The peace of Shabbat has been cracked open by blind hatred.
Yesterday, a man on the MAX light-rail train began taunting and menacing two young Muslim women who were wearing hijab. Three other passengers stepped in and told him to leave the women alone. He pulled out a knife and stabbed the three men. Two of those passengers are dead and another is hospitalized. And Trump’s America, where bigots have permission to speak and act on their hatred, has claimed more innocent lives.
I lay this all at the feet of Donald Trump, his handlers, and the political party that lost its courage and its legitimacy hen it decided to back this man’s candidacy for President -- and lost its legitimacy by continuing to stand behind him today.
There is a vigil tonight at the Hollywood/NE 42nd Ave. transit station where the attacks took place. If I have enough spoons (my friends know what I mean), I will go.
Meanwhile, I am struggling with my despair and hope and determination, which all live side by side in me.
My despair comes from the understanding that change is slow, hard and often painful and sometimes fraught with personal risk.
My hope comes from a desire to see change happen in my lifetime. Sometimes that feels like a vain hope, since I know how slow change can be.
My determination comes from the knowledge, learned from my peoples’ tradition, that while I may not live to see the world repaired, that doesn’t let me off the hook to do my part to bring it about.
And so I’ll keep praying, and fixing bikes for newly-arrived refugees, and teaching young people that listening, REALLY listening to each other is perhaps the best antidote to the fear that can lead to hate. Like the song asks, “did you put more love in the world today?”
How do YOU put more love in the world?
Today is a good day to get clear on that, and to refocus our efforts.
Shabbat Shalom.

Just got back this afternoon from a beautiful weekend in the woods.
The Pacific NW Reconstructionist Shabbaton, held at Camp Solomon Schechter near Olympia, was the Shabbat home for over 100 members of Reconstructionist communities from throughout the Pacific Northwest, Joined by scholars from the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College, we spend a beautiful Shabbat together learning, eating, celebrating and singing beneath a canopy of trees above a lake.

I was blessed to serve at the event as the Musician-in-Residence, and had a wonderful time meeting new friends while spending time with fellow Havurahniks. I got to see what our friends in other communities are doing to create vibrant Jewish life where they are. I learned about Kabbalistic kissing, the nature(s) of holiness, how to read between the lines of liturgical praise; and above all, that I still have so much more to learn.

One of the most revelatory things of all was that, thanks to my cheap little flip=phone unable to have any reception out in the woods, I turned off my electronics and left them off the whole time I was there. I didn't even feel tempted once to take a picture and somehow "curate" my experience. (Other folks did take pictures and have promised to share later.)

And you know what? Without the electronics, Time Slowed Down.
Really.
It was surprisingly easy to let go of the impulse to check for email.
Everything I needed, all the information I wanted in that moment, was right in front of me:
-- the song of the redwing blackbird perched on a reed in the lake;
-- the honking of geese flying low over the water early in the morning;
-- the sound of eggs sizzling on the grill from the camp kitchen;
-- the rustle of the wind through the treetops as I drifted off to sleep at night;
-- the smiles and laughter of new friends as we shared our stories;
-- the rustling rainbow of many-colored tallitot (prayer shawls) as we wrapped ourselves in intention and prepared to dive deep into prayer;
-- conversations with new friends where we shared wisdom with each other and elevated each other in moments of understanding and gratitude;
-- the sound of a community's collective voices raised in song, as sparks flew into the air above a roaring campfire;

All of these sounds gave me everything i needed to hear, see and know during this past Shabbat.

When I got home this afternoon, I decided not to rush right into my electronic responsibilities right away; instead, I kissed Sweetie hello and reconnected a little with her, and then I took a luxurious two-hour nap.
It was the right thing to do.
Now, a few hours later, I remain quietly amazed at how little I needed during Shabbat other than food, prayer and community. And I know that, thought it's much harder do disconnect in the city, I want to try making space for at least a few hours of unplugged time next week and see how it feels.

Shavua tov -- a good week.

(Music: "Oseh Shalom" by Nava Tehilah)

Happy Monday!

In five days I'm headed off to Camp Solomon Schechter for the Pacific NW Regional Shabbaton, a gathering for Reconstructionist communities from throughout our region. I am honored and thrilled to be the Musician-In-Residence for this event, which will bring together over 100 people of all ages to pray, sing, learn and dream together in a beautiful, rustic setting of Camp Solomon Schechter (near Olympia, WA).

Since most of the event will take place during Shabbat I won't be posting from CSS. However, I hope to bring back photos, stories and new music to share afterwards. And I am thankful for this opportunity to be of us within my own region, among fellow Havurahniks and folks from other Recon communities here. Plus, I'll be working with some visionary leaders in the movement, including Rabbis David Basior (from Kadima, in Seattle) and Maurice Harris (from RRC, formerly from Eugene). CANNOT WAIT!