"Time to Stop Kvetching"
"Kvetch" (verb, noun) - from the Yiddish: to whine, complain; a whiner or complainer.

Heard around Temple:

"The Temple is too cold, the Temple is too hot. The liturgical music is too new and unfamiliar. The liturgical music is beautiful but too familiar and unchallenging. The clergy are wearing kippot! The clergy are not wearing kippot! Religious school is too challenging and demanding. Religious school is boring."

I wonder what would happen if, instead of kvetching, we decided to try and look at all the things going on around us that are good and exciting. Let's eavesdrop on another set of comments heard around Temple:

"Wow - look at this magnificent sanctuary. What a beautiful place in which to pray!" "Listen to the cantor and the choir. The music takes your breath away! I love learning new songs that inspire me to feel spiritual." "I love the fact that in Reform Judaism, each of us, even the clergy, is challenged to decide which rituals and practices have meaning for us. I love the diversity of our sanctuary, filled with so many different kinds of Jewish religious expression!" "What a great religious school we have. . . . I think I'll volunteer to get involved, to teach, to study myself, so that we can all increase our learning."

Which do you prefer to hear? Which attitude makes you feel better?

Temple Beth El has never been a more exciting and vibrant place. Our walls are literally buzzing with Jewish excitement, spirituality, growth, learning, and celebration. Sure, there is always a lot of room for improvement, but there is also a lot to celebrate. Sometimes, we tend to forget….

We Jews, you see, seem to have a predisposition for kvetching. After all, some say, we have plenty of reasons to complain. We remind ourselves with nearly every holiday celebration that there have always been those who set out to oppress us, to conquer us, to take away our freedoms. But wait…take another look. We have so much to celebrate! And we are flourishing, growing, thriving, living as Jews!

Celebration, not complaining, is in order. It is time to rewrite the story of our lives as Jews, not to ignore or forget the ever present threats to freedom and dignity, but to counter them with joy, with celebration, with positive energy. There is no time like the present, and there is no place like right here at home, in our community, and at Temple.
So, instead of complaining, take another look and find something to celebrate. When you are tempted to complain about something, instead, find a compliment, a smile, a word of pride, a moment of rejoicing.

Happy Hanukkah!

James M. Bennett