Beginnings

As Rosh Hashanah is tonight, I wanted to start the (Jewish) New Year off with my new blog!

This year I am attending Pardes in Jerusalem. As they define themselves:

“The Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies brings together men and women of all backgrounds to study classic Jewish texts and current Jewish issues in an open, warm and challenging learning environment.”

Though I’ve been at Pardes less than a week, I already have a sense of how true this is. Everyone has been so warm and welcoming, and clearly has a strong desire to learn together in this special place.

At orientation last Thursday, our learning kicked off with a session called “All Beginnings are Hard.”

We started by watching this 6 minute TED Talk video called "Everyday Leadership":

(It’s great, watch it!!)

We then paired off with a chevruta (learning partner) for the first time and learned the following story together (I found this particular version cited in a JWeekly article):

”In one famous talmudic midrash, God sends Moses centuries into the future to visit Rabbi Akiva’s classroom. As Rabbi Akiva is teaching Torah to his students, Moses is distressed that he can’t follow the discussion. It is only when the students ask their teacher about a particular point — “from where does this come?” and Rabbi Akiva answers, “It is a law given to Moses at Sinai” — that Moses is relieved. The story suggests that even though Torah evolves over the course of the centuries, Moses would be pleased to know that even an unrecognizable Judaism, dramatically changed through years of interpreting Torah, continues to be attributed to the revelation at Sinai.”

We discussed how just as at first even Moses felt uncomfortable in the classroom, we may also feel uncomfortable in the beginning of this year with everything being so new and unfamiliar.  Though it may feel hard at first, it’s important to remember that everything takes time to adjust to, and that things will soon become more familiar and comfortable.

Now… see the connection between this story and the video?

Beginnings are hard. Starting a new year of school, starting a new job (or searching for a new job), or just going to a new place. But, other people can help make them easier. Just when you think it might be too hard and you feel ready to give up, someone just might come along right at that moment with a lollipop (literally or metaphorically) to make things better, even if just a little bit. If you’ve ever experienced someone doing this for you, you know how powerful that moment can be. And chances are, you’ve even created a lollipop moment for someone else. I think this just goes to show just how impactful small acts of kindness and being welcoming can be, whether we realize it in the moment or not.

I hope you all have a year full of joy, laughter, growth, love, and lollipop moments. May it be everything you want it to be!

Here’s to a sweet and happy new year! Shana tova u’metuka!

PS: Here's a musical video created by two incredibly talented fellow Pardes students. Enjoy!