I have struggled with the concept of non-Jewish partners and their roles within the Jewish community.
While in Rabbinical School, I believed that non-Jewish partners should have no role and no say in what goes on with the Jewish community. If they want to participate, then they should convert.
Simple.
And then I come to Okinawa, with people who want to convert and their partners do not, non-Jewish spouses who attend services and events, argue Torah with me over Oneg after services and who make Challot for Shabbat Oneg since there is no Kosher bakery on island.
The discussion is not simple.
I blessed a non-Jewish spouse on his birthday this past Shabbat. There was no doubt in my mind that I would bless him and what I would say to him. How could I not?!
I gave him the priestly benediction, one that he knows almost by heart because he blesses his children at Oneg with those same words every week. He hugged me and thanked me afterwards.
Two weeks ago, I helped an intermarried couple prepare for their "weddiversary (20 years of marriage and now they want a ceremony)." He's Jewish and his wife is Okinawan. I helped them combine the two traditions into one ceremony. They wanted their rabbi to explain to them the Jewish ceremony, the nuances and rituals.
Should I have turned my back on them because she has chosen not to convert? Both their sons were converted, raised in a Jewish home, had their Bar Mitzvah's...
This is not the last time I will revisit this topic. But for now, I am at peace with my decision and as far as I can see, my community is too.
Monday, January 20, 2014
Calling the Chaplain - Post Script
I do not do what I do because I expect to be praised. (Pirkei Avot 1:3 - 3. Be not like servants who minister unto their master for the sake of receiving a reward, but be like servants who serve their master not upon the condition of receiving a reward)
I overextend, I do not say "no" and I push myself just that much more because the job of a chaplain is to be there for their sailors and marines.
I did not expect to be thanked outside of a handshake and maybe some cake.
Instead, I was given this:
It now sits in my office, alongside the pictures of me with the RADM at the Chaplain's Ball, my swearing in ceremony at Camp Ramah and right above a copy of the sailor's creed.
They asked me to speak. I was so surprised that it took me a moment to come up with something meaningful to say. In the end, I told them that this is what chaplains do. We are there to take care for them and be there for them when they need us most. I also thanked them for giving me something to do while I too missed my family during the holiday season.
I am so blessed.
I overextend, I do not say "no" and I push myself just that much more because the job of a chaplain is to be there for their sailors and marines.
I did not expect to be thanked outside of a handshake and maybe some cake.
Instead, I was given this:
It now sits in my office, alongside the pictures of me with the RADM at the Chaplain's Ball, my swearing in ceremony at Camp Ramah and right above a copy of the sailor's creed.
They asked me to speak. I was so surprised that it took me a moment to come up with something meaningful to say. In the end, I told them that this is what chaplains do. We are there to take care for them and be there for them when they need us most. I also thanked them for giving me something to do while I too missed my family during the holiday season.
I am so blessed.
Wednesday, January 1, 2014
Who you gonna call? The Chaplain!
What do you do when the Col asks you about your New Years Day plans for 197 new marines to the island and you have no answer?
You tell her that you'll call her right back. Then you call the chaplain to see if she will pull off a "holiday hangout" for your 197 marines in four days.
And what do I say? Of course I can pull that off. And I'll get you a BBQ with chicken, hamburgers and hot dogs and more space than last time. And no, you don't need to do a thing.
Sgt saved my butt! He manned the grill, cooked everything and cleaned it up when he was done.
The marines asked about Scrabble the previous week, so I made sure to have it for them this time around.
LCpl Super-volunteer showed up because he wanted to. Chaplain Dawson was voluntold by his wife and thank god she did because I needed both men for this all to run smoothly.
Spontaneous football game.
I wanted to play but I was wearing crocs.
Blueberry zzzzzz x 3
You tell her that you'll call her right back. Then you call the chaplain to see if she will pull off a "holiday hangout" for your 197 marines in four days.
And what do I say? Of course I can pull that off. And I'll get you a BBQ with chicken, hamburgers and hot dogs and more space than last time. And no, you don't need to do a thing.
Sgt saved my butt! He manned the grill, cooked everything and cleaned it up when he was done.
The marines asked about Scrabble the previous week, so I made sure to have it for them this time around.
LCpl Super-volunteer showed up because he wanted to. Chaplain Dawson was voluntold by his wife and thank god she did because I needed both men for this all to run smoothly.
Spontaneous football game.
I wanted to play but I was wearing crocs.
Blueberry zzzzzz x 3
New Year's Eve
I have been the island-wide on-call duty chaplain for almost a week now. I cannot wait to hand the phone (yes, I have been carrying around 3 cell phones for a week) and the briefcase (that looks like it contains the nuclear launch codes) off in 14 hours.
I will celebrate with sparkling cider and a picture with Sheldon.
I will celebrate with sparkling cider and a picture with Sheldon.
And fireworks I can see from my living room.
Christmas Day
Usually, Christmas Day is a day off for rabbis.
For me, it was a day to volunteer for the USO and open the building for our marines that are new to the island and have not gone through the required newcomer's orientation and anyone who had nothing to do on Christmas Day.
