In Washington DC on this historic evening. Listened to Al Gore address the Religious Action Center of the Union for Reform Judaism, celebrating my wife, Rachel's, birthday (as of midnight!), and listened to President Obama address the nation with the news that Osama Bin Laden has been killed. There is a lot to be said. I'll start out with our regularly scheduled exploration, and let's see where it all leads in connection to the world events - globally and locally.
THE OMER INTERSECTION: Gevurah + Yesod; Discipline + Bonding
Looking back at the beginning of the week, we explored that the motivation for much of our discipline involves our love, our connection, with others. So, as we go about accomplishing our personal goals, our yesod compels us to keep others in mind.Are we going about our ultimate goal in a way that brings us together with others? Or are we so dedicated to our task at hand that we are willing to run people over, push them aside, and alienate others in the name of our goals? Usually, the answer is somewhere in between, but the convergence of these values challenges us to strive for the former - to bond with others and not to divide.
Another wrinkle to this involves giving discipline. In order to be an effective "offerer" of discipline, of rebuke, it is incumbent upon us to bond with those we seek to help. Again, earlier in the week, we asked ourselves, "Is the rebuke I want to give more about my preferences or a genuine belief that it will help someone else?" Once we've determined that it is more about the other, we have to deepen our relationship and even journey along with those we seek to help. When we offer critique and leave the other to figure it out all by themselves, we leave them to brush our words off as empty, uncaring, judgmental, or dismissive. We do not give enough support to truly help them make the changes they might need to make - to have their own sense of discipline, commitment, to taking in the feedback and applying it to their lives. If we are going to discipline in the sense of rebuke someone else, then our yesod compels us to stand by those whom we critique and be disciplined, committed, to supporting them in improving.
THE OMER CHALLENGE:
So, how do we apply this idea? We are challenged to see our discipline in terms that bring people together. I have one exercise and then a reflection question to ponder that is applicable to the world events.
ACTION:
I know I am committed to celebrating with Rachel on her birthday, and I am hoping that anyone reading this will wish her a happy birthday, as well - thus increasing her sense of bonding with the world. (You can do so through the comments, if needed). That was an easy one!
REFLECTION:
Tonight, President Obama announced the killing of Osama bin Laden. The individual who put a plan in motion to take the lives of thousands of civilians on that fateful 9/11 in 2011, the man who has declared time and again that he will continue to kill and terrorize wherever possible, has been stopped. After years of our country's discipline, commitment, the goal of stopping him has been reached. In what ways should this moment bring us together? I know that I could not help but feel some joy in knowing that this person can no longer be the source of death and destruction in our world, inflicting harm on our children. At the same time I am saddened by the fact that this individual's outlook on the world was so twisted that his death could be the only way to stop him from bringing more hatred, terror, and evil into this world.
There is a sense that this moment can bring us together, since his actions have impacted all of us greatly. But what should this moment of togetherness be? I am conflicted about celebrating his death - I have no qualms seeing it as a good thing for the world and for the families who lost loved ones by his hands. Yet, life is so precious to our tradition that celebrating death seems to lower us to the devaluation of life and hatred for which bin Laden stood. During Passover, we spill out wine for the Egyptians who died since our joy is not complete when our freedom could only come at the expense of other lives - even when those lives were culpable for our own suffering. A major reason they had to perish in the Egypt narrative was because they represented that which would continue to come after us until they were destroyed. Doesn't this sound like bin Laden? (I'm in no way advocating any spilling of wine on behalf of bin Laden).
So, with this being said, how does this moment help us each to journey forward together? For one, it should remind us that we all affect one another. When we share experiences - in our families, in our communities, with our workmates, with our friends - we create bonds with others. Tomorrow, no matter who we speak to, we will have something to say to one another about this evening's announcement, as it closes this ugly chapter in the collective experiences of all Americans and all world citizens. As I sit in this hotel room with a view of the capitol building and the Pentagon, watching the news, celebrating Rachel's birthday, and listening to our daughter, Laila, talk in her sleep, I guess this moment is a reminder to us all that we can get back to hoping for a world in which my 17 month old daughter does not need to experience first-hand the hatred, the devaluation of life, and the deep sorrow that we have all come to know since 9/11/2011. May we all bond in a continued commitment to such a world.
ACTION:
I know I am committed to celebrating with Rachel on her birthday, and I am hoping that anyone reading this will wish her a happy birthday, as well - thus increasing her sense of bonding with the world. (You can do so through the comments, if needed). That was an easy one!
REFLECTION:
Tonight, President Obama announced the killing of Osama bin Laden. The individual who put a plan in motion to take the lives of thousands of civilians on that fateful 9/11 in 2011, the man who has declared time and again that he will continue to kill and terrorize wherever possible, has been stopped. After years of our country's discipline, commitment, the goal of stopping him has been reached. In what ways should this moment bring us together? I know that I could not help but feel some joy in knowing that this person can no longer be the source of death and destruction in our world, inflicting harm on our children. At the same time I am saddened by the fact that this individual's outlook on the world was so twisted that his death could be the only way to stop him from bringing more hatred, terror, and evil into this world.
There is a sense that this moment can bring us together, since his actions have impacted all of us greatly. But what should this moment of togetherness be? I am conflicted about celebrating his death - I have no qualms seeing it as a good thing for the world and for the families who lost loved ones by his hands. Yet, life is so precious to our tradition that celebrating death seems to lower us to the devaluation of life and hatred for which bin Laden stood. During Passover, we spill out wine for the Egyptians who died since our joy is not complete when our freedom could only come at the expense of other lives - even when those lives were culpable for our own suffering. A major reason they had to perish in the Egypt narrative was because they represented that which would continue to come after us until they were destroyed. Doesn't this sound like bin Laden? (I'm in no way advocating any spilling of wine on behalf of bin Laden).
So, with this being said, how does this moment help us each to journey forward together? For one, it should remind us that we all affect one another. When we share experiences - in our families, in our communities, with our workmates, with our friends - we create bonds with others. Tomorrow, no matter who we speak to, we will have something to say to one another about this evening's announcement, as it closes this ugly chapter in the collective experiences of all Americans and all world citizens. As I sit in this hotel room with a view of the capitol building and the Pentagon, watching the news, celebrating Rachel's birthday, and listening to our daughter, Laila, talk in her sleep, I guess this moment is a reminder to us all that we can get back to hoping for a world in which my 17 month old daughter does not need to experience first-hand the hatred, the devaluation of life, and the deep sorrow that we have all come to know since 9/11/2011. May we all bond in a continued commitment to such a world.
THE OMER UPDATE:
I did make some concrete commitments as steps towards a larger goal of being a healthier me, without going into detail. I'd say more, but it has gotten too late. Happy Birthday, Rachel!
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