Hineni, cont’d
driven to offer your children as many experiences as possible and are afraid
to deny them anything, whether this list includes sports, music lessons or
other extra-curricular activities. But within your busy schedules, where
does Judaism fit in? When are you truly present for your sons or daughters?
Simply driving them from activity to activity or showing up at a recital is not
equivalent to saying “hineini,” I am present for you.
Let’s next consider the pressures facing parents in general. Most families
require both spouses to work. Some families are led by a single-parent. When
looking at the activities you are balancing during week nights, let alone
weekends, where does Judaism fit in? At the end of the week, how much
energy do parents have left?
In addition, parents care not only for their children, but often for their parent
or parents. Talk about being drained physically, financially and emotionally.
When faced with these challenges, how are you caring for yourselves? How
are you preserving the health and welfare of your relationships? Again, what
role does Judaism play? When do you make sure to look at one another and
say, “hineini”?
Let’s next consider our grandparents. Many are supposed to be at that stage of
their lives when they can finally indulge. They have worked hard for decades
and should now be able to appreciate the fruits of their labors. Yet, many have
been asked by sons and daughters – who themselves are spread too thin – not
just to enjoy a few hours here and there with the grandchildren, but to help
raise them.
Again, where does Judaism fit in? Within your intergenerational family
relationships, how much of a priority do you make of saying “hineini”?
Yes, I have asked a lot of questions, but like I said, September was a busy
month in the Jewish calendar – the time of the year devoted to hard
questions. Let’s take some time and soak in what we learned during
September and wait. For just a little while, let’s refuse to emphasize “doing”
and instead emphasize “being.” Let’s remember to rest, re-charge and reconnect.
In all kinds of different capacities and settings we are required to do. We have
to do. We are forced to do. We have no choice but to do. Judaism need not ???)???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????)???????????????I?????)???????????????????????????????????????????????????))??????????????????????????q?????????t?$???????????????$?????????)???????????????????????$?????????????????$???????????????????$???)?????????????????????????????????????$??????????????????????????)$???????????????????????????????????$????????????????????????)???????)5???=?????????????????????????????????????????????????? ???e?)????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????)?????()??????? ?e????5?????????????)%??e???
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