December, 2002
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Hi everyone,
If you have spent time in Israel or parts of Europe, you may know what the subject line is about ... for some reason, nobody here talks about New Year's Eve. Instead, it is Sylvester (apparently named after some obscure saint, although I have no idea why he is associated with the New Year) so we're off for a little Sylvester celebration tonight.
I always find it interesting how much importance we place on transitional moments. After all, there is no reason we couldn't make a resolution or write in a journal or eat and drink and be merry any other day - but for some reason things like Sylvester give us the impetus we need to spend a few extra moments thinking about what is important to us, what we're happy or unhappy with, and what we might like to do in order to make our life a little bit better. So, in that spirit ...
This past year has been an incredible one for Rachel Ann and me. I feel very fortunate to have been able to make such a large change after doing something I loved for 9 years. Jewish camp will always be a part of my life, but after six months in Israel, I am more confident than ever that I made the right choice to pursue the rabbinate. I know I've said it before, but for all of you who are working these days, you should really try being a student again! I feel enriched every day, and look forward to all the learning I'm doing in a variety of subjects. And it has been incredible to gain a whole new group of friends and future colleagues. The other 39 students and assorted family members and significant others are an eclectic mix that I get to know better every day. They bring such a diversity of backgrounds, ideas, talents, and passions that I'm confident in the future of our Jewish world.
Israel, of course, is the ancient center of that Jewish world, and this year has been an inspiring and difficult combination of beauty, tragedy, history, awe, culture, fun, and all the things that come with regular life in any major city (happily, with no car this year, traffic is not one of my concerns, though it certainly exists here). I have been fascinated to watch my own relationship with Israel grow ... I've spent a lot of time here in the past, but never so integrated into society. With every day that goes by, not only does my appreciation and love for this place grow, but so does my realistic understanding of its faults. Israel is a very divided community, and in many ways a very young one. Even though the Jewish people goes back thousands of years, it is evident regularly that the modern State of Israel is only 54 years old. There is still a lot of room to grow here. One of my fellow students, for example, was almost deported a few weeks ago. She had gone to get her visa renewed, like many students, and the 'officials' didn't believe that she was really Jewish or that she could be studying at a real seminary. Lawyers were involved, and she eventually got her visa ... but it left some scars. It is sad to me that issues such as who is really a Jew will take our energy and time in the future, instead of focusing on making the world a better place. But this is the only Israel we have, and we must continue to work on it from the inside out. (I don't want anyone to get the wrong idea, by the way. Our weeks are filled with great stories, too. This is just one more angle)
As much as Rachel Ann and I are loving each day here, we are also starting to think about returning to LA next year. It's exciting to think about being back and setting up our life there ... and being closer to many of you! Rach continues to dazzle with her growing business. We went to a family friend's Bar Mitzvah a few weeks ago where they showed a video Rachel Ann created, and people went wild. And then a few nights ago, another friend who had just gotten married in New York had a party for her husband's family in Jerusalem - and another video Rach made. It also went over great, and people are wanting to talk to her about making more. It is going to take a lot of work, but when we get home I know that similar excitement will grow and she'll have a successful business - she is too talented and connects too well with people for it not to work.
Anyway, there is always more to say, but I'll leave it for January. In the meantime, PLEASE let me know what is happening in your life - I know these mass e-mails are impersonal, and I'd really like to talk more with each one of you : )
And by the way, we've updated our website with recent photos, so feel free to take a look at: https://millers18.tripod.com/recent.html
Happy New Year, Sweet Sylvester!
Mark
January e-mail
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