5...4...3...2...1...!!

On this eve of 2012, it's hard to avoid reflecting on all of the decisions of the past year....not just resolutions that weren't kept, but all kinds of choices and the ramifications of them, as they blossomed or fell apart over the course of 2011.

Lots of good things....lots of things that could have been good, but weren't....lots of things that could have been worse than they were....Disappointments, striving, expectations - both met and thwarted, and some joy (not enough).

Looking forward to 2012 makes me think about my post back in August on making resolutions (http://decidealready.blogspot.com/2011/08/making-list.html). It is indeed time to make the To-Do list for the first week of January, with high hopes for continuing it long past that cynical deadline. There's no reason resolutions can't last! People DO make resolutions that take root and sprout and end up being real life decisions. It just takes more resolve.

Is it better to set "reasonable" goals that you know you can accomplish, or set goals that exceed the given expectations in the hopes of pushing yourself further? Reasonable goals imply greater success in completing them, and less risk of disappointment. Ambitious goals imply accomplishing more than would be possible with lesser expectations. The risk in aiming for the reasonable is that you may accomplish less than you could. The risk in aiming for the unreasonable is that if you don't succeed in doing everything, you may fail to do anything.

Not surprisingly, I'm in favor of the ambitious goals. But with a caveat, to protect against the risk of accomplishing nothing: I try to safeguard my own decisions, so that if I do not meet the ambitious goals (and rarely do I), then at least I can achieve my "minimums."

For example: Once upon a time, a friend and I would learn for an hour before our regularly scheduled day. We set up a schedule of meeting 3x/week, knowing that we were unlikely to meet our goal. Both of us were (of course) sleep-deprived, and many a day, one would call the other at the crack of dawn, mumbling: "Tomorrow..." So we rarely met three times in one week, but we often met twice, and at the very worst, once. Whereas if we'd planned on twice a week, we would have likely fallen to once a week, or no session at all. This way, we kept at it...

I developed this approach in recognition of busy-ness and interferences and human frailty (and stupidity). The Sages of old did the same in establishing candlelighting for the Jewish Sabbath eighteen minutes before the earliest potential point of sunset. That is, the law states that igniting the candle's wick must be done prior to the actual Sabbath, when using fire is prohibited. Rather than assume people are perfect, eighteen minutes provided a cushion - a "fence" in the classical language - to insure that even those who were rushing around with last-minute preparations (and most people usually are) would manage to light before the fatal moment.

So too, I discovered that with anything I want to do often, I do well to make fences for myself. Whether in frequency, amount, or deed, I know I do more when I plan more than I would if I settled for less. Thus: planning anything for every day makes it more likely that I'll manage 5x/week, or at the very least, I establish a serious routine; doing 100 sit-ups means that even if I flop out before completing them, the odds are good I'll hit 75; and with many projects to tackle each day/week/month...I accomplish more by aiming for them than I would be throwing my hands up in overwhelmed defeat at doing them all.

I'm not suggesting this approach works for everyone. Maybe nobody will find it useful but me....But it has long been one I have touted, though I've forgotten it of late...and in not setting ambitious goals, I may have fallen into the abyss of setting (nearly) none at all.

Here's to many ambitious goals for 2012!

Sanctifying the Mundane and the Profane

Assimilation, Isolation, or the Challenging In-Between? Can you choose?

Of Noah's three sons (yes, the famous Noah with the ark), the Jewish people are said to be descended from Shem (hence, "Semite"). The Greeks are said to be descended from his brother Japheth (Yefet), because one of Japheth's sons was named Yavan, which is Hebrew for "Greek."

The traditional Jewish interpretation of Greek culture is that it was devoted to beauty - to physical loveliness. This position is fundamentally an understanding of the biblical verse:

יפת אלוקים ליפת  

Translated by the King James version of the Bible, the text reads, "God shall enlarge Japheth" - with the presumption that the topic is territory. Read phonetically, however, the words are: "Yaft Elokhim le-Yefet," and the Hebrew word for beauty is "yofi." Thus, a translation that is perhaps too literal for the standard biblical context (Noah blessing his sons), but paves the way to creative and beautiful (!) interpretations could be: "God will give beauty to Japheth" (in which case, the father's blessing to his son is for physical attractiveness (or "pulchritude," surely the ugliest word ever to mean beauty). Noah goes on to bless Shem, continuing the verse: "he [Japheth] will dwell in the tents of Shem" - which in turn deserves myriad interpretations, but at the very least suggests that some connection between the traits of Shem and Japheth is possible.

The traditional Jewish criticism of the ancient Greek culture was indeed against the perceived focus on the physical instead of the spiritual, on the body instead of the soul, on appearance instead of actions....basically, on the superficial instead of on the depths.

The irony of this view is not that finger-pointing criticism against modern materialism in the Jewish community might be legitimately levied. The irony of this view is that an essential component of Jewish spirituality (though someone will always disagree) is beauty. Fulfilling the commandments to the extent possible - with the beautification of the physical objects of any mitzvah - is a cardinal principal. Thus, some people spend a great deal of money to have beautiful candlesticks for the Sabbath. Some people make sure to find as nearly perfect an etrog (citron) as possible. And nearly everybody lights lots of candles on Chanukah.

The basic requirement for Chanukah candles is one candle for each household for each of the eight days of the holiday. The better way to do it, however, prescribed one candle for every member of each household for each of the eight days of the holiday. But the best way to do it, and this is the way anyone is not under duress lights Chanukah candles in the modern era, is that every member of each household (some complications regarding married couples, and possibly girls, but leaving that aside - every member of each household) is to light the number of candles that represents the specific day of Chanukah each of the eight nights. Thus, one candle (plus shamash - the lighter) on the first night. Two candles (plus shamash) on the second night. Three on the third, and so on. This practice is labled: "mehadrin min ha-mehadrin" - glorifying the glorification. Making the candles more beautiful. So the very mitzvah that commemorates surviving the warring oppressors and the imposition of their culture of the physical makes sure to extol the miracle using beauty.

