size and its visibility from the upcoming Olympics site. It will be a magnificently stunning and seemingly unique structure unlike any mosque I have ever seen. A completely modern building it evokes a sand swept landscape and a graceful fluidity.

Finally, I was helped and the car is pulled around and I open the door and there is a good inch of snow covering the driver’s seat and more powder on the inside door, floor and steering wheel. It was as if Frosty, the Snowman was the previous driver. The woman rolled her eyes when I asked for another car as if she doesn’t believe or that I am complaining about some random flake. I waited for over a half hour for a second car to be brought around. There was no apology, concern or explanation. Avis cares?

I arrived at the Latham, a small business hotel in Center City, Philadelphia that is very reasonable and has nice rooms after midnight. Still snowing the next day I made the long drive to Wyncote to teach rabbinical students about creating inclusive communities for GLBT people. This is a mandated minicourse for all students.

When I was at RRC (Reconstructionist Rabbinical College) I was surprised at both how welcoming it was to GLBT students and how so many things still needed to be addressed, including some homophobia in the student body, heterosexist policies and ways to provide support for GLBT students. Shortly after the decision of allowing GLBT applicants, students formed a group called “What Now?” These students hailed the decision but pointed out that the school had done no planning about how to meet the needs of these students. An active group, it began to raise important questions and then it fizzled.

Entering RRC, it was apparent that some of their questions were not fully answered. In fact, the lesbians who took me under their wings (to whom I am indebted to and grateful for) told me that I should not pursue the congregational rabbinate since there was a dearth of jobs where one can be out. I had the dean my sophomore year tell me that I had to choose if I was going to be out at my Hillel interview if I had any hopes of being out at my placement. He explained that he did not want me jeopardizing the Hillel internships for all students by coming out at my placement and causing a stir. I asked if he knew whether if I was out if I would even be hired at all. He did not know. Being a bit more confrontational then than now, I asked him why not? “Did he expect me to put myself in a very uncomfortable situation without some understanding of the outcome? Was I the only student that might be in this position? Shouldn’t he as the dean ask these questions on behalf of all students?” (The man himself has now come out.)

He did indeed have the conversation and was told that it was unnecessary for a student to come out in an interview, but s/he should come out to the supervisor and they would plan how to do that together. She also explained to him that the only placement that would be difficult for a student to be out at was at the University of Penn who had a very strong orthodox presence. Hoping for Haverford/Swarthmore Hillel, I was curiously placed at U Penn. There I was asked to run the soup kitchen which involved almost no rabbinic skill since my role was to open the building, cook the food and clean up with very little interaction with residents and minimal interaction with students. While I liked the work, I felt I was being hidden away. Eventually I started a Social Justice and Talmud class an hour before the kitchen opened for any of the volunteers who were interested.

This prompted me to start a new group almost 10 years later: “What Next?” We looked at policies and issues that came up and our primary achievement was a minicourse that worked with students to examine these issues within themselves and prepare students to address the issues of GLBT people in their synagogues. The allies in our group felt this course needed to be mandatory and it was the first (and possibly the only) course that was voted on by the student body to ensure that it was part of the required curriculum.

I used to teach the class after I graduated but passed it off after 4 years. This year I was asked to teach because my replacement had to be in Israel for Birthright with students. I wonder how relevant the class is today. We include much more information about transgendered folks than we did in the beginning and after the first year of teaching it, Linda my co teacher and I made it much more practically oriented so that they have homework were they flesh out scenarios that will be likely in their jobs by writing sermons, outlines, newsletter articles, letter to the editors, public speeches and action plans. We also have them work with texts and do teaching.

While I enjoyed teaching this group of students and working with Linda who is a great rabbi and friend, I think that students would be better off taking a class that was larger in scope around creating inclusive communities for many kinds of folk. But even more so, I think a course that guided them in how to facilitate difficult discussion, gave tools on conflict resolution and mediation skills would be much more helpful and GLBT people’s issues could be an example of issues to discuss and work around.

The first day was a bit more scattered than I would have like due to some administrative misunderstandings, but I really liked this group of students. They were so thoughtful, smart and engaged, except 2 or 3 who had a bit of an attitude. I have a fair amount of patience for that because I believe it is just karma for the attitude I must have had when I was a student.

