Yesterday was a big day in the Levitt family. About 50 relatives from around the country gathered to celebrate my Grandpa Levitt's 100th birthday. It was a beautiful party, with children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren paying tribute to the patriarch of the family.
I looked up what the world looked like in 1913. The Czar was still in power and World War I was about to break out. The average life span was only 52 and the 16th Amendment (federal income tax) was 1st introduced. My grandfather has certainly lived through a lot, to say the least. And he didn't just live through it. He was part of it, having served his country in World War II fighting in the Battle of the Bulge.
My grandfather immigrated to this country as a young boy from Russia, and lived the American dream. He worked hard, became a pharmacist, and put in long hours at Levitt Pharmacy for many years. He found an amazing woman to marry and together they raised my father and my uncle. Sitting there at the party yesterday, together with an extended and devoted family, it was amazing to think of how far he had come.
My favorite moment of the party was when Grandpa gave everyone a big Bracha (blessing). Because Grandpa is famous for his Bracha. Every time any of us speak to him he always says "let me give you the bracha." And he blesses us, whether in person or over the phone, with the words from the Friday night blessing that parents give their children. My father has carried on this tradition of blessing each of his children and grandchildren, and we are each carrying it on with our kids as well.
I was wondering what gift you can give to someone when they turn 100. At the party there were nice tributes and gifts presented. But I think the best gift we can give Grandpa is for him to see that we are carrying on his legacy of hard work, of respect, of devotion to family. That we are taking all his Brachot and passing them on.
Happy Birthday Grandpa. May Hashem continue to bless you and Grandma with good health and nachat. And may we merit to continue receiving and passing on your Brachot for many years to come.
Monday, October 7, 2013
Sunday, June 30, 2013
Leaving Home
I'm on a flight back to Houston now from Boston where I've had the incredible privilege to spend the last week learning about the Art of Leadership at the Harvard Graduate School of Education together with 150 other school principals from around the country, and indeed, the world. It has been an amazing week and I'd like to share some of the highlights.
1st of all, it was great to be back in my hometown! I grew up in Boston but my family has since moved, so this was a rare opportunity for me to come back. Walking the streets of Cambridge, catching a Red Sox game at Fenway, strolling along the Charles river, enjoying a great meal at Rubins Deli, riding the "T," and hearing the local news (and accents) on tv, all made me feel right at home.
I also really enjoyed connecting with other people and building a network of principals with whom to share ideas or seek advice in the future. And on this trip I was fortunate to be part of two amazing groups.
The 1st group was the team of 11 principals from Jewish Day Schools around the country who were brought to Harvard by AviChai in order to develop our leadership and make our schools even better. We shared meals, spent Shabbat together, and met throughout the week (often after a long day of Harvard sessions) to discuss how we can use the learning from Harvard to enhance the Jewish missions of our schools. Though the group was a diverse mix, we all supported one another and learned from each other. And we enjoyed each other's company as well.
The other group I spent a lot of time with at Harvard was the small group I was assigned to by Harvard. At least once a day we took a break from the big group of 150 and met with our small group of about 15 to discuss what we were learning and to help each other apply the learning to our own contexts. We had a really great group of people, each of whom taught me a lot. Some members came from states like TX, CA, and FL, while others came from countries as far as India and Australia. What was amazing was how close we all felt to each other after being total strangers just 7 days before.
Part of the reason we became so close so quickly was because Harvard took us all to a place called Project Adventure on the 2nd day of the institute. It was basically an all day team building experience out in the woods. There were ropes courses and many other team building games. It was a really fun way to get to know each other and to drive home the message that we can accomplish more than we think we are capable of when we know others are there to celebrate our successes and to soften our falls. It made me think that if total strangers with such different backgrounds can bond so closely in such a short time, we can certainly do some great team building at school, both for staff and for students.
