By Reba Simon (4-22-09)

Today is thirteen days, which is one week and six days of the Omer.

 

It is a tradition to count the days between Passover and Shavuot, as we mark our freedom from slavery and celebrate our freedom to accept Torah. This is called "counting the omer." This year we will observe the tradition of "counting the omer" by sharing stories about the many different ways that we have been turned on to Jewish learning, and through Jewish learning to Torah.

As I ease into semi-retirement, new questions arise in my life....no longer am I seeking the next goal or challenges for my career.... instead I seem to be breathing deeper....inhaling the sweet peas, daffodils and roses blooming profusely this spring. I am enchanted with the moment; the preciousness of the Now.

 

So it is with my studies...In past years when time was unavailable, I yearned to study.  Recently, I have studied modern opera, Italian culture and art history....however, my recollections of Jewish history remain the softened Biblical stories of my childhood.

 

Sensing this transition in my life, Rabbi Geller suggested two possibilities...the class on Thursday afternoon, "Family Stories from Genesis" and the Sunday morning Rashi Study Group. 

 

The Thursday class is mainly composed of women from a Bat Mitzvah class who wanted to continue learning together. Joining this class has presented a unique opportunity to revisit these Genesis stories in the midst of an insightful group. I now see that the Patriarchs are all too human....even Jacob's wrestling with the angel gave him no extra perks in raising his own children...envy and jealousy prevailed. The Patriarchs' personal flaws altered history and I leave each class with ideas to savour and chew on....

 

My adorable eight-year-old great niece, Raquel Trope, who attends the Day School, was so enthralled with the notion that I am also a student at the synagogue that she asked Rabbi Geller to show her the classroom; plus she wanted to make certain that I was an "A" student.

 

Since all we have is the Now, I am grateful for the opportunity to study with the members of this class ....and to experience the gift of our beloved teacher, Rabbi Laura Geller.

By Reba Simon

These stories are brought to you by the Temple Emanuel RE-IMAGINE project, an 18-month initiative sponsored by Hebrew Union College, devoted to re-thinking and re-structuring our religious school.