JEWELS OF ELUL 2013

JEWELS  OF  ELUL  2013


Excerpt: "The month of Elul, proceeding High Holy Days, is set aside for contemplation and self-assessment.
Collected by noted national Jewish musician Craig Taubman of Craig N Co., the "Jewels of Elul" is a collection of stories, experiences, and inspiration from rabbis, teachers, and contemporary thinkers who share their insight on thought provoking topics."

Questions are posed to readers for the ELUL JOURNEY 5773
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I submitted my immediate spontaneous responses to JEWELS OF ELUL. 

They include:

Jewels of Elul IX ~ the art of welcoming

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http://www.letmypeoplesing.com/jewels/?page_id=61
Aug. 11, 2013

6 Elul "If you had to name the place where you felt most warmly welcomed, accepted and encouraged, where would it be? Why?"

The "place" is at my shuls where I have "felt most warmly welcomed, accepted and encouraged", although I would also include Remo Music Center in North Hollywood, CA, and the Apple Store in Northridge. At Apple, I get to sit on a bar stool, and "everyone knows my name."  :)

Lev Eisha in Los Angeles, my women's shul with Rabbi Toba August, for at least the last 13 years, "welcomed me, accepted and encouraged me".  I have been their percussionist accompanying Cindy Paley, since the first Shabbat I attended. Love and appreciation have overflowed in abunDance toward me all this time. 

The same is also true for Ahavat Torah, LA, and Rabbi Miriam Hamrell in the last decade that I attend whenever I can. This shul also is totally warmly welcoming, embracing of me, and probably all who enter. I've been invited to play percussion, and also encouraged to teach which I do. Both shuls have people welcoming congregants and guests at the door, and invite them to be involved.

Some of my other shuls where I've been involved for over a couple decades have similar welcoming behavior. When present, I, too, do the welcoming in shuls that include B'nai Horin with Rabbi Stan Levy, and Makom Ohr Shalom with Rabbi/Cantor Monty Turner. At N'Shama Minyan with Rabbi Nina Feinstein at Valley Beth Shalom, again, I am always welcomed by the women (especially Shirley!), and encouraged to play my music which I've been doing for many years.  

As temple musician, I am one of the first to arrive at shul. When I see new people attend, I make sure to introduce them to others, and assist with prayer books, seats, etc. At Kiddush (even though I want to shmooze with my old friends) I make sure to sit with new people and introduce them to others so that they too feel comfortable, welcomed, and I invite them to return, and to contact me if they have questions.  Not all shuls I've attended are welcoming, so I know the difference, and I try to make a difference by "Serving G*d with Joy".  For decades, this has been my spiritual intention. I was told by an old friend Theresa, obm, that I did this for her in kindergarten. Last evening I consciously made introductions at an art opening. (I learned in UJ's MBA marketing class: if you see a need--fill it.)  
- Joy Krauthammer

Rav Dimi of Nehardea said: "Hachnasat Orchim - the welcoming of guests - takes precedence over the beit midrash - the house of study." Rav Judah said in Rav's name: "Hachnasat Orchim - the welcoming of guests - takes precedence over welcoming the Shechina, the Divine Presence of G*d Herself."   Shabbat 127a