“Who Cares?”

I was talking to the bulletin editor, Cherie, on Monday the 9th and she was asking her usual question. "Where's your article?" I told her I really didn't know what to write about. Maybe Amy's Bat Mitzvah, or the great education programs beginning this month, or the inspiring High Holy Day services. I begged her for an extension. On Tuesday, I came into the office and enthusiastically told Cherie, "We got lucky! At the Board of Directors meeting last night Debra Ferry gave the Caring Committee report. You won't believe how much they do. We can use her report as the article." Cherie seemed pleased and said she had also come upon a story for the article. It too was about caring. Since the two seem to go hand in hand I thought I'd share them both with you.
 
The goal of the caring committee is to help our Temple Beth El family by creating a caring community. At the Yom Kippur service a year ago they asked for volunteers. To date 160 people have responded. Together, under Cantor Bernard's direction, they have developed many projects. Some of the highlights are: Delivering Purim Bags to senior Temple members. This was done in conjunction with the second graders decorating the bags and making cards. Visiting the sick. Providing rides to Shabbat services. Preparing meals for Temple members who have a temporary need for food. Creating a Second Family project consisting of 15 volunteers who assist a chronically ill member of the Temple, providing respite care for the family. Welcoming new members to the Temple. Attending Shiva Minyans when requested. Some of the upcoming events include hosting a new member dinner on October 11th and providing education forums for our Wednesday Education Night dealing with Organ Donations and medical ethics. This sounds like a great committee and I am sure they have room for more volunteers. Call the Temple if you are interested.

Now for Cherie's story. It's one that many of you have heard but worth repeating.
 
A philosophy professor stood before his class and had some items in front of him. When class began, wordlessly he picked up a large empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with rocks right to the top, rocks about 2" diameter.
 
He then asked the students if the jar was full?

They agreed that it was.

So the professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them in to the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles, of course, rolled into the open areas between the rocks. The students laughed. He asked his students again if the jar was full? They agreed that yes, it was.

The professor then picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. "Now," said the professor, "I want you to recognize that this is your life.”

The rocks are the important things - your family, your partner, your health, your children - anything that is so important to you that if it were lost, you would be nearly destroyed.

The pebbles are the other things in life that matter, but on a smaller scale. The pebbles represent things like your job, your house, your car.

The sand is everything else. The small stuff.

If you put the sand or the pebbles into the jar first, there is no room for the rocks. The same goes for your life. If you spend all your energy and time on the small stuff, material things, you will never have room for the things that are truly most important. Pay attention to the things that are critical in your life. Play with your children. Take your partner out dancing There will always be time to go to work, clean the house, give a dinner party and fix the disposal."

Take care of the rocks first - the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just pebbles and sand.

Last month’s puzzle winners were Harvey Katowitz, Michele Campos, Deborah Bosley, and Debra Ferry.

This month’s puzzle:
1. Think of a common two-word term from golf. The first word in the phrase has a single vowel, which is a short "i." Change the short "i" to a long "e" sound, and you'll get another common phrase, naming something that's unsportsmanlike. What phrases are these?

2. Think of two 8-letter words starting with O and R. They are synonyms in one sense and antonyms in another. What words are they?

Send your answers by e-mail: info@beth-el.com
fax: (704) 366-1365 or mail!

Arthur B. Kramer