Monday afternoon, I had a late lunch with Julie Pfau from CBH who was working on her semester finals. She seemed to be doing well and it was nice to catch up. (Hey, Julie! If you are reading this!) I love the work she is doing for Clinical Pastoral Education. That night I saw Pan’s Labyrinth at the Ritz at the Bourse. Going there was sad as I had many memories of friends I am no longer in touch with and time spent with Harris. It was another marker of how time marches forward. The movie also was lyrical and deeply sad too/, but with fantastical moments that were delightful.

Tuesday, the class did incredible work and I was able to connect with two lesbian students who are going to be great rabbis. One is at CBST, where I worked and the other is working at an interesting mainstream pulpit. It was nice that they sought me out to have lunch and it was great to make these connections with colleagues I did not know.

That night I had dinner at my favorite restaurant Buddakan with my friend Jim who is going back to school to get his bachelor’s. I am very proud of him.

Well, I am on the plane back to Denver. Hopefully, if the USA Today is correct I am in for a few days of 40 degree weather, which means MELTING!!!

Minneapolis, Mini World

Sunday morning I was met by my new best friend: Snow! Yes, I am thinking about changing my name to Storm since it seems to be following me around. Just the night before at the One Voice concert some folks were complaining about the “mild” winter they were having. True, since I started my speech with the corny joke that I have escaped the cold of Denver by coming to Minneapolis. (I did get the requisite yuks.) Leaving the Embassy Suites was challenging because there was a fender bender in the parking lot due to the snow. Not to mention the gross group behavior at the “free-breakfast”. Wow, “free” and “all-you-can-eat” are two phrases that are like waving a red flag in front of the bull. Luckily I was meeting with members of the chorus for brunch so I did not try to eat with the masses. I just had to walk through the courtyard with the caution of a tourist in Pamplona during the running of the bulls. People had recreated Leaning Towers of Pisa on their plates and like Cirque Du Soleil members they balance these weighty trays with four glasses of syrupy juice or mugs of steaming coffee. To add to the Frogger like atmosphere children were running around screaming often with muffins half in their mouths or fistfuls of sticky buns. Ahh America! No doubt, if I had decided to regale the Mall of America down the street with my presence I would see the same scene with the same people at the Food Court. However, with much cause for your pity, I did not seem to make it to the World’s Largest Underground Mall.

I was late to brunch because of the abundance of snow—everyone had ordered and clucked at the novice making his way through the storm. There were about 10 members plus the Music Director and a volunteer. I had a great conversation with two lesbians who were doing an Americorps type program, but through the Lutheran Church instead. Their organization focused on social justice and reconciliation projects. They chose this program over other because of its explicit welcoming of Gay and Lesbians. Cool, huh.

I had a wonderful conversation with the music director of the chorus. People had been very complimentary about my speech and how well in complemented the music. I was a bit more nervous because I was speaking at the large Reform synagogue. I arrived at the Temple early and began looking at the display of the Stoles. There were four that were added because there had only been one “stole” that was a Jewish one. They received 4 talitot/tallesim (this was a big discussion at breakfast over what was correct) from GLBT Jews. I had only found 3 the night before. When I arrived there was the fourth one and it was a tallis submitted by Amy Bernstein. Amy was a long time CBH member who went to Yeshiva High School when I was there. Once when visiting my family, I went to CBH for Friday Night Services and Amy (who has an incredibly stunning voice) was leading services, she announced to the group that she had gotten into rabbinical as we cheered. It began the wheels turning for me—Amy was a very instrumental person in my choosing to pursue the rabbinate. Finding her stole there was very power. Small world.

The music moved me again to tears. I gave my speech to similar reviews. In a rush, I did not get to stay as schmooze, but I did speak with about a dozen folks. Including one Jewish mother of a gay son, who had tears in her eyes and couldn’t thank me enough. She told me about her son’s coming out and her commitment to him since. She was so proud and the concert had touched her profoundly. What a gift to be a part of something artistic, beautiful and spiritually stirring! I imagine that this was my “surrogate” Shabbat Shirah since I will certainly miss the magical gifts of our community.

I left Minneapolis with a smile on my face. It was dented by my arrival that evening to Philadelphia (teaching rabbinical students) to its first snow storm of the evening. Hmm, Rabbi Storm? Does that have a nice ring?

