Blogroll | Congregation Darchei Noam

We pray for the hostages taken by Hamas, for the safety of Israelis and innocent civilians and for an end to hostilities.   

God is weeping for us and our fellow earthly beings. She wonders if will we mature and leave behind our destructive and ill-directed passions quickly enough to save the planet and humanity. 

Joel noted in his devar, bringing his brother, Rabbi Lawrence Troster z”l to Darchei Noam as a weekend scholar was instrumental in Joel joining Shomrei Adamah.  Rabbi Troster was also instrumental in Gloria learning an important lesson about peace and the environment from the Hebrew school students.

The teaching from Darchei Noam students 

First a midrash, a story is told to explain why we have that vertical cleft above our lips and why Torah’s lessons often seem familiar. According to midrash, a baby is taught all of Torah in the womb.  At birth an angel quickly touches the baby above its lips, causing Torah to be forgotten while creating an indentation.  Torah is to be relearned later through in-depth studies.  https://jewishreviewofbooks.com/articles/1715/how-the-baby-got-its-philtrum/ 

Do we forget what we knew as children? The Hebrew students spent a Sunday morning session with Rabbi Troster and were asked to draw pictures depicting the environment. When they displayed their pictures in the Social Hall, they were not ones of trees and flowers. They were ones for peace. Gloria understood from them that war is the most destructive act we inflict on the environment and ourselves.   

How can we retain childhood compassion and joy?  Can we learn to feel the holiness in all?  Why don’t we understand that as part of the web of life, we aren’t untangled from our acts?  Will we grow in wisdom? 

Save our Planet

Through thoughtful acts, we enable hope, restore nature, cultivate compassion and spread peace.  It’s difficult to think about anything besides the war enveloping Israel and the safety of Jews worldwide.  However, take a break with a quiet walk in nature; meditate on possible paths to peace.  Listen to birdsong, watch the squirrels’ antics, and enjoy the changing scenery. The walk may calm you and clear your mind.  

Doing little things to aid others and help nature can inject a measure of feeling useful and hopeful.   Here’s an example.

At this time of year, we can prepare our gardens to help wildlife through the coming winter.  Leave plants standing with seed heads—they provide the original bird seed for our wintering birds.  Hollow stems are where some native bees lay their eggs.

Bagging leaves and putting them by the curb robs our soil of vital nutrients that are then replaced by fertilizer.  Where possible, mulch the leaves with your lawn mower and rake others onto garden beds where they improve the soil’s texture, protect the plants and “provide a home for frogs and invertebrates, and foraging habitat for birds."   

https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/uk/house-and-home/gardening-advice/a26551091/green-gardening-tips-sustainability/

Lacking a private yard?  Get your management and owner on board for sustainable gardening. 

We pray for the end of suffering and pain. May all of humanity and nature experience peace. With our actions and the Shekhinah's help, may it be so.