What is the value of community? Strength. Support. Resources. Ancient peoples formed tribes out of families for survival. Tribes formed cities. Cities formed nations. And here we are in a huge powerful nation seeking our own tribes, finding our own communities. Finding the strength and support we need to get through tough times.
This message isn’t about the Covid-19 pandemic, but that figures into it (as it figures into every aspect of our lives). It is about the time-honored Jewish tradition of questioning God, of being angry at God. Rabbi Dean tells Elie Wiesel’s story of the Jews of Auschwitz putting the existence of God on trial, finding that God doesn’t exist, and then ending the trial in time for evening prayers. But the question remains – in the face of tragedy does God exist? Is suffering really part of God’s plan?
Sometimes we are faced with hardships on a personal level. You may have noticed an unfamiliar name on the Misherach list. James Lincoln “Link” Ott was born to our son and daughter-in-law on April 21, 2020 in Los Angeles. He was six weeks early, which is not so much of an issue these days. He was also tiny for his age – just under four pounds. Again, probably not an issue. However there were signs of problems early on. He has two physical abnormalities – a small web of skin on his neck and two thumbs on his right hand. EIther of those would not have raised any caution flags, but two unusual features can mean other more serious problems. He was having trouble breathing, which again is not unusual for a premie, but his liver wasn’t functioning. He was placed on a ventilator in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and we added his name to the prayer list. He stabilized after about four or five days. His liver kicked in and soon he was breathing on his own. We started to breathe too.
On day six he began having seizures. Medication stopped them, but required reapplication of the vent. An MRI revealed severe brain damage. We do not know much more. If he lives he will be disabled to some extent – again how much we do not know. There is the possibility he will develop into a functional independent adult with perhaps a limp, or he may be in a wheelchair. Only time will tell.
Which brings us back to the points at the beginning – community and the existence of God. Going through this we question that. And if God does exist we are angry with God for allowing, or even worse planning, for this to happen. Yes we know that tragedy and sorrow are part of the plan, writ large. We often see a white-tailed kite on our evening walks bringing food back to its nest, and we hear the chicks welcoming their meal. But the food is some mother mouse’s babies. God’s plan includes pain. Maybe our vanity includes thinking it won’t apply to us.
And then there is community. TBH includes quite a few members who have developed differently than most. They are warmly welcomed – no, they are included. They are appreciated and speaking only for myself their company is always enjoyed. What a wonderful way for a community to be.
We are frustrated by the pandemic because we cannot see him. If we go to Los Angeles to support his parents they cannot enter the hospital for fourteen days due to pandemic precautions (See how it affects everything?). Only time will tell how any of this turns out. It is great comfort to be a part of the Temple Beth Hillel community. So yes, we are asking for prayers for Link. That is all any of us can do.
From the President–May 7, 2020
May 8, 2020 by tbhrich •
What is the value of community? Strength. Support. Resources. Ancient peoples formed tribes out of families for survival. Tribes formed cities. Cities formed nations. And here we are in a huge powerful nation seeking our own tribes, finding our own communities. Finding the strength and support we need to get through tough times.
This message isn’t about the Covid-19 pandemic, but that figures into it (as it figures into every aspect of our lives). It is about the time-honored Jewish tradition of questioning God, of being angry at God. Rabbi Dean tells Elie Wiesel’s story of the Jews of Auschwitz putting the existence of God on trial, finding that God doesn’t exist, and then ending the trial in time for evening prayers. But the question remains – in the face of tragedy does God exist? Is suffering really part of God’s plan?
Sometimes we are faced with hardships on a personal level. You may have noticed an unfamiliar name on the Misherach list. James Lincoln “Link” Ott was born to our son and daughter-in-law on April 21, 2020 in Los Angeles. He was six weeks early, which is not so much of an issue these days. He was also tiny for his age – just under four pounds. Again, probably not an issue. However there were signs of problems early on. He has two physical abnormalities – a small web of skin on his neck and two thumbs on his right hand. EIther of those would not have raised any caution flags, but two unusual features can mean other more serious problems. He was having trouble breathing, which again is not unusual for a premie, but his liver wasn’t functioning. He was placed on a ventilator in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and we added his name to the prayer list. He stabilized after about four or five days. His liver kicked in and soon he was breathing on his own. We started to breathe too.
On day six he began having seizures. Medication stopped them, but required reapplication of the vent. An MRI revealed severe brain damage. We do not know much more. If he lives he will be disabled to some extent – again how much we do not know. There is the possibility he will develop into a functional independent adult with perhaps a limp, or he may be in a wheelchair. Only time will tell.
Which brings us back to the points at the beginning – community and the existence of God. Going through this we question that. And if God does exist we are angry with God for allowing, or even worse planning, for this to happen. Yes we know that tragedy and sorrow are part of the plan, writ large. We often see a white-tailed kite on our evening walks bringing food back to its nest, and we hear the chicks welcoming their meal. But the food is some mother mouse’s babies. God’s plan includes pain. Maybe our vanity includes thinking it won’t apply to us.
And then there is community. TBH includes quite a few members who have developed differently than most. They are warmly welcomed – no, they are included. They are appreciated and speaking only for myself their company is always enjoyed. What a wonderful way for a community to be.
We are frustrated by the pandemic because we cannot see him. If we go to Los Angeles to support his parents they cannot enter the hospital for fourteen days due to pandemic precautions (See how it affects everything?). Only time will tell how any of this turns out. It is great comfort to be a part of the Temple Beth Hillel community. So yes, we are asking for prayers for Link. That is all any of us can do.
We are what we do