Message from the Rabbi

Shalom,

What would happen if suddenly you found out that you could live forever? Would this be a blessing? Would you be overjoyed? Surely, humankind has searched in vain for the “fountain of youth.” Scientists and doctors spend millions, if not billions of dollars each year researching longevity. And we are living longer. But, what about “ forever?” I can’t help thinking about this question during this time of year. The High Holidays are just behind us, where we were forced to think about our own mortality. The Yizkor service loomed high. But now, post-high holidays, most of us want to put all such thoughts of death and dying aside.

I just came from a breakfast lecture sponsored by the Chambersburg Hospital’s chaplaincy department, where the featured speaker was Dr. Ira Byock, a palliative care specialist. He talked to the attendees, mostly pastors and health care workers in the Chambersburg area about how to treat the dying patient, focusing on what was most needed by the patient. He could have been giving a sermon on the high holidays, for his talk was based on his book,

The Four Things That Matter Most. What were these four things? These are things we should do and know, but often put aside. Our own mortality forces us to face these things, for if we did live forever, surely we would put them off for later and never, ever get to them. The most important thing on Dr. Byock’s list was forgiveness—the ability to say to your loved ones, “Please forgive me.” This goes for the patient as well as the family and friends of the patient. In fact, it applies to all of us. Sound familiar? The other three things on the list are: “I forgive you. Thank you. I love you.” Why am I mentioning these things now? Because they need not only apply during the High Holy days or on one’s deathbed, but can and should apply at any time. As I mentioned during the High Holy Days, Rabbi Eliezer said: “Repent one day before your death.”

As I sit here in my Sukkah, [freezing, by the way] I am reminded of its fragility. The squirrels have attacked my skakh (the roof made of cornstalks and cana lily leaves) in search of corn and it doesn’t look as glorious as it did on Monday night when we had 25 people over to celebrate with us. We are commanded to rejoice, however. We are thankful for the abundant harvest, for what we have, but at the same time we are fearful of what the future will bring. The ancients worried about surviving the ensuing winter. Would nature, which was totally out of their control, be kind to them? We, too, worry about what the future will bring. But what I have learned this year is to appreciate the deep community we have at Congregation Sons of Israel. We are here for each other to celebrate our simchas, but more importantly, we are here to support each other in times of sickness and trouble. Each time I visited Hilde and Jack Shapiro and Char Bender, who are currently at Manor Care, other members of CSI were visiting, too. Our community keeps us stronger. May our stay in our Sukkot give us a deeper appreciation for ourselves, community and the world around us.

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