Minyan Replay with Rabbi Lizzi — From the Place Where We Are Right

Big programming note — Rabbi Lizzi is taking a well deserved sabbatical beginning next week! This means that while we will continue with our Morning Minyans every weekday and you'll still see services, sermons, and minyan content in this feed, we won't be hearing from R'Lizzi until February 2024. We hope you'll enjoy hearing thoughtful content from Rabbi Steven and guest hosts in the meantime.

https://www.mishkanchicago.org/im-going-on-sabbatical/

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Produced by Mishkan Chicago. Music composed, produced, and performed by Kalman Strauss.

Transcript

Transcript

Good morning Good morning. We will start with the same tune in these words that

we've been

singing for weeks and weeks

just begin this morning here and then we'll go from here into Madani

invite you to set up a little bit straighter

let your belly breathe freely in through your nose.

Your belly grow and then as you exhale feel it descend

rising and falling

knowing that everything starting with our breath comes in waves

may sky

mi T 's ca Yemini

tieback lisch

ni mas ni ke D the

ask me team

at Tiru Shala

see it

at you Rucha

seem to

if I forget you Oh Jerusalem lead my right hand whether led my tongue stick to the roof of my mouth.

If I do not remember you if I do not set Jerusalem love my chiefest joy

as you shall

see

seems

more

room

ver que

ne live fine

there Kay

chef.

Tybee

Denise

Beth best

chef has

the smile

hi yeah

hey

ay ay

Again,

sit up a little straighter, stand a little straighter, whatever helps you find alignment in your spine and take a deep breath.

filling your lungs, feeling your diaphragm, letting your belly expand and then exhale, letting it fall.

Yes, everything comes in waves, hard work and rest.

Or in peace,

strain and struggle, and relaxation,

prayer, asking, meeting, wailing, whining, and praise and gratitude.

Just feel that all happening within your breath as you breathe

all right, I wanted to start with a poem this morning. That is a play off of the Ecclesiastes,

the famous piece of Ecclesiastes that says, of course, to everything, there is a season. You know, everything comes in its own time, waves of this and that, you know,

of course, I didn't put in front of me because I just put the poem in front of me but to every there is a time for love, a time for hate, a time for war, a time for peace, a time to be born a time to die, a time for reaping a time for sowing, etc. And so this is the WHO to me hi poem that he wrote, interpreting the words of Ecclesiastes. It's called

Dan behive. A man in his life.

A man in his life, has no time to have time for everything.

He has no room to have room for every desire. Ecclesiastes was wrong, to say that

a person has to hate and love all at once.

With the same eyes to cry, and to laugh,

with the same hands to throw stones and to gather them to make love in war, and war in love, and hate and forgive and remember and forget an order and confuse and eat and digest what long history does in so many years.

A man in his life has no time. When he loses, he seeks. When he finds he forgets.

When he forgets he loves

and when he loves, he begins forgetting.

And his soul is knowing, seasoned, very professional. Only his body remains an amateur. Always it tries and fumbles. He doesn't learn. He gets confused, drunk and blind and his pleasures and pains.

In autumn, he will die like a fig, shriveled, sweet fool of himself. The leaves dry out on the ground and naked branches point to the place where there is time for everything.

I think of that sometimes when we go into prayer, you know, because the morning the morning prayer is like all gratitude and then it goes into praise. And then really only later does it can even kind of get into this like whole section of Bukka shout to like the requests, you know, as if we compartmentalize our lives that well. I wonder if the prayer service is trying to ask us if maybe we can try to compartmentalize as a as a spiritual exercise, when in fact, the heart has four chambers. We love and hate all at once we laugh and cry with the same eyes and with the same hands, gather and throw stones.

In any case,

any comments about this before I go on, we go into a little bit of praise.

Powerful, the both and it's all happening at the same time.

time space continuum I just Yeah, I hear Star Wars playing in the background.

That's funny.

It makes a lot of sense to me. It just feels like the right thing to know. When

I'm feeling all sorts of things at the same time. There's a lot of emotions and I don't know how to juggle them. And maybe that's okay.

Right.

Right.

Yeah, thanks for saying that go. It's like this space and time continuum, that it it. It's not a linear, it's all circular and jumbled. And it's all one.

Yeah, I

think there's something interesting about forgiveness in the part where you no doubt Yeah. When you when you forget, then you can love. Yes.

Yes.

Yeah. Oh, that's so interesting. Roberta, you're reminding me of a different of his poems? Which, which now I feel like I need to read to you.

It's kind of talks about, I mean, I don't know if this is what you were getting at Roberta. But like, the holding on to the place where we are right? Where we are not able to forgive because like, I'm right about that. And it is hard for me to let go of that. That.

That's like a closed door.

And then if you're able to let go of the place where you are right, and begin to forgive, the door can open and anything could come through it maybe even love. Yeah. As also when you're stuck in that rightness, then there's no point of connection with other people, right. But if instead of being like I was right, there's something more about naming of feeling right. Like I was hurt in that moment, or I felt ignored or whatever, right? Someone can meet you and be like, Oh, I understand that. But when you're stuck on the thing of it, then yes, it becomes this barrier.

