Last night I gave the sermon at the Friday night services. As promised, I am posting it here.
I got a bit verklempt at the end and kind of faltered. It was hard to get out the last couple of lines.
Everyone seemed to like it (again, I think its greatest attribute was that it was short). I hope Dad was listening and that I made him proud.
Our Temple "Sermonator" Marlene asked me to speak about Abundance because this
week is Sukkot, or Sukkas as I learned it, the joyous festival that celebrates
the Great Abundance that fills our lives. Jews forsake their normal dwelling
places to eat, and even sleep, in humble sukkahs. This contrast reminds us of All
Our Blessings and the open night sky makes us feel closer to God.
A few years ago a Facebook friend posted one of those
quizzes that promises to tell you about yourself. This one asked “Is your glass half full or
half empty?”
My friend’s sister quickly replied: “Glass?? What glass? Did everybody get a
glass?? I didn’t get a glass!” Haha
I did not have to take the quiz to get my answer. I wrote:
“My cup runneth over and I never forget it”.
What I know about abundance I learned from my father
whose Yartzeit happens to be this week.
Although he was a Yeshiva Boker, a learned man, my father did not feel
the calling to be a Rabbi or Cantor. He was content to lead the prayers, sing,
and blow the Shofar on the High Holidays.
Dad worked in a jewelry store six full days a week.
Wednesday was his one day off. He would
pick me up from school for lunch between his many errands. We feasted on canned sardines, bananas and
sour cream, and maybe a kichel from the Jewish bakery.
All the time I was growing up, my father and mother never
had the same day off, except for Christmas, when we had our once a year
breakfast of lox and smoked fish. They never went out to eat, or to a movie.
When my folks finally retired, they bought a one bedroom,
second floor walkup condo in Kings Point in Delray Beach Florida. Kings Point was a precursor in concept to The
Villages, except it was almost 100% Jewish.
Oh how happy they were! No more cold winters waiting at bus stops! They had a clothes dryer instead of a line
strung in the basement, and cable TV!! They
had time to run errands, or read, or take a nap. They took an exercise class called Slimnastics,
ate the $1.99 breakfast special every day at the Bagel Tree, and lounged by the
pool.
Best of all, my father could finally go to the synagogue as
much as he wanted. He could show off his tremendous knowledge and beautiful
voice, and he quickly became a Big Macker. When he passed away, the entire
congregation came to mourn.
If you asked him, my Father would say he was the richest
man in the world.
Khag Sukkot Sameach!
Abundant Blessings to all of us! And Shabbat Shalom!
Five weeks ago I wrote that I was suffering from a funk-ish mood and was verging on depression. Deep down I truly know that bad days come and go and the that the-sun-will-come-out-tomorrow. It's a little tough when things are going badly but if we just keep putting one foot in front of the other the path gets less bumpy and we can walk out of the forest.
