It's funny, when I started sitting down to write sermons for the high holydays, I set a clock that hadn't been used in over a year. I set it for 9:50 a.m. I wrote and wrote, finished one sermon and then looked up to check the time and the clock still said 9:50 a.m. I knew that time hadn't stood still as I had poured over source materials, struggled to put the words onto my computer screen. Life doesn't stand still.
In fact, for many of us time seems to pass by too quickly. We sense the hours turning into days, the days turning into months, and the months turning into years. We look in the mirror and see an individual who looks much different on the outside than the image we have of ourselves. Our hair has turned grey, our wrinkles have grown deeper, and our waistlines have lost their definition. Yet, if we have paid attention to time, we have focused our efforts on maximizing our relationships and making a noticeable difference in the lives of those we love, for we recognize that none of us is in control of the number of days we have been granted.
Albert Einstein spoke of our situation quite eloquently when he said, "Strange is our situation on earth. Each of us comes for a short visit, not knowing why, yet sometimes seeming to a divine purpose. There is one thing we do know definitely: that we are here for the sake of each other." When we perform acts of lovingkindness, gemilut chasadim, and acts of tzedakah, we do not insure that we live a longer life, but we do insure that those who live on after us will be able to say with all their heart, "May his/her name be a blessing!"
Yom Kippur's theme is very much related to the theme of life and death. We ask G-d to inscribe and seal us in the book of life, We pray that G-d not cast us away when we are old, and that He not abandon us when our strength is gone. Our prayers recognize that our lives are like grass, in the morning they sprout afresh and by nightfall they fade and wither. But Judaism does not stop there. I t does not leave us hanging on to a depressing view of the world. It doesn't teach us that we can avoid the pain and sorrow of life by entering another level of consciousness. We can try to do something about the pain and sorrow we encounter in life by trying to make life better for others as well as for ourselves.
It is no secret that many of our wonderful members are entering the challenging twilight years of their lives. Many struggle with maintaining their independence, losing friends and spouses to death, and watching their own health decline. Yet, these wonderful members have invested much time and energy in trying to make our community a better place for all of us. As we talk about the future of this congregation, it is also important to remember those who might not be able to come to events but have had such a significant role in our communal life. We used to have institutional structures that helped us remain in touch with the elderly and the ill. Without those organizations in place, we need to be more mindful of making sure that none of our congregants fall through the cracks which unfortunately some do. We must look at each individual no matter what their age, as unique. Rabbi Kenneth Cole, put it quite beautifully. He said, "Every person is like a snowflake. Every person, like every snowflake is unique. Both people and snowflakes have intricate patterns which have never been replicated and never will."
The future success of our community will be dependent upon how well we connect with one another. It is impossible for one individual to be in touch with every individual who is homebound or ill. We must establish groups of caring individuals who reach out by making phone calls or short visits. I tried to establish a caring committee this past year and found several volunteers who are presently keeping in contact with a number of our congregants. There is room for more individuals on this committee. The purpose of the committee is to give comfort through connection and that is also the purpose of having a Jewish community. Without personal connection, it won't matter if we find a way to consolidate our resources and finances. It is only by working together to make a difference in the life of all of our congregants that we will flourish. I know that each of us can probably say we have limited time and resources these days, but hopefully we can create mechanisms that will allow us to give honor to each individual who has affiliated with us or has ever walked through our doors. Let's work to make it a communal goal to let all who know us feel honored to have us as part of their lives.
G'mar Chatimah Tovah.
May we be sealed for a year of blessing.
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