What Comes Around Goes Around ( a tribute to Budd Friend Jones)

I made my way to warmer climes-- Minneapolis. Yes, somehow it is slightly warmer in Minneapols than it is in Denver. (However, I don't think I will totally escape the snow as here in MN we are expecting 1-3 inches today.) I have always wanted to visit the Twin cities, but never in January.

So what am I doing here? Good question. I am here on behalf of the Human Rights Campaign's Faith in Action program. They have chosen 4 cities this year to support local progressive faith projects and here in Minneapolis they are supporting the One Voice: Mixed Chorus' concert series entitled Reclaiming Faith: In the Spirit of Justice. About eighty singers of different orientations (predominately white, though) from the Twin cities area come together to sing songs of spirit, acceptance and inspiration. Their mission is to bring about social change through music. My excitement in working with them proved worthy.

Last night they sang at a church (for a crowd of 250 or so) a diverse collection of music which blended different faith traditions, musical styles and reverence with irreverence. They offered moving and creative "kavanot" intentions before much of the music. I was the key note speaker, which was the deal that HRC made with them--so I was not sure how much I was really wanted. I was the "cost" of doing business. HRC tasked me with speaking about Faith tools for Advocacy.

I forget how much I stress over speeches like this. Part of it is an unknown audience, but in this case, I was not certain how much people wanted to hear a "sermon" when they came to listen to music. I wrote and rewrote, much like I do before High Holy Days. I called up Brian in Hawaii and read it to him, demanding critical feedback. What could I do to bring it to the next level. I was told that with both concerts, I would speaking to close to 1300 people. You can read the article about the creation of the concert at http://www.startribune.com/614/story/947286.html and you can check out the One Voice website at http://www.ovmc.org/.

I was really taken with much of the music. The choral director Jane Ramseyer Miller (with a bold streak of purple in her hair) not only has brought her musical gifts in her directing and composing of pieces, she brings her spiritual life and journey to her music. Most notably blended in her piece that combines the Mennonite choral tradition where she learned her love of music with Langston Hughes poetry of "A Dream Deferred". It is an arresting piece that mimics her journey of loving her community, loss and rejection to claiming a more powerful place in her spiritual life than she could have ever imagined.

It was amazing how well my speech highlighted, supported and challenged the music and the words of that evening. Essentially, I spoke about need to create our own playing field and stop living life on the fundamentalist theological territory. It had echoes of my Rosh Hashanah speech, but it drew upon much different sources and was specifically geared to the LGBT community and our allies.

Always knowing I can do better, I rely on the kinds of connections people seek to make with me afterwards to gauge whether I was effective. Last night blew me away. people sought me out to share their thoughts, personal stories , projects, joys and pain. One woman in her late sixties kept declaring I should go into politics. I told her I didn't have the stomach for it. She laughed and said, "Honey, well you sure got the balls for it." Three Jewish women came over to tell me about the LGBT community in their reform synagogue was working on a collaborative project demanding rights for all families. A college freshman thanked me for being clear, energetic and powerful. He said I was the kind of "minister" (sic) that his friends could relate to. It was wonderful to have touched a community of strangers in this way. But a major surprise happened.

I was told I would be speaking at a Methodist Church so I did not put two and two together when I realized that I was in a UCC church. A woman came over to me and said, you sound like a man I know in Atlanta. He is a pastor, in factor he used to be the pastor here. Do you know Budd Friend Jones? I couldn't believe that I was speaking at Mayflower UCC where Budd so proudly led the community for many years. For those of you who do not know, Budd used to be the pastor at the UCC church where our synagogue Bet Haverim meets. Buddhas been a tremendous ally in so many ways. I miss him. I left that evening floored. What an incredible honor to speak at the church he so lovingly talk about. How deliciously ironic.

On my way out, the music director grabbed me and told me that I did a great job, BUT, I was too long. She asked if I could cut my speech down to 15 minutes. I didn't tell her that HRC told me to speak for 20. I honestly don't know how long I talked for, but today I will try to cut it down a bit. Perfection is so elusive. Oh well, I guess I live up to the long winded stereotype.

What are you going to do?

Today is at Temple Israel--then tonight I fly to Philadelphia to lead a workshop to rabbinical students at RRC on creating inclusive communities.

