Community Views

Editor's Notebook

Summertime, Leisure
And The Intellect

A Lesson In Civics
And American History

RABBI HERBERT A. YOSKOWITZ SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS

ALAN HITSKY ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Summertime and you is one which I have been so brilliant that he did not have
the living is easy" reading: "American Rabbi; The to wait for summer to replenish
is a Gershwin Life and Thought of Jacob B. himself. He would begin his syn-
• phrase familiar to Agus" (New York University agogue work early in the morn-
most of us. Living Press, 1997). Rabbi Jacob Agus, ing and would take a few hours
is usually easier my mentor, influenced me and every afternoon for pure study
in summertime my rabbinate while I served as and for writing.
There are few Jacob Aguses
for Jewish orga- his assistant rabbi at Beth El
nizations like the Congregation in Baltimore. He alive in each century. Most of us
synagogues and continued to influence me need the summer calm to re-
for people like me who serve as throughout the rest of his life, plenish our minds and souls with
rabbis of congregations. It is time which ended in 1986. His exam- leisure. "Leisure" helps us to
come to grips with our need not
for a slower organized commu- ple continues to influence me.
Thus far, I have read about his to dawdle life away. When I
nity rhythm. There is less formal
programming, fewer meetings writings and about the influence study from the writings of the
he had on others. In this new great minds and souls of our day
and people vacation.
It is a time for "leisure" and book, 10 authors penned their re- and of yesterday, I am reminded
"recreation." The two are not the flections on different aspects of of the words of the psalmist who
same even though recreation is Rabbi Jacob Agus the person, teaches us to call to God "to num-
confused with leisure. Recreation Rabbi Jacob Agus the scholar, ber our days so that we may get
includes sports, hobbies and the and Rabbi Jacob Agus the pulpit us a heart of wisdom."
Mind as well as heart can
like, while leisure as defined by rabbi. One writer noted-that af-
teach us not to waste our lives
on trifles. Leisure has a posi-
tive effect on us. It helps us to
gather knowledge, to height-
en taste and to refine sensi-
bilities. Our minds and our
hearts can be enriched.
Leisure is an opportunity to
gather knowledge for its own
sake.
The rabbis teach us in
Ethics of the Fathers that
Torah which is not studied for
its own sake will one day be
studied for its own sake. To ex-
tend their argument, if we be-
gin to discipline ourselves to
seek "leisure" during our sum-
mer vacations, that habit
could extend at least some-
what into our year-long striv-
ing.
Leisure time does not come
of itself. Each of us has to
make leisure time.
Our intellectual capacities
are great assets with which
God has blessed us. Our in-
tellect can be used to parade
a stance of cleverness or it can
be used as an impetus to truth
and to committed Jewish liv-
ing. It can be looked upon as
a gift given to us by God when
it is used properly.
The summer rhythm in-
Josef Pieper in Leisure: The Ba- ter he and his wife would meet cludes a pause that refreshes and
sis of Culture is "an attitude of with Rabbi Agus, they would that yields a potential for re-
mind and a condition of the soul comment that it was "the closest newed energy and hope. We
that fosters a capacity to perceive encounter with pure mind in our should enjoy the recreation af-
forded by this change of pace. We
the reality of the world." Thus combined experience."
Another writer wrote that "one should take advantage of the op-
"leisure" is not work, and it is not
has to admire his commitment to portunities for real "leisure" as
recreation.
For some, this is a time for con- Jewish people everywhere, his well. Enjoy reflecting on the is-
templation, for examining and profound and unwavering spiri- sues which can yield the wisdom
absorbing the Jewish culture and tuality, his continual reminder and the strength to live all of life
the secular culture and to think to the very real dangers of as full human beings. •
I have shared with you one
about the issues of life and of liv- pseudomessianism and mis-
ing, issues with which we are in guided romantic zeal, his devo- book of my summer reading. I
insufficient contact when we are tion to 'Talmud Torah' in all of its hope that your summer readings
too busy with our jobs or too stim- guises, his personal piety, his will afford you thought-provok-
willingness to take politically and ing dialogue with yourself; my re-
ulated with recreation.
A book for summer leisure religiously unpopular stands ..." flections on the life and thoughts
Rabbi Jacob Agus left an im- of Rabbi Jacob Agus have already
reading which I recommend to
pression that here was a man begun to provide that for me.
Have a healthy, recreational
who knew what "leisure" was all
Herbert Yoskowitz is rabbi of
about. He was so disciplined and and leisurely summer. 0
Congregation Beth Achim.

We're halfway
through the
summer "flag
season," and rm
ashamed to ad-
mit that I've
missed a few
days.
Flying the
American flag
on holidays has been something
I've always done. It doesn't take
much effort on my part: pull the
box out of the closet and just
hang it up. I even got rid of the
pole a few years ago and hung
some hooks on the front porch
— one, two, done.
Not too many of my neighbors
join me in my flag ritual, and
maybe that's what makes our
country great. We have the free-
dom to fly the flag or not to fly it.
But we also have the freedom to
forget what the flag stands for.
Now don't get me wrong. rm
not backing a federal law or con-
stitutional amendment that

the scholarship on Michael's be-
half.
JWV State Commander Irv-
ing Marshall's face turned cold
when Michael told him he would
have to leave early. Other offi-
cers were less than pleased.
We were a little uncomfortable
during the 45 minutes we wait-
ed for the JWV national com-
mander to arrive and the
hour-long presentations that pre-
ceded the award ceremony. But
we waited dutifully with the 25
other recipients and their fami-
lies.
My father-in-law was a bit
nervous when we were told each
recipient was expected to give a
speech about their college and fu-
ture plans. Ultimately, I substi-
tuted for the Battle of the Bulge
veteran who had butterflies
about making a speech in front
of his peers.
But he still had a lesson to
teach us that night.
After the lengthy program,
Dad took us upstairs to the
Samuel J. Rhodes Memorial
Room, which has more than 200
photographs on the walls
of young Jewish sol-
diers from Detroit who
*ed during World War

II.

As we looked around
the room, Dad — with
some tears in his eyes —
showed us the photo of
"A.B." Ring, his best
friend from high school.
pointed out a few
1110111111111 % He
wouldpenalize peo-
more: friends, distant
ple who would bum or desecrate cousins, and other very young
the flag. I'm not advocating men who gave their lives to de-
those actions either. I just like fend our country.
that freedom concept.
Maybe now I understand the
I was reminded a few weeks hard looks and the disappoint-
ago what freedom really means. ment when my son had to leave
My youngest was among 26 the ceremony. Maybe now I
students from all walks of life won't be so quick to drive past
who received $500 college schol- those veterans who risk life and
arships from the Department of limb every spring selling paper
Michigan Jewish War Veterans poppies at busy intersections.
and its Ladies Auxiliary. We The money they raise paid for my
went to the JWV Memorial son's scholarship, as well as for
Home on 12 Mile for the award visits to VA hospital patients who
presentation.
continue to pay a heavy price for
We arrived early. My son had preserving my freedom.
another commitment, and we
The next "flag holiday" on my
wanted to introduce him to as calendar is Labor Day, but I may
many of the JWV officers as not wait that long to hang my
possible before he had to leave. flag on the porch again. I keep
My wife had even lined up her thinking about those people who
father, a World War II veter- paid for my freedom to fly, or not
an and JWV member, to accept to fly, the flag. 0

TheDLTN@aol.com

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