The Significance of a Vatican Peace Summit

Leaders from Israel and the Palestinian Authority met at the Vatican for a Peace Summit yesterday. It was a significant moment, although one would be quite naive to believe it will change things overnight.
       Nonetheless, the time of prayer initiated by Pope Francis was far better than the alternative - violence and hatred.
       So what matters in all of this? Several things:
       First, an Israeli leader showed up! My friends who care deeply for the Palestinians critiqued the Israelis for their muted response when the Pope first extended the invitation to both sides. The Palestinians quickly accepted the invitation, the Israelis initially said nothing. But yesterday President Shimon Peres was there. Let's give the Israelis some credit, folks.
       Second, the Palestinian leader Mr. Abbas chose not to talk about the "occupation," at least he did not use the word. If nothing else this is wise politics and he showed restraint. He also did not mention anything about the new alliance between Fatah and Hamas - another smart move.

       Third, the Pope invited the Patriarch of Constantinople Bartholomew to the Prayer Summit. No big deal? In the Christian world this is a HUGE deal. The Catholics and Orthodox have a split (called a schism) that's about a thousand years old. They have been fighting for a long time! Francis and Bartholomew found it important enough to put aside their differences because peace is more important.
       I wonder what Mr. Peres and Mr. Abbas thought about the heads of two feuding Christian sects coming together to pray for the Israelis and Palestinians? What I do know is that whatever we want to happen we must model in our own lives. Francis and Bartholomew did just that.
       Fourth, then there is Pope Francis. My friend Ellen uses the hashtag #popecrush when she tweets about him. I wish I had come up with that first! (although I might start a controversy because people might think I am gay) While I might not agree with everything the Pope has done, Francis exhibits two qualities that trump everything else: INTEGRITY and HUMILITY. He has demonstrated both over and over again. This is the sign of a great leader.
       I believe that the Pope called this Prayer Summit because he believes that the God he prays to actually changes things. He believes that his God does miracles even today. And when peace (Shalom/Saleem) comes to the Israelis and Palestinians it will be nothing less than a tremendous miracle.

Heschel on Monday

“Remember that there is meaning beyond absurdity. Know that every deed counts, that every word is power...Above all, remember that you must build your life as if it were a work of art.”
― Abraham Joshua Heschel

Heschel on Monday

“A test of a people is how it behaves toward the old. It is easy to love children. Even tyrants and dictators make a point of being fond of children. But the affection and care for the old, the incurable, the helpless are the true gold mines of a culture.”
― Abraham Joshua Heschel

I Refuse

I Refuse from Brian Newman on Vimeo.

I Desire

I Desire from Brian Newman on Vimeo.

Heschel on Monday

“People of our time are losing the power of celebration. Instead of celebrating we seek to be amused or entertained. Celebration is an active state, an act of expressing reverence or appreciation. To be entertained is a passive state--it is to receive pleasure afforded by an amusing act or a spectacle.... Celebration is a confrontation, giving attention to the transcendent meaning of one's actions."
Source: The Wisdom of Heschel”

A Dream for Isaac and Ishmael

A few years ago we started the Isaac-Ishmael Initiative because of a God-sized dream. This is it.

A Dream for Isaac and Ishmael from Brian Newman on Vimeo.

Symbols Speak Volumes

Today I did a social experiment and wore a yarmulke (kipper) and prayer undershirt worn by some Jewish men. I wanted to see how people related to me based on these symbols of the "religious life."
       Most people tried to ignore my dress, although just about everyone did a double-take to check out the tassels hanging from the prayer shawl.
       I spent a couple of hours at a hip cafe in Denver (Stella's) where a variety of people hang out. I was not the only person who stood out in one way or another, so a lot of people just took me for another person who was uniquely expressing himself. I appreciate that about Denver.
       There were some other responses from a few people as well:
* One person clearly walked the other way when they saw me and my dress. They seemed frightened or something;
* One person asked if I was an orthodox Jew or some other kind. I assume from this that she thinks I am "religious" in some way;
* Another person wondered if I have been wearing my yarmulke for a long time, or if it was a new thing for me.

       I had the impression that many people looked at me and thought I was religious, and perhaps that I have "faith." Most seemed very respectful.
       I wish that we could redeem some religious "artifacts" such as prayer shawls and yarmulkes. Several times during the day I had a glimpse of the very good and positive that these can bring.
       For one thing, the yarmulke reminded me that I am always under God's providence, always under "his wing" in a sense.
       The prayer undershirt reminded me to be prayerful toward people around me - while standing in line for coffee at Stella's I overheard a gal telling her friend that she had just broken up with her boyfriend that day. I prayed for both of them quietly.
        I am thinking that some time I should wear the North African head dress that I got a couple of years ago. I'll see how people respond to that artifact!

Heschel on Monday

“Our goal should be to live life in radical amazement. ....get up in the morning and look at the world in a way that takes nothing for granted. Everything is phenomenal; everything is incredible; never treat life casually. To be spiritual is to be amazed.”
― Abraham Joshua Heschel

Heschel on Monday

“This is one of the goals of the Jewish way of living: to experience commonplace deeds as spiritual adventures, to feel the hidden love and wisdom in all things.”
― Abraham Joshua Heschel, God in Search of Man: A Philosophy of Judaism

Heschel on Monday

“Wonder or radical amazement is the chief characteristic of the religious man's attitude toward history and nature.”
― Abraham Joshua Heschel, God in Search of Man: A Philosophy of Judaism

Susy's Pottery Introduction

Susy_Introduces_Pottery from Brian Newman on Vimeo.

Susy shared at a retreat in France recently on the image and theme of the potter and clay. Check out the expressions on the kids' and adults' faces.

Heschel on Monday

“There is a passion and drive for cruel deeds which only the awe and fear of God can soothe; there is a suffocating selfishness in man which only holiness can ventilate.”
― Abraham Joshua Heschel, God in Search of Man: A Philosophy of Judaism

Heschel on Monday

“The meaning of awe is to realize that life takes place under wide horizons, horizons that range beyond the span of an individual life or even the life of a nation, a generation, or an era. Awe enables us to perceive in the world intimations of the divine, to sense in small things the beginning of infinite significance, to sense the ultimate in the common and the simple; to feel in the rush of the passing the stillness of the eternal.” ― Abraham Joshua Heschel, God in Search of Man: A Philosophy of Judaism

350 Matzah Balls Later...

We just finished our second Passover seder of the season. The first was in Denver with 90+ people and the second in Amsterdam with 250 people.
       That's about 350 matzah balls - thanks to my wife Susy and two crews of wonderful friends who served to make these feasts happen! Both of the seders were "self-catered," meaning a bunch of people did a lot of work to pull them off. It was great to see them work hard together and be community.
       There are many other highlights of the seders, but what stands out the most to me (for whatever reason) are the children, especially those who read the four questions.
       In Denver we had a young boy and girl, Tate and Elli,

whose families are close friends, do the reading. Steven was helping us that evening and we have a photo of him handing the microphone. That was a picture of one generation handing over the responsibility to the next. I loved that.
       In Amsterdam we had 4 young people read the questions - two in Dutch and two in English. I had forgotten the richness you experience being in a multi-cultural community and experiencing the Passover in several languages.
      The Stroomberg girl (well, at least one of them!) was thrilled at the possibility that she was the youngest person at the seder who can read. That meant she got to read the questions!
      And I love this photo of the Stroombergs with Gerard holding the microphone for his daughter as she reads. Priceless!