Giving the single digits the single digit

I have been here a week and the weather has not returned to what Denverites swear is normal. One native swore to me that the last time they had a blizzard like this was in '82. It has been brutally cold--mostly in single digits and often below zero. I still cannot get into my driveway due to the ice pile up, but the rodent was found and the smell resolved.

So far it has been a good week. I decided I was not going let no stinking blizzard ruin my time. My neighborhood is an interesting mix of Virginia Highlands, Li'l 5 points and Cheshire Bridge Rd. There is lots to walk to including 3 used bookstores within 5 blocks of me and best of all an art film house where I have seen Little Children, Babel and Notes on a Scandal. Great movies, all of them. Such wrenching films but the acting has been great. Across from the theater is a yoga studio that also offers acupuncture which I have visited as well.

I also started my colloquium which is entitled "Jews on the Move" which is an exploration of the emigration and migration of the Jewish community and the shifting understanding of Jewish identity. I have been reading for my class tomorrow about the Jewish community in Elphantine (in Egypt). Between the first and second Temples apparently a community settled in Elphantine. These Jews were mercenary killers who formed their own cult. They built their own temple and offered sacrifices there. They were not exiled nor forced into the diaspora, but they chose to leave Israel and settle there. I have been reading translations of original documents that were found in this community. Fascinating.

Also, last week I saw an incredible a documentary that was sponsored in tandem with the colloquium in which I am participating. It kicked off the Jews On The Move film festival. It was called Divan and was about a Jewish woman's search for a fabled couch of her ancestors. It is a movie I hope to bring to CBH when I return and the director and I discussed her coming to Atlanta over drinks after the showing.

I had a lovely shabbat dinner with the editors of Queer Jews: David Schneer and Caryn Aviv. David is the director of the Jewish Studies department, who is on sabbatical as well. His partner is Gregg Drinkwater, the executive director of Jewish Mosaic: The Center for Gender and Sexual Diversity. The three of them co-parent Sasha-- a stunningly beautiful baby girl. Almost one year old, I believe. Gregg was out of town so I broke challah with David, Caryn and Sarah. Sarah is a really terrific Jewish studies professor at DU who grew up in Borough Park and has a very interesting life story--that I hope to hear more about.

This week Gregg and I will be discussing the editing of a queer commentary on the Torah and David and I are also looking at writing together too. I am very excited.

Lastly, I have joined a gym here that is open 24 hours! It has been a great place that I have visited almost every day.

Though I have seen movies and spent time with other folks, the majority of my time has been spent in solitude. I had this revelation in Target that I knew absolutely no one there. Target seems to be a store in Atlanta that I can not go in (whether it is is the one of Moreland, Toco Hills, Buckhead) without running into someone. The sheer anonymity was wonderful. Nothing changed--it wasn't like I felt free to shop for something different; it just felt deliciously unencumbered. That said I have also begun to recognize how much being a rabbi dictates the rest of my life. Without it, I feel like a frustrated artist staring at a blank canvas. One character who is a professor on sabbatical in Notes on a Scandal remarks when you are teaching the students you long to get the time to write, but when you get the time to write you long to be teaching the students.

What is true is that I do miss the synagogue, the folks, but I am beginning to identify the low level constant anxiety that is a part of my life as a rabbi. Hopefully, I will develop skills to defuse that. So far, the best part of being away is that I sleep. I sleep usually 7 hours a night--sometimes even 8. I have not done that for years.

It is also a comfort though I am working on areas of my life that I hope to improve. But I have come to realize that with the cross country trip and my recent bouts of solitude, I really like spending time on my own. I am good company for myself. This is odd for someone who almost always needed a constant playmate or companion growing up. But I have looked forward to my thoughts and observations. I make myself laugh--often at myself.

Once again, I am very present to the incredible gift of this sabbatical.

I hope everyone had a meaningful MLK Jr. day. I did not go to Denver's Marade. (yes, they blend the march and the parade) It was still so cold. I did however, continue to read The Lost Prophet--the Life and Times pf Bayard Rustin.

Time to warm up under the covers.