And like a defense. Yes. Now I'm going to now I'm going to show you that one.

We're just going to be on a Yahoo to me hi kick this morning. So this is called the place where we are right.

Okay, read the full poem here. Thank you.

This is interesting, actually.

Should we read what Parker Palmer had to say about it before we read the bone? What about part of the being right is feeling like you hadn't been validated?

You know what, let me let me read let me let's let's read let's read this one. Let's I'm gonna I'm gonna go to the poem. I'm gonna go back to what Parker Palmer who's a brilliant writer, thinker educator says about it. And then we'll see if maybe it addresses your question. Or your your point, Julianne. All right. So he writes, you can see this I don't I might be pretty small for you. From the place where we are right.

Flowers will never grow in the spring.

The place where we are right, is hard and trampled like a yard.

But doubts and loves, dig up the world. Like a mole, a plow, and a whisper will be heard in the place where the ruined house once stood.

A whisper will be heard in the place where the ruined house once stood.

Right And now because I'm curious to see here. So this is this is the the Poetry Project I was telling you about last time where like on being they'll have

a particular writer, thinker, present a poem, talk about it, and then present it again. So this is Parker Palmer.

Here's a poem I reread frequently, as short and simple as it is it helps me remember that nothing can grow between us when we speak to each other from the place where we are right.

More important. The poem leads me to ask what I think is a question worth pondering. How might things change if we began our political conversations, not from certainties, but from our doubts, and loves? Many of us who differ politically love the same things, our children, our grandchildren, our country, our natural world, many of us who differ politically harbor the same doubts that what's being done or not done to care for the things we love is the best or the right thing.

thing to do?

Yes, we differ on what ought to be done. But what if instead of starting by arguing over solutions over the place where we are right, we began by sharing our doubts, our doubts and our love and our loves. I suspect that our political conversations could be much more productive because they would proceed from common ground. Hey, it's worth a try. One thing I'm certain about, is it the other way isn't working.

Yehuda AMI Hai is widely regarded as Israel's greatest modern poet if you read the place where we are right while remembering the political context in which it was written the poems power multiplies

meal

so I guess this will do this one more time we'll do it just like they do on on Bing

and then we'll go on. And Julian I wonder if if maybe the context you're talking about is not the context he's talking about? You're talking about more interpersonal I think he's talking about political

from the place where we are right and flowers will never grow in the spring.

The place where we are right is hard and trampled like a yard.

But doubts and loves

dig up the world like a mole like a plow and a whisper will be heard in the place where the ruined house once stood.

Okay,

I agree with that. However, I'm also thinking about the fact that when the

the organization is so righteous that they cannot back down and if that validation would change that and allow that openness

I guess that's the invitation isn't it?

Yeah.

All right. I'm gonna make this interesting reading that poem in light of what I read this morning on the New York Post Wait, hang on I actually I read I actually do want to move on if that's okay if Thank you. Thank you notes thank you for Yeah, I wanted to because we because we only we have 10 minutes left but we can keep talking after after we end recording

all right, I'm gonna move on.

But thank you all for engaging with poetry with me. It's really fun.

All right.

So in the spirit of holding many things and multiplicity, we go into praising

hallelujah

Holly

Holly

Hallelu

Hallelu

Hallelu Javier key got lose Oh Hallelu

Hallelu

Hallelu take as shofar

Halle

Halle loo

been meaning that guy

Halle loo

Hallelu Hallelu

Hallelu

Hallelu

late to

100 ma

le Lu Li

Ka Hashem.

Halle

Concha Shama to Hallelujah

Hallelujah

I'm

Leon amfa and Pyro gotta

tell them you're terrible chef or say Shalom over Ray at her call.

You're gonna really help me move to vamos Hitesh at home to mean Matt savory sheet or Kadesh mazziotta ear and his cat who Lana Mahir rally row by row Hatha

Yoga, omit or row.

I always think of, and we've talked about this before this section of bar who, and this idea of being blessed with a new light or a dash peruca tat or now you'd say, a hammer or road, Blessed are you, the creator of the lights

section.

Moving into the Shemitah is about the creation of our planet, our cosmos, our planet, and our little worlds every single day. And there is an assertion in here that that day is recreated every day completely new move to VA, and in your goodness, Mahadesh. Yet, you create a new, the whole Yum, Tammy and Matt, a savory sheet every day, the work of creation. And so it's just is a reminder, to me, all of the things that we think are fixed that we think cannot change, including the people we think cannot change.

We have to hold out the possibility either,

that that's true, and that we then change in response, or that there's just something that hasn't been tried yet. Some unmet need, that has yet to be met,

some conversation that has yet to be had.

And I'm mostly talking on the interpersonal level.

Or some accommodation from the folks around that we have yet to actually do.

But I'm reminded of the Einstein quote, you know, we all probably know it that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing again and again and again and expecting a different result.