One additional note about my small group. I felt very accepted by the group in terms of being a Rabbi. They understood about my practice not to touch women (which I'm sure seemed very strange), or about why I could not join them for the clambake (all I can say on that is wow! You have to see one to know what I am talking about), or about why I had to miss the session on Shabbat morning. They were very respectful and actually interested to learn more about Judaism. So that also helped me feel very supported. And in general during the conference, Harvard went out of their way to make our AviChai group feel comfortable and to provide kosher snacks, etc...
Ok, so I've shared how being in Boston and how connecting with other people made the week special. That brings me to the heart of why this week was so powerful for me, and that was the Harvard experience itself.
I cannot tell you how great it felt to be a student again. Which is funny, because I can remember once upon a time longing for school to be over. But being accepted to such a prestigious program and learning from some of the top experts in the field of educational leadership was so fulfilling. And walking around Harvard with my student ID (including eating a kosher meal in the Harvard Faculty Lounge, having my phone go off in the Reading Room of the Widener Library, and eating lunch in Haaavaahd Yaaahd) reminded me of just how much I love learning and studying.
Each morning we would show up to the lecture by 8:30 sharp. Dr. Pamela Mason from Harvard, who ran the institute, would start the day asking "who is feeling lucky?" and she would then draw three names to see who would win a Harvard keychain. This was an incentive to come on time, but as one participant reflected on the last day, it was also a reminder to each of us to remember how lucky we are to have the opportunity to inspire and empower children every day when we show up to work. Dr. Mason would then ask if anyone wanted to "celebrate the success." And each day would begin with several people sharing successes they had as a way of inspiring others.
As to the sessions themselves, most of us can't imagine sitting through more than about a 20 minute speech before we start to fidget and check our phones. But each morning and each afternoon there was a 3 hour lecture (with a 15 minute break in the middle). And do you know what? With maybe one exception, every single speaker was so interesting, engaging, and entertaining, that I found the time flying by as I tried to take notes on all the concepts I was learning.
There was some sharing of research, and some teaching of new skill sets (ex. Teacher Supervision and Writing Across the Curriculum). There was inspiration and reflection on why what we do is so critical. But the biggest learning for me over the conference was the emphasis on new mindsets that have the potential to make us more effective school leaders. We learned about Social Perspective Taking (the ability to see things from the other person's perspective), about the Immunity to Change (a way of digging deep to see why we hold ourselves back from accomplishing the goals we set for ourselves), and about Adaptive Leadership styles (how our thoughts and actions effect the way others react to us). I really wasn't sure what to expect when I got to Harvard, but I can tell you that it was the greatest professional development program I have ever been on. And I think what I have learned this past week will help me be not only a better school leader, but also a better person.
So the question now becomes what will I do with all this learning? How will I bring it back to my reality and make sure it doesn't get left behind in Boson?
I read an interesting quote just now in the in-flight magazine:
"Success isn't how far you got, but the distance you traveled from where you started." (Steve Prefontaine)
I don't know yet "how far I've got" from this institute. I need to spend some time processing everything and making some action plans. But I do know that I've traveled a long way from where I started.
As this flight lands in Houston I am both leaving home and coming home. And it reminds me of something one of the speakers talked about on the very 1st day of the institute. She said sometimes, when you want to bring others along with you and share your passion, inspiration, and vision, it can take a little while for them to "leave home," to be open to considering a new way of looking at things.
As I return home to my family what I do know is that I have left home. I have left my hometown of Boston. But more importantly, I have "left home" on some of the mindsets I used to have. And I am very excited and hopeful about the direction I am headed.
1st of all, it was great to be back in my hometown! I grew up in Boston but my family has since moved, so this was a rare opportunity for me to come back. Walking the streets of Cambridge, catching a Red Sox game at Fenway, strolling along the Charles river, enjoying a great meal at Rubins Deli, riding the "T," and hearing the local news (and accents) on tv, all made me feel right at home.
I also really enjoyed connecting with other people and building a network of principals with whom to share ideas or seek advice in the future. And on this trip I was fortunate to be part of two amazing groups.
