Category: Uncategorized

I pray for the hostages in the kosher supermarket in France, the family who just wanted a peaceful and happy Shabbat, and pray for all those suffering from terror at this very moment.

I also wonder how much of what we are seeing today is a result of European indifference to increased anti-Semitism, and anti-Israel rhetoric?

I was reminded of this passage from the last world war.

MARTIN NIEMÖLLER: “FIRST THEY CAME FOR THE SOCIALISTS…”

Martin Niemöller (1892–1984) was a prominent Protestant pastor who emerged as an outspoken public foe of Adolf Hitler and spent the last seven years of Nazi rule in concentration camps.

Niemöller is perhaps best remembered for the quotation:

First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out—

Because I was not a Socialist.

Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out—

Because I was not a Trade Unionist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—

Because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.

I was the guest rabbi today on Shmuel Rosner’s blog.

Here is a link to the full site:

http://www.jewishjournal.com/rosnersdomain/item/rosners_torah_talk_parashat_miketz_with_rabbi_aaron_bergman

I take a sketch book with me every time I go Israel. I started it a number of years ago, and took it with me when I was on the Adat Shalom trip this past February. Here are a couple of the pages. The first is from the Golan Heights. The other two are from the Dead Sea. They are all watercolors.

Whenever I go to Israel I take a set of watercolors with me. This was painted when I was at a greenhouse project in the north of Israel. There was a lot of strong coffee. I drank quite a bit of it, but used the rest for this picture.

This week is the celebration of the giving of the Ten Commandments on Mount Sinai. The Hebrew word, though, is not really Commandment, but great precept. The purpose of these Ten Great Precepts are to liberate ourselves from so many things that prevent us from living our life fully.

We will study them together and develop meditations that can help us through our day in a better way.

This Sunday 6/1 at 9:30 am at Adat Shalom

Everyone is welcome

The Jewish people are wonderful story tellers. We contributed many of the tales of 1,001 Nights of Scheherazade. We brought the stories of other traditions into our own. I am teaching a course of Jewish folklore and folk tales this month. I hope you will come.

More importantly to me, though, is I want to hear your stories, the stories of who you are, and the stories of where you and your family come from. I want to hear the stories of where you want to go in your life, particularly your spiritual and intellectual journey.

I tend to meet people at events, where there is not a lot of time to speak meaningfully for more than a few minutes, or at life cycle events where we are mostly focusing on family dynamics or the details of the day itself.

Judaism has so much wisdom and so many riches to make our path in life a happy, good and meaningful one.

I would love to meet with anyone who has, or has had, or would like a connection to Adat Shalom, at a time and place that is good for you, including your favorite coffee or lunch place and talk about what matters to you and how Judaism can be an even more meaningful part of your life. We could also just chat.

You can contact me through my email, abergman@adatshalom.org, or on Facebook (just make sure you have the right Aaron Bergman, or at the synagogue, 248-851-5100, and ask for my assistant Sheila. 

I will also be calling Adat Shalom members at random from time to time. No obligation, but I think this could be a lot of fun and very illuminating.

I look forward to talking soon.