The Long (and Amazingly Good) Goodbye ...

What an incredible week it has been ... last Saturday night, I was honored to have been honored by Congregation Beth Israel for my contributions to the community while working here (yes, there were tears).  To listen to a video with so many people I love and respect talking about the impact of my time in Austin was both wonderful and unsettling at the same time ... when I was asked to describe the experience afterwards, I told someone it was much like being at your wedding without a groom and being at your funeral without being dead (thankfully). 

Truly, the highlight of the evening was seeing so many people having a wonderful time sharing community (and food) for a good cause, to support Congregation Beth Israel.  I was so moved by everyone's contributions and participation ... and so begins the long goodbye ... .

Unusual Reminders on My Phone ... : )

Every once in a while, my phone will send me a reminder that makes me laugh ... today, it beeped and said, "Leave for church."  For me, even as a rabbi who does a lot of outreach work, it still makes me laugh.   : )

This past week has been a lot of work within and without the Jewish community ... Wednesday night was the ADL Gala (700 folks there and my guess is only half were Jewish, which is phenomenal).  Thursday night, I spoke at a local Islamic cultural center.  Friday night, I co-led worshiips at the ADL-Ballet Austin-sponsored event called, "Light:  The Holocaust and Humanity Project."  (I think Saturday was pretty much exclusively Jewish with Tot Shabbat, morning Shabbat worship, and the B'nai Mitzvah Shabbaton helping our students get ready to become B'nai Mitzvah).  Today, I taught two different "Adult Sunday School" classes, worked with the kids' choir and am now off to the Church of the Resurrection before attending a Board Meeting.

Yes, this is what rabbis do.   : )

Getting Ready to Take the Leap ...

This year is a leap year, meaning that February has 29 days instead of the usual 28.  It is now a few days before this upcoming "bonus day" ... how will I use it? 

Might I think of February 29th as an extra day to get caught up on things I haven't yet completed?  Or, is the day simply a reminder that March is almost here and the year, like every year seems as I get older, is moving by very quickly. 

Perhaps it can be both ... perhaps February 29th is that little gift that comes every four years to remind us that each day is special and we should not take any for granted ... because we might have to wait years for another day like this one to come along.   : )

I hope you have a great 29th!   : )

Thinking About How to Make Change ...

Change is hard.  Really, really hard.  I love how Dr. Jonathan Woocher ("Chief Ideas Officer" at JESNA, the Jewish Education Service of North America) talks about his "Eight Rules for Change Agents" ... I think these are pretty good for not only changing Jewish education, but also how we bring about change in our own lives.  Let me know what you think.   : )

http://blogs.rj.org/blog/2011/12/23/summit-reflections/