The 1st group was the team of 11 principals from Jewish Day Schools around the country who were brought to Harvard by AviChai in order to develop our leadership and make our schools even better. We shared meals, spent Shabbat together, and met throughout the week (often after a long day of Harvard sessions) to discuss how we can use the learning from Harvard to enhance the Jewish missions of our schools. Though the group was a diverse mix, we all supported one another and learned from each other. And we enjoyed each other's company as well.
The other group I spent a lot of time with at Harvard was the small group I was assigned to by Harvard. At least once a day we took a break from the big group of 150 and met with our small group of about 15 to discuss what we were learning and to help each other apply the learning to our own contexts. We had a really great group of people, each of whom taught me a lot. Some members came from states like TX, CA, and FL, while others came from countries as far as India and Australia. What was amazing was how close we all felt to each other after being total strangers just 7 days before.
Part of the reason we became so close so quickly was because Harvard took us all to a place called Project Adventure on the 2nd day of the institute. It was basically an all day team building experience out in the woods. There were ropes courses and many other team building games. It was a really fun way to get to know each other and to drive home the message that we can accomplish more than we think we are capable of when we know others are there to celebrate our successes and to soften our falls. It made me think that if total strangers with such different backgrounds can bond so closely in such a short time, we can certainly do some great team building at school, both for staff and for students.
One additional note about my small group. I felt very accepted by the group in terms of being a Rabbi. They understood about my practice not to touch women (which I'm sure seemed very strange), or about why I could not join them for the clambake (all I can say on that is wow! You have to see one to know what I am talking about), or about why I had to miss the session on Shabbat morning. They were very respectful and actually interested to learn more about Judaism. So that also helped me feel very supported. And in general during the conference, Harvard went out of their way to make our AviChai group feel comfortable and to provide kosher snacks, etc...
Ok, so I've shared how being in Boston and how connecting with other people made the week special. That brings me to the heart of why this week was so powerful for me, and that was the Harvard experience itself.
I cannot tell you how great it felt to be a student again. Which is funny, because I can remember once upon a time longing for school to be over. But being accepted to such a prestigious program and learning from some of the top experts in the field of educational leadership was so fulfilling. And walking around Harvard with my student ID (including eating a kosher meal in the Harvard Faculty Lounge, having my phone go off in the Reading Room of the Widener Library, and eating lunch in Haaavaahd Yaaahd) reminded me of just how much I love learning and studying.
Each morning we would show up to the lecture by 8:30 sharp. Dr. Pamela Mason from Harvard, who ran the institute, would start the day asking "who is feeling lucky?" and she would then draw three names to see who would win a Harvard keychain. This was an incentive to come on time, but as one participant reflected on the last day, it was also a reminder to each of us to remember how lucky we are to have the opportunity to inspire and empower children every day when we show up to work. Dr. Mason would then ask if anyone wanted to "celebrate the success." And each day would begin with several people sharing successes they had as a way of inspiring others.
As to the sessions themselves, most of us can't imagine sitting through more than about a 20 minute speech before we start to fidget and check our phones. But each morning and each afternoon there was a 3 hour lecture (with a 15 minute break in the middle). And do you know what? With maybe one exception, every single speaker was so interesting, engaging, and entertaining, that I found the time flying by as I tried to take notes on all the concepts I was learning.
There was some sharing of research, and some teaching of new skill sets (ex. Teacher Supervision and Writing Across the Curriculum). There was inspiration and reflection on why what we do is so critical. But the biggest learning for me over the conference was the emphasis on new mindsets that have the potential to make us more effective school leaders. We learned about Social Perspective Taking (the ability to see things from the other person's perspective), about the Immunity to Change (a way of digging deep to see why we hold ourselves back from accomplishing the goals we set for ourselves), and about Adaptive Leadership styles (how our thoughts and actions effect the way others react to us). I really wasn't sure what to expect when I got to Harvard, but I can tell you that it was the greatest professional development program I have ever been on. And I think what I have learned this past week will help me be not only a better school leader, but also a better person.