Feeling Low in the Mile High or Relying on the Kindness of Strangers

Do you have a conversation that you run through your head when things are not going your way? Not terrible in a terminal diagnoses way, or the loss of a loved one way, but more in the medium or minor issues way? Like when you get a speeding ticket, or your computer crashes, or you have to pick up the kids from school and the car won't start, or you have locked yourself out of the house. Or better yet, when your computer crashes, the car won't start and you have locked yourself out of the house? When it is that kind of confluence, nothing life and death and nothing ending just a major wrench in the plans, expectations gone awry and/or irritating inconveniences, what do you say to yourself?

I generally go into some internal cursing, then a good dose of self pitying, and when I am beginning to feel myself worked up, I begin to say to myself: "I have a privileged life. Nothing is so terrible that I should be feeling sorry for myself. I then number my limbs. All accounted for. Take stock of my blessings: a job, a home, a car, food, family, friends, loved ones and a sabbatical. I then turn to chastizing myself harder, which generally lifts me out of the glum abyss--for 10 minutes or so. Embarrassingly, I find myself liking to repeat the minor injustices I have encountered.

So before I begin my litany there are many things I am grateful for in this moment. I do have a privileged life. I have all of those things I mentioned and more. My sabbatical has presented many exciting opportunities including some twists and changes, including interesting social justice work and the opportunity to be a key-note speaker for the Human Rights Campaign in Minneapolis. One of the programs I planned to work on in Israel has been postponed beyond my sabbatical so that has made me think about other pursuits. And on a personal note, I have been able to continue dating an incredible guy who I met this fall in Atlanta and who has moved to Hawaii: Brian. (Ahh, you say, now Hawaii makes a little more sense.) So all in all, good stuff. Much to be grateful for. But I suppose the balance has to tip.

I even had an incredible trip from Atlanta to Denver. Stopping each day to explore interesting aspects of Americana was a blast. Listening to books on tape; I highly recommend A Spot of Bother. In Lousiana, I visited an alligator farm and exotic zoo. In Texas, I stopped and had a haircut at a good ole barber shop where people bantered about sports, hunting, the rodeo and the good for nothing sheriff who expected a free haircut. It was called the Lone Star Barbershop. This was followed by a workout at the "Aloha Gym: A little bit of Hawaii in East Texas" where I met the native Hawaiian family who owned the gym. They explained they left because the cost of living had become exorbinant and in Texas they were able to afford much more. The owner raised and trained game cocks and had won a major cock fight and he took the massive winnings and bought a gym. I also visited my friend Oscar who used to attend CBH in Dallas. In Oklahoma, which was surprisingly beautiful to me, I visited this creepily deserted state park that I was certain if I had come at night--one of many serial killers a la Leatherface (Texas Chainsaw Massacre) would have been waiting. I took a brief hike to some spectacular falls, but the deserted castle like struggle which had weeds growing through it was eerie as were all the empty concessions. The 7 year old playing in the stream without any parental supervision was also bizarre. I asked where his parents were, but he looked at me and ran away. I did not follow, after all I have seen enough horror movies to know where that was headed. Luckily dad came out of the Mirror Art craft store and called his son back in yelling he had told him to stay away from the stream. Alas, I stopped in Kansas to see the largest Prairie Dog in the world, but I have yet to lay eyes on him since it was closed.

Arriving in Denver is where my patience has been put to the test. Yes, I have chosen to spend part of my sabbatical in the only place that global warming has ignored. Boston and New York in the 70s. Denver has had more snow than most people can ever remember. So, driving my low to the ground car, I wondered if I should just fly and rent a car despite the immense expense. Folks in Denver told me it would be melted by the time I arrived. HA! it snowed again while I was on the way and the old snow never melted and it is PILED HIGH. So meeting with halting traffic when I came tinto the city was not upsetting but the inability for me to get into the driveway of the condo I am renting and trying to find parking for over an hour and a half. Schlepping my things several blocks through the ice was not fun. Still there was an excitement. I arrived at the condo building and from the outside it looked a little dreary. I went inside and saw that the access is through a rusty, chipped paint fire escape stairs and I think well it will be nice on the inside. I opened the door and though it is smaller than I thought it would be, it looked cute. However, I was a bit distracted by the potent smell of animal. Dead animal. No doubt there is a dead mouse or rat in here. I have opened the windows, lit candles and still the smell is there. After searching for a rodent carcass, I decide to unpack and there is very little closet space and no dresser. Hmm. Determined to keep my best outlook, I thought a bit of television would be a good distraction. The TV didn't work work. Ok, not the end of the world. These are all material things, well the smell isn't. That has to be fixed.