So I spent my day making pancakes, handing out pizza, shmoozing with and feeding approximately 125 marines and sailors.
I was able to give them a meaningful gift - a place to do that feels like home when you are so far away.
Thank you USO for letting me do this.
I know it meant a great deal to those marines and sailors who would have spent the entire day staring at the 4 falls of their barracks if not for this program.
(I would have supplied pictures but did not get the permission of the marines and sailors.)
For me, it was a day to volunteer for the USO and open the building for our marines that are new to the island and have not gone through the required newcomer's orientation and anyone who had nothing to do on Christmas Day.
So I spent my day making pancakes, handing out pizza, shmoozing with and feeding approximately 125 marines and sailors.
I was able to give them a meaningful gift - a place to do that feels like home when you are so far away.
Thank you USO for letting me do this.
I know it meant a great deal to those marines and sailors who would have spent the entire day staring at the 4 falls of their barracks if not for this program.
(I would have supplied pictures but did not get the permission of the marines and sailors.)
Finally touring Okinawa
Today was the first time I visited a part of Okinawa that is NOT a base.
Since it is a rare opportunity, I made it count.
With Elizabeth as my navigator, we went to the Pinapple Park...
(That song is stuck in my head!!)
Below - Do you see the baby pineapple?
Then we went to the Butterfly Garden....
(I think that the tiger butterflies ate all the other ones)
Below - This is the only non-tiger butterfly. Somehow he escaped the slaughter!
And for our last stop, we went to the Ryukyu Glass Blowing Factory (Nago).
Before returning to my apartment, where I made (as is a Jewish custom on Christmas Eve) Chinese food.
It even tasted like Gan Asia... maybe better.
Since it is a rare opportunity, I made it count.
With Elizabeth as my navigator, we went to the Pinapple Park...
(That song is stuck in my head!!)
Below - Do you see the baby pineapple?
Pretty flowers at the Pineapple Park
Then we went to the Butterfly Garden....
(I think that the tiger butterflies ate all the other ones)
Below - This is the only non-tiger butterfly. Somehow he escaped the slaughter!
Below - It took me a minute to realize that the flowers are fake.
Below - Golden Cocoons. They took the cocoons and decorated a Christmas tree with them. Somehow that felt wrong.
And for our last stop, we went to the Ryukyu Glass Blowing Factory (Nago).
Before returning to my apartment, where I made (as is a Jewish custom on Christmas Eve) Chinese food.
It even tasted like Gan Asia... maybe better.
COMREL
A COMREL (community relations project) is meant to help the greater community. I have had the privilege of helping the Girl Scouts on Camp Foster. They lost their hut and everything inside it to the typhoon last year. They have a new building with nothing in it and walkways that are not walkable by the Girl Scouts themselves.
With a working party of 10, we re-bricked their walkway and built an additional walkway in the back of their hut.
We may have been dirty and a little tired but we can't wait to see the faces of the Girl Scouts when they return to their hut in January.
(Second walkway from the back of their first building to the back of the second building)
With a working party of 10, we re-bricked their walkway and built an additional walkway in the back of their hut.
We may have been dirty and a little tired but we can't wait to see the faces of the Girl Scouts when they return to their hut in January.
My Office
With the holidays coming around, my office is reflecting the workload, extra programs and non-stop pace in which I function.
Above - the desk to my left. I have my "Semper Gumby" (thank you, Aviva) to remind me what to expect every day.
Below - My dry-board. I try to erase stuff but more simply takes it place.
It's like a hydra!
Above - the desk to my left. I have my "Semper Gumby" (thank you, Aviva) to remind me what to expect every day.
Below - My dry-board. I try to erase stuff but more simply takes it place.
It's like a hydra!
Okinawa Blue Seal
Okinawa has its own local chain of ice cream stores.
There are the usual flavors like rocky road or strawberry and their unique flavors.
Twice a month, on the 10th and 20th, you get two little scoops for free when you buy one scoop.
It looks like Mickey Mouse to me.
It is also customary in Okinawa to flash the peace sign in every one of your pictures, as Gen (Chaplain Clark) demonstrates.
There are the usual flavors like rocky road or strawberry and their unique flavors.
Twice a month, on the 10th and 20th, you get two little scoops for free when you buy one scoop.
It looks like Mickey Mouse to me.
It is also customary in Okinawa to flash the peace sign in every one of your pictures, as Gen (Chaplain Clark) demonstrates.
White Elephant / Secret Santa
I have never received a Christmas present until now.
We did a "white elephant" gift exchange among the chaplains and this is what I got.
It is the first present I got with that kind of wrapping paper on it. Awesome!
We did a "white elephant" gift exchange among the chaplains and this is what I got.
It is the first present I got with that kind of wrapping paper on it. Awesome!
Thanksgivukkah
For what may be the largest military Jewish community, it was amazing to have 34 people attend the Friday night "Thanksgivukkah" program which included a communal candle lighting, cookie decorating, adult discussion, services and pot luck. What is more amazing to me was that we were missing 11 of our regulars (they were on vacation) and 11 who RSVPd and did not show.
I would have pictures, but it was already Shabbat.
I would have pictures, but it was already Shabbat.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)