So the question now becomes what will I do with all this learning? How will I bring it back to my reality and make sure it doesn't get left behind in Boson?
I read an interesting quote just now in the in-flight magazine:
"Success isn't how far you got, but the distance you traveled from where you started." (Steve Prefontaine)
I don't know yet "how far I've got" from this institute. I need to spend some time processing everything and making some action plans. But I do know that I've traveled a long way from where I started.
As this flight lands in Houston I am both leaving home and coming home. And it reminds me of something one of the speakers talked about on the very 1st day of the institute. She said sometimes, when you want to bring others along with you and share your passion, inspiration, and vision, it can take a little while for them to "leave home," to be open to considering a new way of looking at things.
As I return home to my family what I do know is that I have left home. I have left my hometown of Boston. But more importantly, I have "left home" on some of the mindsets I used to have. And I am very excited and hopeful about the direction I am headed.
Thursday, June 13, 2013
My Most Important Students
Six years ago today Hashem blessed us with the birth of our twins, Rina and Simcha. On one level it seems like so long ago, when you think of all the memories, the diapers changed, bottles fed, and bruises kissed. And on the other hand it feels like just yesterday. Suffice it today that June 13th, 2007 (like the 613 mitzvot) will always be one of the happiest days of our lives.
It's amazing to see them grow up, not only physically, but in every way. They are so smart, so funny, and already you can see their unique personalities and middot tovot developing. It's also amazing to see how their older sister Shira is growing, both as a big sister, and as a young woman in her own right (about to enter High School!). We feel blessed to be on this incredible journey, even with its twists and turns, and are so grateful to Hashem for everything.
I once heard from Rabbi JJ Shachter that sometimes mechanchim (Jewish educators) work so hard to inspire and teach those around them that they take for granted that their most important students, their own children, will follow as well. And that is why Hashem had to remind Avraham ״כי ביצחק יקרא לך זרע״ - "Your ancestry will come through Yitzchak." I hope and pray that Hashem will continue to guide us in raising our children the right way, and that we remember that the lessons we teach at home are the most powerful lessons of all.
So I guess the lesson of this post is to appreciate everything you have, to buckle up for the journey, and to remember that we are all teachers, all of the time. The question is, will we put in the time to prepare great lessons?
It's amazing to see them grow up, not only physically, but in every way. They are so smart, so funny, and already you can see their unique personalities and middot tovot developing. It's also amazing to see how their older sister Shira is growing, both as a big sister, and as a young woman in her own right (about to enter High School!). We feel blessed to be on this incredible journey, even with its twists and turns, and are so grateful to Hashem for everything.
I once heard from Rabbi JJ Shachter that sometimes mechanchim (Jewish educators) work so hard to inspire and teach those around them that they take for granted that their most important students, their own children, will follow as well. And that is why Hashem had to remind Avraham ״כי ביצחק יקרא לך זרע״ - "Your ancestry will come through Yitzchak." I hope and pray that Hashem will continue to guide us in raising our children the right way, and that we remember that the lessons we teach at home are the most powerful lessons of all.
So I guess the lesson of this post is to appreciate everything you have, to buckle up for the journey, and to remember that we are all teachers, all of the time. The question is, will we put in the time to prepare great lessons?
Friday, June 7, 2013
The Last Day of School
I can't believe an entire school year has come and gone! It feels like we just left our friends in FL and moved to TX. And yet, today was the last day of school!
How do you summarize a year?
There were meetings. Lots of meetings! And programs, and trips, and emails, and phone calls. There was curriculum, and professional development, and mentoring. There was laughter, and frustration, and exhaustion. There were successes as well as mistakes. There was learning and discovery, courage and fear. There was a never-ending desire to make things better, and still there was pride in the good things being done. There were days that everything went right, and days when nothing seemed to go as planned. There was rarely a quiet moment, and never any boredom. There was almost never energy at the end of the day to update this blog. There were 265 beautiful kids and their amazing teachers who made each day inspiring and meaningful. And there was a loving and supportive wife who helped me every step of the way.