Then today. Altitude sickness. I have drank so much water (that is what is recomended) that I have been debating just putting a catheter in or break down and wear some Depends so I don't have to look for a bathroom every 5 minutes. Probably hitting the gym was not the best idea. Also, the three times I have gotten stuck in the ice has been infuriating and scary including tonight at 10:30 when my car skidded at a dangerous angle while parking. It was sticking out in the street so I couldn't leave it. I had to shovel the ice for an hour to no avail. Even with all my limbs accounted for, I thought I was going to go mad. Freezing and using a dented shovel, I felt like Sisyphus with his rolling stone. Determined to keep my sanity, I just kept whacking at the ice with the shovel until it was bent and mangled and I would straighten it out and try to make progress.

At about half an hour in a guy offered to push. He did and nothing. No movement. Then a second guy came after an hour and he helped me a shovel a bit and then called his girlfriend to put her foot on the gas while we both pushed. She came out of the condo in scrubs, no coat and she was pregnant. I didn't want her helping in case the car hit another car or skid. But they insisted it would be fine. And after a good ten minutes of pushing, we finally did it. Needless to say I parked in a much clearer area even though it was several blocks away from the house.

Blance DuBois was right to rely on the kindness of strangers. To be on the receiving end of such an act restores the balance of goodness and faith in the world. I was amazed at Joe's determination to see me out of the bind I was in and I was a total stranger. Things aren't so bad. It isn't an adventure without tension and challenges. Right? right?!

Adter all of that I wonder if he can do anything about the stink in this condo?

Rabbis for Human Rights

I am waiting here at the airport with my flight nearing departure time. Today was mostly taken up by packing, though I managed one more trip to Chinatown.

So far one of the most enriching rabbinically oriented things I have done was to attend the conference in NYC hosted by Rabbis For Human Rights. (As I write this I am listening to this guy drone on in a monotone voice, not unlike the voice calling out "Bueler, Bueler in Ferris Bueler's Day Off and he is saying, "I live day to day. Every day is a huge adventure> Quite funny to be heard deadpan.)

This conference had 200 plus rabbis, cantors, rabbinical students and cantorial students movement wide with Reconstructionists having the largest presence. That was nice for a change and it gave me a chance to see friends that I haven't seen in a long while. Another special connection is that a third of the participants from my Institute of Jewish Spirituality participants (and teachers) were there. We are having a post conference call to talk about balancing spiritual practice and social justice--which was the theme of one of the workshops I attended by the insightful and pioneering Rabbi Amy Eilberg.

A handful of muslims attended including one Imam Yahya Hendi of Frederick, and he announced the creation of Imams for Human Rights and Dialogue, which he says has already amassed backing from at least 50 other Muslim leaders. It is so awesome when interfaith groups can inspire positive change amongst each other.

The conference focused on text study supporting human rights, creating solidarity for rabbis who often feel alienated in the face of being advocates for human rights and the specific issues of calling for the halt of U.S.-sponsored torture, stopping the genocide in Sudan's Darfur region and strive for security and human rights for both Israelis and Palestinians.

On thesecond day, we were notified that the Jerusalem government had, for the second time, demolished the Dari family home in Issawiyah, eastern Jerusalem, allegedly for zoning violations. This was the home that I had visited the last time I was in Israel. This was the family I had met. Rabbi Asherman exec director of Rabbis for Human rights explained it was discrimination... because the area in which they live has not been zoned since 1967," He noted that conference goers raised $30,000 on the spot to rebuild once again.

I felt so proud of the work that people were doing. The conference felt groundbreaking. The most troubling part was a session on torture where we listened to the the testimony of
torture survivor Sister Dianna Ortiz . She shared about how she was abducted, gang-raped and cigarette-burned in Guatemala nearly two decades ago andwas forced to abuse other captives.
Her experience led the way to talk about our US use of torture.

I will share more but I can't miss my flight.

Leaving Honolulu

I leave Honolulu tomorrow and hope to be in Denver by Sunday. Barely stopping in Atlanta for a day, I plan to drive 1-20 to Dallas and head upwards to Amarillo crossing the narrow panhandle of Oklahomo into Colorado. (Hey, Amarillo and Colorado end with an O, why not Oklahoma). Uri will be joining and flying back.

