Rabbi's Messages

Eat, Pray, Love

On Monday, December 16, 2017

About 10 years ago, everybody was talking about “Eat, Pray, Love.” That book taught that we find meaning in life through food, spirituality, and relationships. It may have felt innovative in 2006, but in fact, Judaism has been teaching something similar for 2000 years!

“The world stands on three things: on Torah, on worship, and on acts of kindness.” (Pirke Avot 1:2)

This quote comes from Pirke Avot, one of the first books of ethics that Judaism ever produced. Written somewhere between 18 and 20 centuries ago, it recorded the favourite ethical sayings of the Rabbis. The saying above, attributed to Simon the Righteous (one of the very earliest of the early Rabbis), breaks down Jewish life into three categories: learning, praying, and making the world better.

I don’t know if there is any better definition of religious life than this. What do we do as Jews? We strive to be lifelong learners, to build a relationship with God (in whatever way we conceptualize God), and to leave the world around us a better place. And we form our communities based around these meaningful actions.

I am often asked what makes Kol Ami unique. I think it is the seriousness with which we form these meaningful communities. We are a small congregation – only 160 families or so – but there are literally dozens of ways to connect to Jewish life within these walls: Torah Study, services, Kol Ami Book Club, choir, Rock Shabbat, Adult B’nai Mitzvah, SFT, cooking classes, Israeli dance, Hebrew School, Out of the Cold, iEngage, Sushi & Study. Each one of these represents a group of people who care about each other and who care about being Jewish together. Each can be an opportunity to engage with others, with God, and to bring meaning into our own lives. It’s how we “Eat, Pray, and Love.”

If you are seeking community (and who among us isn’t??), consider getting more involved at Kol Ami. Whether you are looking for learning, or spirituality, or volunteer opportunities, or schmooze time with friends, we’ll help you find it or create it. Give me a call!

L’shalom,
Rabbi Micah Streiffer