How do you summarize a year?
There were meetings. Lots of meetings! And programs, and trips, and emails, and phone calls. There was curriculum, and professional development, and mentoring. There was laughter, and frustration, and exhaustion. There were successes as well as mistakes. There was learning and discovery, courage and fear. There was a never-ending desire to make things better, and still there was pride in the good things being done. There were days that everything went right, and days when nothing seemed to go as planned. There was rarely a quiet moment, and never any boredom. There was almost never energy at the end of the day to update this blog. There were 265 beautiful kids and their amazing teachers who made each day inspiring and meaningful. And there was a loving and supportive wife who helped me every step of the way.
Monday, March 25, 2013
Seder Night: The Night That Never Ends
What is your favorite memory of Seder Night? For me, Seder Night was always magical. The seder plate and matzot were set in the middle of the table. The matzo ball soup could be smelled from the kitchen. And my entire family (together with our guests) would be sitting around the table, singing songs, sharing thoughts, and taking turns reading the Haggadah.
Now that I am the parent, I ask myself "what can I do to recreate that magic for my kids, so that years from now they too will look back and feel how special a night it is?" We will sing the same songs, and taste the same foods, of course. And this year we even created special awards to be given out for things like "best costume," "best original question," and "best Lego recreation of one of the 10 Makkot."
But as we finish up our final preparations for Seder Night I remind myself that it is a special night also because it connects the generations. My kids are a part of something my grandparents did when they were the same age, and one day they will pass it on to their children as well.
How do we ensure that we pass it on? The Haggadah tells us, first of all, to remember that, just as in the classroom, not all children are the same. The Four Sons are symbolic of the idea that Seder Night can speak to all types, as long as we share it in a way that speaks to them.
We also remember that the Mitzva of the night is Sippur Yetziat Mitzrayim, telling the story of the exodus. Not just remembering it, like we do every day in the Shema. But telling the story. Because stories bring a concept alive by drawing the listener in and allowing them to feel what the story is all about.
But the real secret? I think the real secret is found in the pasuk from which the word Haggadah comes:
והגדת לבנך ביום ההוא לאמר בעבור זה עשה השם לי בצאתי ממצרים
And you shall tell your child on that day this is the purpose of what Hashem did for me when He took me out of Egypt.
To me, the key word is לי, for me. The parent has to make it personal. You know why I love this Seder, this holiday, this religion? Because it makes me happy, it gives my life meaning, it connects me to past generations. And that's what I want for you as well. Because I love you so much. And I want you to feel all these great things as well.
If we, as parents, love Judaism, Davening, Learning Torah, doing Chesed, and yes, even cleaning and preparing for Pesach, then our kids will as well. It's a simple equation: Love Judaism + Love Your Child = They will love Judaism as well.
So tonight, enjoy the tunes, the stories, and the tastes. But most of all, enjoy your kids. It may just be one night, but believe me, it will last for generations.
Now that I am the parent, I ask myself "what can I do to recreate that magic for my kids, so that years from now they too will look back and feel how special a night it is?" We will sing the same songs, and taste the same foods, of course. And this year we even created special awards to be given out for things like "best costume," "best original question," and "best Lego recreation of one of the 10 Makkot."
But as we finish up our final preparations for Seder Night I remind myself that it is a special night also because it connects the generations. My kids are a part of something my grandparents did when they were the same age, and one day they will pass it on to their children as well.
How do we ensure that we pass it on? The Haggadah tells us, first of all, to remember that, just as in the classroom, not all children are the same. The Four Sons are symbolic of the idea that Seder Night can speak to all types, as long as we share it in a way that speaks to them.
