Hoping for Civility in 5770

Last Saturday afternoon, after returning home from Shabbat services, feeling relaxed and happy, I picked up The Washington Post to read a little while the boys were playing. I read the first story on the page and felt that happy, relaxed feeling slip away only to have it replaced with frustration. Not just about the news itself, but about the way we are all treating one another. As you are all aware by now, a week ago Congressman Wilson interupted the President's speech, shouting his disagreement at a most inappropriate time. No matter what party you indentify with, I hope we can all agree that interupting the President in that moment showed a lack of courtesy. However, I also saw comments made during the week on a friend's Facebook page, that implied that Wilson's bad choice in that moment showed that all Republicans are a bunch of "infantile nimwits" and that "we can now see clearly what we are up against". So prior to Shabbat I was thinking about things like lack of decorum and name calling. Additionally, I was feeling dismay that we have way too many "us vs them" feelings in this country about Republicans and Democrats. It is my opinion that we should recognize that we all have different approaches, but we all want what is best for our country, so lets exchange ideas and work things out so that everyone wins. Then I picked up the paper on Shabbat and it was all right there in front of me again.

On Saturday, as I read a story on the front page, I read a line about "right-wing nutballs" and how in the "absence of any real leadership, the freaks fill the void and define the party". A few pages in to there was an article about a man in Michigan who held grudges against several people in his town, so he went on a shooting spree and killed two. More name calling. More unflattering classifications of people we disagree with. More disagreements that are not worked out. Then on Sunday, Kanye West interupts Taylor Swift at the VMAs and takes away her moment. President Obama is overheard referring to Kanye West as a jackass.

In less than one week, we heard elected officials from both parties show a lack of decorum, make poor choices, and contribute to a demonstration of an overall lack of civility and basic manners. Just because a person makes a poor choice in a particular moment does not mean that we should resort to name calling nor should we apply that person's mistake to an entire group of people. The mistakes of Bernard Madoff do not apply to all Jews, the mistakes of Kanye West do not apply to all African Americans, and the mistakes of individual Republicans and Democrats do not apply to all Republicans and Democrats.

We have been hearing about teachable moments lately. When mistakes happen we can learn from them. But we all need to understand that when we classify groups of people with names that are less than nice, like nutballs or nimwits, we are also teaching something in that moment, just not something that we want to teach!

Everytime I walk into my children's school, I see the seven core virtues, that are taught to the kids and that guide them in their daily activities, posted everywhere. They are respect, compassion, honesty, perseverance, responsibility, giving, and self-discipline. The kids are expected to commit to having good character by demonstating the core virtues each and every day. Wouldn't it be nice if the grown ups in this world, who they watch and listen to and look up to followed the core virtues as well?


This weekend we will celebrate Rosh Hashanah and will welcome the start of 5770. As we sit in services, and think about the year that was and the year that is to be, I would like to call your attention to a note in the Machzor that comes just before the blessing before the Haftarah reading on the first day of Rosh Hashanah. It says the following: Like Sarah, Hannah manifests grave concern for the spiritual welfare of her child. Her example teaches us that the future of Judaism is largely in the hands of the Jewish mother. In our day, even more than in the past, the mother is responsible for her child's interest in religious education. The Jewish mother determines whether or not her home shall be permeated with a wholesome Jewish atmosphere. She can inculcate in the child a love for the Synagogue and for Jewish learning.

Part of creating a Jewish atmosphere and part of Jewish learning is avoiding lashon hara, or hurtful speech. Let's all make a renewed committment to demonstrating courteous, civil, well-mannered behavior and avoiding name calling, labeling, and other examples of lashon hara in this new year, and create meaningful teachable moments for our children. Maybe we can get elected officials to follow our lead!


Wishing you all a Shanah Tovah - may it be a happy, healthy, peaceful, and sweet new year!

Family Community Service Opportunity

My apologies for the formatting issues with this post, but I wanted to get this information out to you quickly! Please check out this great program called Beads that Bind, that is happening this Sunday. Here is the information from the flyer:



Women’s Philanthropy and The Jewish Foundation for Group Homes invite you to bring your creativity, your family and your VOICES

Sunday, September 13, 2009

Join us as we dedicate ourselves to a day of community service where we will:

• Create beaded projects with residents of the Jewish Foundation for Group Homes


• Sing songs together


• Make friends and play games
  
  These are the opportunities that lift our spirits and enrich our lives.
  Choose the location and time that work best for you:
  
  1:00 p.m. Gesher Jewish Day School, 4700 Shirley Gate Road, Fairfax, VA
  
  3:30 p.m. Jewish Community Center of Greater Washington, 6125 Montrose Road, Rockville, MD
  
  To learn more or to register visit www.shalomdc.org/women or call 301-348-7320.
  
  This program is a gateway to Women’s Philanthropy’s VOICES event - Celebrating the Choices women make so their VOICES will be heard, on October 12, 2009. To learn more, visit www.shalomdc.org/voices
  
  Northern Virginia Chair: Kelly Kogan
  Maryland Chairs: Shelley Ducker, Amie Perl
  

A Reminder About An Evening With Maggie Anton!

I posted this several weeks ago, but I wanted to repost it as a reminder since the deadline for ordering books is fast approaching. I hope to see you at this event!


Please mark your calendars! I am so pleased to announce that the Seaboard Region of WLCJ is presenting an Evening With Maggie Anton, author of Rashi's Daughters. The event will be hosted by the Sisterhood of Olam Tikvah and will take place on Thursday, November 12, 2009, at 7:30pm.

To RSVP, please visit the link below for the form. If you wish to order copies of Book 1 - Joheved, Book 2 - Miriam, or Book 3 - Rachel, prior to the event to have them available for Maggie to sign, then please make sure to have your form and check (for books and registration fee) to me by October 26. If you just plan to attend the event and not order books, then please send your form and registration fee to me by November 1. The cost for books is $12 per copy and the cost for the event is $10 for those who are a member of a WLCJ Sisterhood and $15 for those who are not. Checks should be made payable to Seaboard Region WLCJ and sent to me.

You will find my contact information and directions to Olam Tikvah on the form as well. I hope to see you there!

http://www.wlcj.net/seaboard/news/maggie_anton_flyer.htm