Who Needs Whom?

The founder of Reconstructionist Judaism Dr. Mordechai Kaplan believed that at the heart of the human condition is a core truth: We all have a need to be needed.  In follow-up to the Days of Awe we are left to ponder ways and means by which we will keep our promises made during these days, to ourselves and perhaps others.

We cannot do “it” alone, at least that has often seemed the case in the past; we are more likely to succeed when we help one another and share the nachas (joy/pride).  When we fill each other’s needs, we fulfill our own need to be needed and the feeling we get when we are useful and helpful. In helping each other we are filling God’s Need to have a physical partner to generate physical holiness in this experiment of a physical creation (symbolized by our being on this isolated speck of dust in the never ending cosmos, with no other life forms yet evident).  

Beginning Sunday, October 16, at 10:45 I will be offering a monthly exploration of Judaism, most likely different from other courses in Judaism you have taken: We will explore Judaism as a partnership, a unique time management system generated through a unique ego management system.  I call it Partnership Judaism, generated through the word Yisrael, our original identity and still the way we are known in Torah and the Siddur (prayer book), in contradistinction to how we have identified for 2500 years, as Yehudi, Jew.  The purpose of this course of reflection and conversation is to provide skills that will enable us to meet others’ needs and have our needs met, all in the process of addressing God’s Needs.

Then on Tuesday, October 20 we will launch a monthly program generated through WineSpirit, Sippin’ Vintage Judaism over Dinner, a pizza or other easy to nosh dinner (accompanied by wine) conversation exploring quality of life matters based on the new book Sippin’ on Top of the World…Toasting Good Times and Better Days from 5:30 to 7 PM.  

What is behind and beneath and within the Torah and its linkage to Mitzvah?  God needs us to make this realm Holy.  The word Kadosh, Holy, means so much more, with each descriptor enticing us to go out and make wonderful things happen, to bring Kadosh to Life…all that is excellent, unique, precious, memorable, treasurable, significant, transcendent, extraordinary, outstanding, set apart…and sacred.  The magic in all of this is translating principles of holiness into daily ongoing application and enjoying doing so, while making a difference for good in a world that needs as much goodness as we can generate.

I look forward to sharing this exploration with you at these opening learning programs beginning this month on a monthly basis.

We can celebrate the launch of this and so much more that awaits us in 5770, at the Sukkot and Simchat Torah celebrations announced elsewhere in the bulletin.

Moadim L’Simcha!  I wish you many moments of Joy celebrating the wonderful doings that await our sharing.