We also remember that the Mitzva of the night is Sippur Yetziat Mitzrayim, telling the story of the exodus. Not just remembering it, like we do every day in the Shema. But telling the story. Because stories bring a concept alive by drawing the listener in and allowing them to feel what the story is all about.
But the real secret? I think the real secret is found in the pasuk from which the word Haggadah comes:
והגדת לבנך ביום ההוא לאמר בעבור זה עשה השם לי בצאתי ממצרים
And you shall tell your child on that day this is the purpose of what Hashem did for me when He took me out of Egypt.
To me, the key word is לי, for me. The parent has to make it personal. You know why I love this Seder, this holiday, this religion? Because it makes me happy, it gives my life meaning, it connects me to past generations. And that's what I want for you as well. Because I love you so much. And I want you to feel all these great things as well.
If we, as parents, love Judaism, Davening, Learning Torah, doing Chesed, and yes, even cleaning and preparing for Pesach, then our kids will as well. It's a simple equation: Love Judaism + Love Your Child = They will love Judaism as well.
So tonight, enjoy the tunes, the stories, and the tastes. But most of all, enjoy your kids. It may just be one night, but believe me, it will last for generations.
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
You Don't See Too Many Jewish Cowboys
Well, it finally happened. 8 months after moving to Texas the Rodeo Rabbi has finally attended his 1st Rodeo! Everyone told us about one of the highlights of the year, when the Rodeo comes to town in March. But until we experienced it ourselves we couldn't really appreciate it. The amount of things going on and people attending is astounding. There are carnival rides, concerts, livestock shows, and of course, Rodeo competitions. Watching these guys saddle up on top of a raging Bull or bucking Bronco, and then holding on for dear life as the animal shoots out of the pen jumping and kicking, is unbelievable. They even had a kiddy version where little 5 year olds hold on to a running sheep for as long as they can before falling off! They take their Rodeo seriously around these parts.
So what's the take home message? I'm not exactly sure. But maybe it has something to do with conquering your fears and taking risks to prove to yourself and others that you are up for the challenge. There's a certain Cowboy Up mentality that says strap on those boots and figure out a way to get the job done.
Earlier this week I had a chance to Cowboy Up to some degree as well. After a fun weekend in Dallas with the Beren Basketball Entourage, we decided to stop in neighboring Fort Worth for a few hours Sunday before driving back to Houston. Fort Worth is famous for its historic stockyards, and we figured if we've travelled all this way we had to see what it was all about. Well, let's just say we were not disappointed. In fact, I would definitely go back next time I get the chance. The stockyards is to Cowboys what Colonial Williamsburg is to Colonists. It's a village of a few blocks where you can really get a a taste of the old western life. Shortly after we arrived they had the herding of the longhorns through the streets. If you've never seen a longhorn in person you can't imagine how enormous these bulls (and their horns) are. Seeing 10 of them march right by you is intimidating. Later, I actually got to sit on a longhorn and take a picture as well. That was pretty cool. We also took a horse and buggy ride around the village. Our driver was a former Rodeo performer who was having hip replacement surgery due to his many Rodeo mishaps. There was also a really cool maze that we took the kids through. It was once featured on the show The Amazing Race. The kids and I ran through the many paths and dead ends looking for the letters M-A-Z-E before we could exit. Elisheva stood on an elevated platform guiding us along. It took a good 20 minutes to finish. And it reminded me of the passage in the 3rd perk of Mesilat Yesharim where the Ramchal uses this very marshal of a person in a maze taking guidance from someone on a raised platform to describe why we need Rebbeim and mentors to look towards for guidance. We didnt even get to the Cowboy Hall of Fame, or Billy Bob's, the biggest Honky Tonk in the world. But my favorite part of the stockyards was being able to cross off from my bucket list something I've always wanted to do: ride a mechanical bull. Don't ask me why I've always wanted to do this. It just seemed like a cool thing to do once in your life. Well, it did not disappoint. I held on for about a minute before flying off. It was really fun, and the best part was when the guy running the machine said "you don't see too many Jewish Cowboys."
