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Greetings friends
Thanksgiving is behind us, the twin festivals of light are on the horizon, and the differences between the older and younger generations have never been greater. At one time, core generational values were still the same. Now, they are different.
This year, Chanukah begins on an anniversary date that seems to be becoming long forgotten. We now have new days that live in infamy – the level of real-life, real-time genocide is here, and the defenders of the murderous terrorists have no idea what they are talking about. The real, palpable fear people feel is acceptable when once it would never have been tolerated.
News comes from the so-called “social media.” Knowledge comes from 30-second snippets packaged as entertainment. Attention spans have shrunk, and the desire to examine facts has disappeared.
We must honor and study history, not forget it or rewrite it. This seems to happen too frequently, and the danger of memory fading in time – not just for the individual or nation – but our lives are experienced stories woven together - impacting each other. The memory of those experiences sends you off in new and different directions all the time. Never forget the past – it helps you make choices as you move forward, and life is the result of the choices you make.
Our thoughts change; our feelings change; our wants, needs, and goals change – but what never changes is we only have so much time, and we need to make the most of our time. We are coming up on the time of the holiday season – Thanksgiving, not Halloween, has always acted as the ding-ding of the bell at the boxing ring to get people rushing into Christmas time. It is that wake-up that says, “I can’t believe the year is almost over.” And I say Christmas season since that is what we are inundated with, but it is Christmas, Chanukah, and New Year’s – a cascading cornucopia of cultural celebration.
No other time of the year has the same pull on people bonding together, getting together, coming together – it is the season of light and miracles and Noah’s birthday.
And because we are less than a week before the first of the twin festivals of light, a celebration of miracles – and when I think of miracles, perhaps the one we all wish for is the one recorded in Isaiah 2:4 - They shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks – peace on earth, good will to man – words no longer even spoken. The state of the world is on the precipice of war, anger, and fear. We must stop.
Chanukah is not just a festival of light or of miracles but is a guidepost to the power of faith.
Last week, the mystical bible began with the dream of the stairway to heaven, and this week, it continues with a great celestial wrestling match – very Gilgamesh-like.
It is a reading that has the meeting after 20 years of Jacob and Esau; Jacob wrestling the angel; the “rape” of Jacob’s only daughter Dinah – which does not come across as rape; the actions of the brothers; the birth of Benjamin and death of Rachel and the death of Isaac which tells us a new generation of stories is coming.
But the greatest lesson is the forgiveness mechanism found in the great reunion and, with it, an opportunity to teach and encourage the emulation of the greatest biblical display of forgiveness and its effect, but usually ignored, and take some time to notice how each of our protagonists perform, react, and make their choices of life.
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Thank you all for allowing me into your homes, into your electronic devices, into your hearts – as you are all with me in mine –
Be well, be happy, be healthy, be free, be kind, be forgiving, be compassionate, be independent of mind and deed, be mindful of your intentions, and be good to yourself. Continue to celebrate freedom of choice in your life and do not give in to fear, bigotry, discrimination, or the mob, and enjoy the peace that comes from acceptance – and as always - if you have any questions or suggestions or want to say “hi,” please send me an email. I love hearing from you.
And remember, anytime you do not want to receive these anymore, please send me an email so I can remove you. And know - that I truly appreciate your sharing your sacred time with me.
Enjoy and celebrate your life and the lives of others, and in doing so, be safe be happy, may you all sow the seeds of and reap the rewards of peace and love and miracles, and make sure you also celebrate your unique individuality and your incredible awesomeness.
And remember – your world is what you make it. Just wish upon a star and continue to be the miracle in someone’s life.
Blessings
RD
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