And so I think part of the invitation for us, and looking at this little blessing is wondering if we are frustrated with things being the same again and again and again, what is the thing that could change in us in the thing that we I control, since I can't control the world, I only control myself.

And from a place of love, I have Rubba

from knowing like even if we make a wrong choice and move forward, and screw it up

of our robot after No,

you're still loved, you're still worthy of love. And we all are entitled to mistakes.

So I actually as I want to use this as a as a prayer for healing.

I have that rub that deep, abundant love to send love and care and healing to anybody who needs a prayer.

And so oh my goodness Irene. Your list grows. Everybody but it includes so many people on this Minion so many people who have passed through this Minion who might not be here today. So nice to know that on your list is everyone who anybody in this room has thought about Rabbi Deborah shanafelt.

Susie Donohue will Norris Cliff Levine.

Oh, thanks, Ricky. Ricky, you have to say it since you know, somebody else should say the name of it. You know, don't say your own name. Rabbi Lizzi Oh, thank you. Hi, Rob. Alicia of about Hellene with Peter Shan about Devora Hana, Dave and Val.

Everyone on Martin's list.

Your mom Kay Susanna Celia Yes, Celia Strauss, Georgiana and Linda. Justin Nicolette Seth

ISRAEL PALESTINE all endangered regions in this world. Me. Everybody on Delius list. Baby KO in

our calendar Jeanette God, love ashpan Moshe

Kevin Rooney all right

all right.

Sending loving care to every single one of those people.

Rob ah have

no Hey

kiddo.

era hamata

Levine Mel Cain

Shabbat fool Besa Shabbat Hello Bev

Levine, Cain jumping aligned with 10 Li bein

loving their Javi and all their haskap the schmo

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rod to die humpback Lee vain

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Smith Bobby Chu with death. Unite any Ay ay ay ay ay.

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ver ha ha ha ve new LIS shallow man hey I can fall

they totally hate you. Comment me you

say Hey new collecting the four corners of your seat seat if you're able and Cindy each sending you a fleshly ma

bless blessings and prayers for clear tests and complete healing

and everybody on our list clear hearts and

souls that feels supported bodies that feel ease full and complete healing

attire I don't I have no hair but I'm more used to Oh l the AHA have

Shema

yes Ray

Jones

Hello Hey

Dawn don't buy

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there are Haftar eight I don't know

the whole of Africa overhaul now Shaha overhaul military there who had very high share I know he mitzvah ha ha yo malaba machine into him there Vanessa de bar to bomb this shifter have a veto. Over left the HA HA Dara Hoover Shakalaka of kumbaya short term they owe Alexander the EULA. tota Ford beignet. NASA will get after

Alma Zuzo Tessa movie Shara.

You will love with all your heart with all your soul with all your mind. These words which I speak to you today shall live on your heart. Teach them to your children. Speak of them when you sit in your home when you walk on the way when you lie down and when you rise up, shall bind them as a sign on your hand and let them be symbols between your eyes. You should write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates that have to

You will love

All right. I'm conscious of the time I want to do Kadisha tome mourners Kaddish

I had more that I wanted to get to today but there wasn't meant to be

is there is to healer here first of all with us this morning. I spoke with her yesterday. I don't I don't see her.

So thinking about her of course and she just lost her mom.

Is there anybody else what you're thinking about?

Yeah, my cousin Arya rife who fell in His funeral was today in Israel. Oh

I'm sorry Irene.

And Solinsky

Irene, do you want to lead us in Cadiz Chateau sure

is Kadar Vyas Kadosh ma Raba. I mean, Margie Rao who say we are Malik ma who say Okay, your home you will make home of chi. The whole basis for Ale, but a gala over his mom curry via Maru. Amen. I mean, you hate a robber Maga Rafi alarm omae Amaya use Barak we Shabak. We split our visual mom business a business darvis This allows medical Shah Rico ala Maccabi aka service share us touche because of Anelka masa de m Iran, Bo ma via Maru. Amen. Yeah, hey, Shlomo Raba mentioned Maya, Buckeye. EME, Elena and Fiat call us to El via Maru. Amen. Oh say Shalom demre mob whoo Yeah, a ser Shalom. Elena with y'all call us to l do I call you straight to go VM ru Amen. Amin

mi has in me all of their memories be blessings

play us out with an OC Shalom

Oh say Shalom BAM Rama

boo yah. Say Shiloh Molina

Oh says Shalom BAM ra ma boo yah say Shalom. La new.

Oh say she

say shallow mine.

Ya say shallow

yeah say shallow.

Shallow

call you sir.

Yeah say shallow.

Shallow

will say Shalom memory. Oh ma boo yah. Say shine on my lane.

Shalom Imran Ma, Boo yah se shall.

Elaine new

who say shallow mine?

Yeah, say shallow.

Shallow Mulaney. Oh

yeah.

Yeah, see

ya Kalia Schmitz Eva.

We pray for peace

may come soon and may bless our world.