He's right. I may not be a real cowboy like the ones I saw this week. But as the Rodeo Rabbi I'd like to think I too have some of the Cowboy Up spirit. There are challenges, always, but you can either make excuses or figure out a solution. So next time you are a little nervous about a challenge confronting you, put on your Rodeo boots, roll up those sleeves, give a good old yeehaw, and Cowboy Up.
So what's the take home message? I'm not exactly sure. But maybe it has something to do with conquering your fears and taking risks to prove to yourself and others that you are up for the challenge. There's a certain Cowboy Up mentality that says strap on those boots and figure out a way to get the job done.
Earlier this week I had a chance to Cowboy Up to some degree as well. After a fun weekend in Dallas with the Beren Basketball Entourage, we decided to stop in neighboring Fort Worth for a few hours Sunday before driving back to Houston. Fort Worth is famous for its historic stockyards, and we figured if we've travelled all this way we had to see what it was all about. Well, let's just say we were not disappointed. In fact, I would definitely go back next time I get the chance. The stockyards is to Cowboys what Colonial Williamsburg is to Colonists. It's a village of a few blocks where you can really get a a taste of the old western life. Shortly after we arrived they had the herding of the longhorns through the streets. If you've never seen a longhorn in person you can't imagine how enormous these bulls (and their horns) are. Seeing 10 of them march right by you is intimidating. Later, I actually got to sit on a longhorn and take a picture as well. That was pretty cool. We also took a horse and buggy ride around the village. Our driver was a former Rodeo performer who was having hip replacement surgery due to his many Rodeo mishaps. There was also a really cool maze that we took the kids through. It was once featured on the show The Amazing Race. The kids and I ran through the many paths and dead ends looking for the letters M-A-Z-E before we could exit. Elisheva stood on an elevated platform guiding us along. It took a good 20 minutes to finish. And it reminded me of the passage in the 3rd perk of Mesilat Yesharim where the Ramchal uses this very marshal of a person in a maze taking guidance from someone on a raised platform to describe why we need Rebbeim and mentors to look towards for guidance. We didnt even get to the Cowboy Hall of Fame, or Billy Bob's, the biggest Honky Tonk in the world. But my favorite part of the stockyards was being able to cross off from my bucket list something I've always wanted to do: ride a mechanical bull. Don't ask me why I've always wanted to do this. It just seemed like a cool thing to do once in your life. Well, it did not disappoint. I held on for about a minute before flying off. It was really fun, and the best part was when the guy running the machine said "you don't see too many Jewish Cowboys."
He's right. I may not be a real cowboy like the ones I saw this week. But as the Rodeo Rabbi I'd like to think I too have some of the Cowboy Up spirit. There are challenges, always, but you can either make excuses or figure out a solution. So next time you are a little nervous about a challenge confronting you, put on your Rodeo boots, roll up those sleeves, give a good old yeehaw, and Cowboy Up.
Sunday, January 6, 2013
Digging Beneath the Surface
Sometimes there is beauty right in front of you and you don't even know it. I was reminded of this lesson last week during our school vacation. After spending a great week with my brother's family exploring Houston (NASA's Mission Control, George Ranch...), Elisheva and I took the kids last Wednesday for a couple of days to San Antonio, a 3 hour drive west. Who would have thought that one of the most charming cities in the country is sitting right in the middle of the biggest state, which is right in the middle of the country, albeit all the way at the bottom?
We had a great time in San Antonio. The kosher restaurant (Green) was very good. We went to the top of the Tower of the Americas, shopped at the Mexican Mercado, got our Texas pride thing in (that is really big around these parts) by visiting The Alamo, and enjoyed strolling through the artist colony at La Vilitta. But the two best parts of our trip, the Riverwalk and the Natural Bridge Caverns, really brought home the idea that sometimes, if you dig a little beneath the surface, you can find hidden gems.
