Last weekend, at our Spiritual Journey Group at Congregation B’nai Shalom, someone reflected on the need to impart the kind of values that are important to use to our kids at this time of year. If we say or do nothing, they are likely to simply pick up and absorb the dominant narratives that they hear around them. And how often, after the holiday season, does the conversation among kids turn to the question of ‘what did you get?’. One of the values that we want to impart might better be reflected in a question that I’d love to hear our children asking: ‘What did you give?’
This year, the Jewish Teen Funders Network has come up with a wonderful list of ideas to provide us all, and especially our children, with the opportunity to both give and nurture gratitude for eight nights. What better way to blend the spirit of Thanksgiving and Hanukkah?
I’ve been following the facebook postings of a colleague and old friend of mine from back in the UK these past couple of weeks as she shared her family’s exploits. What’s so interesting about that? Isn’t that what Facebook is for? Well this particular family has been doing something a bit more remarkable than just reporting on their family vacations and what they made for dinner (not that I don’t love when my friends share these things too; its just unlikely to make the grade as something I’m going to share on my blog!)
Bebe Jacobs and her family have been singing together for many years. Bebe, when I was in the UK, did some educational work and training for the Leo Baeck College (Rabbinical seminary for Progressive Rabbis) and the Center for Jewish Education. She now runs her own practice as a Parenting Coach. Like myself, she was both a member of our Jewish Renewal chavurah and a member of a Reform synagogue in North West London. Her husband, Lawrence, is a retired dentist and acts as part-time Cantor to a Masorti (Conservative) community in North London and in Glasgow, Scotland. They have three children aged 27, 24, and 21.
This past weekend they appeared as ‘Jacobs St’, in ‘Don’t Stop Believing’ a ‘Britian’s Got Talent’-type show that has been inspired by the Glee craze, focused specifically on singing and dancing amateur groups. Jacobs St. beat out 8000 entries to make it to the live semi-finals.of this show hosted by one-time Spice Girl, Emma Bunton. First, a little preview to introduce the Jacobs Family:
Next, their live performance last weekend, where they gave it their all:
Ok, so they didn’t make it to the finals. But it gives me a big smile to see how much fun they were having. There was also a wonderful buzz in the Jewish community and Jewish press about their achievement (see, for example, The Jewish Chronicle). And the comments of the judges were, I think, interesting in what they picked up on and emphasized. How wonderful to see a family doing this together – putting that togetherness and unity above the need to single out someone; where being part of something meant more than winning. And so great to see what, on the surface might look like ‘a typical North-West London Jewish family’ be part of a mainstream popular show like this.
I think Jacobs St. are a pretty inspirational family. They shared their passion, their love, and their values with us. In just a few minutes of TV exposure, they encapsulated so much Jewish wisdom about family, the power of singing together, and being part of something that is greater than anything we can possibly be as individuals, whether that be in the context of a family, a group of committed friends, or a community. And they also taught us that there is no such thing as ‘typical’. We might not be part of a group of friends or a family with a talent like Bebe’s family for singing together, but we each have gifts that we can share. Take a moment and think about what is most precious, joyful, and special that you share with your family, or your closest friends, or your community. Label it, feel it, share your appreciation for it, and enjoy it!
This week there has been an interesting online conversation via blogs, tweets, and facebook, responding and reacting to Senator Orrin Hatch’s Chanukah song. He wrote the song, and doesn’t feature much in the singing of it, and it was posted at Tablet Magazine, here. It’s an interesting situation – a US Senator, who is of the Mormon faith, writing a Chanukah song. A story that makes it to the New York Times, and NPR’s ‘All Things Considered’. So much more interesting than ‘Jewish musician writes a new song for Chanukah’.
I’ll be honest; I’m not a great fan. The Jewish faith emphasizes deed over word. As I listen to the words of Hatch’s Chanukah song, I am struck that the primary message, other than ‘let’s celebrate’, is about Religious Freedom. But as a Reform Jew, I am troubled that it was this Senator who co-sponsored the recent amendment that failed to get the votes in the Senate health debate that would have restricted, through financial impediment, the freedoms of women to make choices about their bodies, based on their personal ethics and their individual faiths. On another issue where the Union for Reform Judaism has taken a strong stand, Senator Hatch is on record as having a faith-based reasoning for holding back equal civil rights to gays and lesbians. I believe in freedom of religion, fully understanding that some individuals and communities will hold views that I strongly disagree with. I do, however, take issue with State or Federal laws that impose the belief system of one faith, or one element within one faith, on the rest of society. Belief that life begins at conception is not a universally held scientific/secular belief, and it is not a universally held religious belief. Belief that there is something lesser, or not God-given about the love and humanity of GLBT people is likewise something that only some people of some faith communities hold to be so.
I’m sorry if I’m taking all the fun out of the interesting headline but, as a person of faith, while knowing that we are all flawed and often fail to meet our own standards, it is important to me that words and deeds go together. And, even more important, when I hear NPR reporting that there are no good Chanukah songs being written by Jewish musicians these days as part of their promotion of Senator Hatch’s efforts, I have to offer a little something to set the record straight. I’ll be the first to admit that there’s a lot of bad Jewish music out there; but there’s also a lot of great stuff – too much to do justice to all the great songs and great artists you can find on the Jewish music scene today. Below are links to just two of the more recent quality contributions to Chanukah: Michelle Citrin (a great song and fabulous youtube video that came out last year) and Beth Schafer, with a new Chanukah song, Night by Night, on a really great new album, Raise it Up, just released last month. Below that are some links to some other sites, artists and albums and labels to get started.
