Hear Our Voice

Patience is not my strong point, despite the numberless times my mother would admonish, “Patience is a virtue.”  “Lots of things are virtues,” I imagine my teenage self, mumbling under my breath.  Why should patience stand out so self-importantly?  Patience is for those who have to wait.  Isn’t life about going out and getting what’s yours?  Hot Potato?  Duck, duck, goose?  Monopoly?  Survivor?  The Bachelorette?  It would seem that so much of our world’s not so subtle messaging, teaches us from childhood to adulthood that patience may be virtuous, but virtue rather quickly gets thrown out with the bathwater.  The trouble is its really tough to clean up in a bathtub with dry rot.

Nonetheless, patience is tough.  I don’t know if its natural or not.  After all, I could imagine an evolutionary biologist making an argument that impatience is precisely what saved that caveman from being eaten by the sabre tooth tiger!  Then again, patience could also have been the silver bullet.  Whether natural or not, it ain’t easy for most of us, most of the time, despite the innumerous times you, as well heard that admonition from an elder: “Patience is a virtue.”

Perhaps most of us must suffer a great deal of foolishness, if not fools, before we discover the essential importance of patience, and its practice.  I don’t believe that those who are “better” at patience than others, are any less set back when someone cuts them off on the freeway, delivers a nasty retort to an offense (intentional or not), or reads about the latest political lie, distortion or graft.  No, those who are better at the practice of patience, have practiced the art of distancing the match from the fuse.[1] 

Patience appears to be the result of combining humility with responsibility.  This would seem to be a life practice that channels the notion of the imperfect manifestation of the tzelem Elohim (Image of God) that we are, with the ownership of our volition.  In other words, we know deep in our heart of hearts that we ourselves are not perfect, and there are plenty of examples when our reaction to something or someone was not a fair representation of what had been intended.  And if we know that, then we know that living as a tzelem Elohim means that all others do as well.  And therefore, over the course of their lives, they too have succumbed to the easy reaction of impatience, that imaginatively removes from our shoulders the responsibility to live in a way in which we don’t make matters worse.  Which is often what happens when our impatience gets the better of us. 

Savlanut, Patience, is our theme this week.  Join us for 10@Noon and Shabbat evening as we unpack this next midah, characteristic, in our exploration of ourselves. 

Upcoming Virtual Events - Week of October 22, 2020

10 @Noon - Monday - Friday, 12:00 pm, Words, Music, Meditation, Joy, and Healing With Rabbi Scott and Guest Musicians, Register HERE  (If you have NEVER registered for 10 @Noon before)

​​​Shabbat, Friday, October 23, 6:15 pm Oneg, 6:30 pm Service led by Rabbi Scott with music by Cantor Sara Hass, Register HERE (if you have NEVER registered for Shabbat Services before)

Journey, Sunday, October 25, 10:30 am, Register for Journey HERE 

Schmooze Time, Wednesday, October 28, 12:15 pm - 12:45 pm, A little time to get together after 10 @Noon, Register HERE (If you have NEVER registered for Schmooze Time before)

Torah Study, Saturday, October 31, 11:00 am, Register HERE

Couples in Conversation, Monday, November 2, 7:30 pm, Registration Required

Kosher Pretzel, Saturday, November 7, 11:00 am, led by Rochelle Mannigel and Rabbi Scott, Register HERE

Save the Date, Saturday, November 7, 8:00 pm, ERJCC Book Fair, Shma Koleinu is Sponsoring. Jason Rosenthal, My Wife Said You May Want to Marry Me: A Memoir