April 2006
Dear friends,
As I return from a very happy family celebration of Passover, I can lay to rest a friendly debate that I have had for some time with a friend and former journalist, who corrected me once when I suggested that “the devil is in the details.” She told me that, alliteration aside, the correct phrase is “God is in the details.” And we have noted both phrases occur with some frequency. My brother Mark read a column at Passover services which spoke of the detailed, behind the scenes work that Jewish women have done and continue to do to make Passover a living and meaningful event, since the time of Miriam. And sure enough, out popped “God is in the details.” So, I will consider that debate ended.
I have been reflecting on the importance of details, of smaller pleasures, and of the grace that attends doing relatively unnoticed yet important tasks well. Amidst the excitement of large events—moving onto our property, holding the first services, first classes, first baby-naming and so many other firsts in our synagogue—I wanted to share some thoughts about a “small” practice we do.
On most Monday evenings, at about six, we have a Ma’ariv service. It is a short service of about thirty minutes. We try to have a minyan; oftimes we have many more. It creates a pause between the events of the day and the upcoming evening. For some, it is an opportunity to say Kaddish on behalf of a loved one. For others, a chance to offer a prayer of healing for a friend. For everyone, a brief period of companionship and prayer.
There is more to the magic and grace of the Ma’ariv service than appears on the surface. I received an e-mail a few days ago from a Board member, who happened to mention that she was hopeful of attending more Ma’ariv services, as she was involved in setting them up some time ago, when she needed to say Kaddish for her father. And I have reflected more than once—and in my own life—how the need to say Kaddish and the experience of the Ma’ariv service has led to a greater involvement of people in the Jewish community. For a surprising number of people, the Ma’ariv service has been a first stop on a path of Jewish renewal. The Ma’ariv service is, thus, not only a beautiful little gem in its own right, but can also be a doorway and pathway toward a richer life.
B'Shalom,
Paul
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