San Antonio is not a huge city. But what makes it special is that below street level there is a river, shaped like a horseshoe, that wraps throughout the city, with cafes and shops surrounded by beautiful trees (which they light up at night) on either side. So while the city moves up above, just a few steps down you enter a scenic, peaceful, environment (at least this time of year when the temperatures are cooler and the crowds sparser). We took a boat tour around the river and saw the sights, and enjoyed walking around as well. The arched walking bridges over the river were a great place to just hang out and do some people watching. So in the middle of a small city in the middle of the Southwest, beneath street level, is one of the most beautiful spots in the country.
On our way home we drove a little north towards Austin (another city we have heard great things about but have not yet visited), and stopped at the Natural Bridge Caverns. This is basically a huge set of underground caves that take about an hour to walk through, which are full of the most beautiful stalagmites and stalactites you can imagine. These caverns, which you have to visit to really understand just how incredibly massive and beautiful they are, were just sitting there, growing more impressive with each drop of water, until they were discovered by 4 college kids back in the 1960's. It was an incredible tour and once again reminded me of the beauty that often lies right beneath the surface if we are willing to do a little mining.
You see, often we tend to make quick judgments, surface level ones, without even giving the person, the place, or the opportunity a chance. I'm sure many of us have felt at times that others didn't fully appreciate our own abilities or potential as well. Imagine for a moment if each of us wore a miner's helmet, flashlight attached, and began each day with the attitude that we were looking for greatness, that we would dig for it, work for it, sometimes even get dirty in order to find it. I bet you we would find hidden gems all around us, and maybe even in ourselves. Digging beneath the surface isn't always easy. But as we were reminded last week Deep in the Heart of Texas, there is great reward for those who are willing to try it.
We had a great time in San Antonio. The kosher restaurant (Green) was very good. We went to the top of the Tower of the Americas, shopped at the Mexican Mercado, got our Texas pride thing in (that is really big around these parts) by visiting The Alamo, and enjoyed strolling through the artist colony at La Vilitta. But the two best parts of our trip, the Riverwalk and the Natural Bridge Caverns, really brought home the idea that sometimes, if you dig a little beneath the surface, you can find hidden gems.
San Antonio is not a huge city. But what makes it special is that below street level there is a river, shaped like a horseshoe, that wraps throughout the city, with cafes and shops surrounded by beautiful trees (which they light up at night) on either side. So while the city moves up above, just a few steps down you enter a scenic, peaceful, environment (at least this time of year when the temperatures are cooler and the crowds sparser). We took a boat tour around the river and saw the sights, and enjoyed walking around as well. The arched walking bridges over the river were a great place to just hang out and do some people watching. So in the middle of a small city in the middle of the Southwest, beneath street level, is one of the most beautiful spots in the country.
On our way home we drove a little north towards Austin (another city we have heard great things about but have not yet visited), and stopped at the Natural Bridge Caverns. This is basically a huge set of underground caves that take about an hour to walk through, which are full of the most beautiful stalagmites and stalactites you can imagine. These caverns, which you have to visit to really understand just how incredibly massive and beautiful they are, were just sitting there, growing more impressive with each drop of water, until they were discovered by 4 college kids back in the 1960's. It was an incredible tour and once again reminded me of the beauty that often lies right beneath the surface if we are willing to do a little mining.
You see, often we tend to make quick judgments, surface level ones, without even giving the person, the place, or the opportunity a chance. I'm sure many of us have felt at times that others didn't fully appreciate our own abilities or potential as well. Imagine for a moment if each of us wore a miner's helmet, flashlight attached, and began each day with the attitude that we were looking for greatness, that we would dig for it, work for it, sometimes even get dirty in order to find it. I bet you we would find hidden gems all around us, and maybe even in ourselves. Digging beneath the surface isn't always easy. But as we were reminded last week Deep in the Heart of Texas, there is great reward for those who are willing to try it.
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