TORAH PORTION
He thought he was an expert.
Then be became a father.
As seen on Good Morning Americo
Dr. Scott Cohen
'Everyday Genesis'
Is All Around Us
Author of the best-seller
Eat, Sleep, Poop: A Common Sense
Guide toYour Baby's FirstYear
Parshat Bereshit: Genesis 1:1-6:8;
Isaiah 42:5-43:10.
Jewish Family Service
A
October 20, 2010
7 p.m.
s a rabbi, I often meet peo-
ple during the most diffi-
cult times in their lives. We
sit together and talk about funerals
or how to live after a funeral.
During these times, I am always
struck by the human
capacity to heal. Inherent
in every person is the deep
desire to get up after the
storm and continue life.
I am awed by the human
capacity to begin again.
This week's Torah por-
tion is, Bereshit or "In the
Beginning?' The Greek
translation is "Genesis?'
This portion is the biblical
version of the Big Bang.
Like a great explosion, pos-
sibility is unleashed as sky, sea and
human beings enter into the world
of forms. Consider the power of this
story the opens with the word for
potential, origin and source.
I have never been that interested
in famous peo-
ple. I appreciate
a good movie,
but I really
don't care much
about the lives
of movie stars.
I find that the
most amaz-
ing people are
ordinary heroes. They are the ones
who live through loss and pain and
continue to embrace life. They are
people who choose not to give up on
life — even as it feels like life has
given up on them. They are people
who live, "Everyday Genesis?'
In the healing of a wound or
a relationship, there is Everyday
Genesis. In the birth of babies,
friendships or new ideas, there is
Everyday Genesis. In the recommit-
ment to goodness and kindness,
there is Everyday Genesis.
People who live this way say: "Even
though life is hard, I will not give up on
the possibility for renewal, regeneration
and new beginnings. I am not done
living. I am not done dancing. I want to
hold my grandchildren close
to my heart; I want to laugh
out loud with my friends; I
want to see the sky and the
moon. I am ready to begin a
new day"
I know several people
who are thriving into
their 90s. They ache and
have to deal with constant
physical limitation. But
they have learned the
discipline of starting over.
They have learned how to
release the past and move forward.
One of them explains to me, "At my
age, every day is a gift!"
By definition, each of us is living
potential as we are always in a state of
energy that is capable of becoming.
We are always
just beginning.
This is not just
optimism; it is
the nature of time
and reality. This is
what my 10-year-
old son means
when he tells me,
"Really, we should
celebrate our birthdays every day
because every day we begin again, like
a birthday."
I find deep comfort in the idea that
the world, like us, is constantly being
created. We are not doomed to per-
sonal failure or war or environmental
destruction. The future awaits us as
vast, open space. There is genesis in
every day.
In the birth of
babies, friendships
or new ideas, there is
Everyday Genesis.
Tamara Kolton is rabbi of the Birmingham
Temple in Farmington Hills.
In what way would you like to begin again in your life? What have you
learned from people who are able to live their lives fully even as they
experience loss and grief? Israel is being asked to begin again with
the peace process. How might Israel seize this opportunity to create
lasting peace?
Reva Stocker Lecture
Dessert Reception
evils ommunity
West. Bloomfield
Event and childcare are free.
RSVP required for both.
RSVP to Lori at (248) 592-2339
Idrucker@jfsdetroitorg
Copies of Dr. Cohen's book will be
available for purchase and signing by
the author at the dessert reception.
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Federation
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