Today I saw 2 rainbows right next to each other as I was caught in a rainshower on the Puu Pia trail in the Manoa Valley. At first I thought it was cheesy for Hawaii to use the rainbow as its logo on license plates and all over, but I have seen so many rainbows including some double rainbows which were spectacular. I understand why there is a special blessing for the rainbow: Baruch Atah Adonai Eloheinu Melekh HaOlam Zocher Habrit V'Ne'eman B'Virito V'Kayam Ba'Mamaro. Blessed are you Source of Life, Our God Sovereign of the Universe who remembers the covenant, and is faithful to Its covenant and keeps Its word.

It was a moderate hike to a small peak. On one side there was a hill with lush canopies of trees. The clouds (which soon brought the rain) played on the higher peaks around us and the scene looked like a Japanese watercolor mountainscape. On the other side, the view was of Waikiki glowing in golden sun which was reflected by the vast ocean only marred by the highrises and buildings. Quite a view.

Then I went to an exquisite Korean Buddhist Temple: the Mu-Ryang Buddhist temple. The artistry was elaborate, stunning and fierce. It was without a doubt one of the most colorful and vibrant places of worship I have ever seen, It was in a suburb of Honolulu called Kaimuki. The monks waved at us and smiled as we wandered around the property. It made me excited to think about our prospects of having a place of worship in the future.

I am sad to leave Honolulu, perhaps I will return. There are so many spiritual communities doing wonderful work. I look forward to sharing with you about the meaning of "Shaloha" and the synagogue in Honolulu where I spent Hanukkah services.

Recap and Kauaii

Happy New Year's! 2007 marches along. I just flew back from Kauaii which is a stunning island west of Oahu. It is called the "garden island". I did some of the best hiking (and muddiest) of my life. There had been ample rain so my hike of the Napali Coast was saturated with red mud that reminded me of good ol' Jawja red clay. I even fell twice, once trying to take a steep short cut, which turned into a good ole mud slide.

The only time I have been muddier on a hike was when my sister and I were hiking together in the bayou in New Orleans and the park ranger warned us that there may be a little mud on this one trail, but he highly recommended it. Needless to say, his definition of a "little mud" and ours were quite different. I don't quite remember why we didn't turn around, but the trail and the swamp were not so east to distinguish in parts. My sister and I had to take off our Tevas in order to avoid losing them to the dense mud with incredible suction. I kept trying to put mine back on because I was terrified of stepping on a snake. When I finally succumbed, sure enough there was a snake slithering through the water, which made us run. We kicked up so much water and mud that when we left the trail and entered the parking area people thought we were swamp creatures.

So I had a great time in Kauai which I will tell you more about, but I am anxious to write down my recollections of previous trips before I forget.

LA- It was so GOOD to see Bea, Dave and Ellie. They miss Bet Haverim and their friends in Atlanta so much, but they are doing so well. Parenthood really agrees with them. I felt so proud of seeing them in parent mode, even when David became overly freaked out when we crossed the street with Ellie not at a crosswalk. Bea's students seem to really like her. She had a shabbat dinner with her 2 advisees and one of their husbands. It was refreshing to listen to rabbinical students concerns and life. It is so funny to be reminded of the arrogance and know-it-all attitude that so many of us rabbi types had in our first couple of years in school. If the school and life does its work there is a humbling aspect that takes that edge off. I also had the opportunity to meet one of her advanced students, a gay man who has really taken quite a liking to Bea. We had dinner the next night and went off briefly afterwards, but since the Lawrence family was beginning to get a cold, we made it an early evening.

Dave's business seems to be going really well, which is group travel. He seems to have some awesome trips to Costa Rica, great adventures where he is trying to purchase a lodge. It is so exciting! They have a cute house in the part of LA call the Chood (ch--as in chutzpah and challah not as in cheese) because it is where all the Israelis live. I am so happy for them--aside from missing CBH, friends and the incredible expense of LA, they are loving it out there. Lastly, Bea is on her way to finishing her dissertation, but being a new mom, working a new job, moving into a new is already hard work, so to have to finish a dissertation is definitely over the top. But if anyone can manage it all (while doubting herself the whole time) it is Bea.

Being there with them, I realized how much I miss them. It was so good to see them.