My own hiddur - beautification - of my Chanukah candles began in imitation of a friend's creation because it was clever and convenient. I had wanted to light oil, instead of wax candles, in commemoration of the miracle of oil. But the year before I started following in my friend's footsteps, I found the small glass jugs to hold the oil very messy and unwieldy, and besides, some broke. His solution: shot glasses. He filled them nearly full with water, topped them off with olive oil, and used floating wicks to provide flames. Convenient, because there was no fiddling and nearly no mess. Clever, because he used university shot glasses, which seemed to take the Greek culture of academic learning and sanctify it in the service of the holiday that commemorates victory against the Greeks. I loved it, and to this day (well, yesterday), I light university shot glasses if I'm at home.

False Pretenses: Lit Wednesday Morning for Photo Op

As for my question at the beginning - it merits further discussion, surely. Still, the bottom line is that it is far easier to allow yourself to be swallowed by the prevailing culture (it may done even unwittingly!)...and far easier to allow yourself to shun all elements of the prevailing culture...than it is to embrace both, and use each to enhance the other, which - if you ask me - is essentially, fundamentally, truly sanctifying the entire enterprise...bringing the beauty of Yefet to the tents of Shem.

PS: It's now post-Chanukah in Jerusalem - not the proper timing of this post. For all you in later time zones, enjoy the last few hours of the holiday!

Hellenization, Anyone?

University students at universities that support fraternities and sororities think "going Greek" refers to joining the on-campus organizations that function as selective clubs (ironically, "fraternity" and "sorority" come from Latin, but since these clubs are commonly named with Greek letters, the pledges join the "Greeks"). A recent (okay, not that recent) movie capitalized on this culture. Er...apparently the expression is also used in such an utterly crass way that I simply cannot link to the slang - let it be known that I had no idea of this until I googled for the link to the movie (and let me recommend against you looking for it!).

Back in the day (around 167 C.E.), however, the Jews living in the Land of Israel were forced to choose between "becoming Greek" and letting themselves be killed. The death option meant no desecrating the religious commandments. Those willing to relinquish their traditions and their beliefs were permitted to be "hellenized" - to assimilate into the Greek culture and forget their Jewish heritage. Shifting focus to the physical and material (think about the Greek focus on the body, architecture, the pantheon of Greek gods...). The lack of choice in this choice led to war - anyone surprised?

The Jews' battled for the right to rule themselves and free themselves from the oppressor (known in traditional circles not as Antiochus Epiphanes (his name), but Antiochus Epimanes (Antiochus the Madman)). That's the lesser told story of Chanukah. It's not as glamorous as the miracle of one flask of oil that should have lit the Temple's menorah for only one day instead lasting the eight days that it took to produce more olive oil. Or alternatively, the miracle of finding any unblemished oil at all, given the rampant desecration of the Holy Temple by the Greeks.

The prayers of the week (fine: 8 days) focus on the military victory, however. The Jews were the underdog, and they prevailed against the mighty Greek army, chariots and all. Megillat Hashmonaim recounts the struggle in vivid detail, and the Apocryphal Books of Maccabees (I, II and IV especially) present the history of the Jewish rebellion against all odds. Excellent reason for thanksgiving.

Perhaps only the famous talmudic question: "Mai Chanukah?" (Shabbat 21b) brought fame to the tiny flask of oil. A military victory doesn't feel like a religious salvation, after all. Thus, the Aramaic question is understood to mean "on the occasion of what miracle was Chanukah established," and with the miracle of the flask of oil, the reason for the holiday as we know it today took hold.

מאי חנוכה דתנו רבנן בכ"ה בכסליו יומי דחנוכה תמניא אינון דלא למספד בהון ודלא להתענות בהון שכשנכנסו יוונים להיכל טמאו כל השמנים שבהיכל וכשגברה מלכות בית חשמונאי ונצחום בדקו ולא מצאו אלא פך אחד של שמן שהיה מונח בחותמו של כהן גדול ולא היה בו אלא להדליק יום אחד נעשה בו נס והדליקו ממנו שמונה ימים לשנה אחרת קבעום ועשאום ימים טובים בהלל והודאה

In the words of my father's rendition of the miracle of Chanukah (having heard this every night of Chanukah for many years of childhood, I think I can recall the words with precision): "IT KEPT ON BURNING!" The flame-that-didn't-go-out is magical to a child's imagination and miraculous to an adult's celebration of the holiday.

       

As reluctant as I am to sound preachy, I would just like to note that the choice to stay Jewish was literally a matter of life or death. Surely, the war that was fought for the sake of being able to choose to observe is worthy of notice among all the candles.

         

....And if you already pay more attention to the military victory, please don't forget the religious significance of the re-dedication of the spiritual center that affirmed the freedom to observe (or not, as the case may be).

Quick: Naughty or Nice?

If you could be only naughty or only nice, which would you choose? I know, I know - the obvious answer is nice. But most people are naughty at least sometimes. How much fun would it be to have license to be naughty? It wouldn't make the world a better place...but it could be fun, dontcha think? At least now and again? (Okay, that's not ONLY naughty or nice - you're right, you caught me, so what?)

What would you do if you had that carte blanche to be naughty? If you had no fear of repercussions or reprisals? If nobody would be hurt by your actions...at least not for real? Before you tell me that you want no naughtiness ever, let's remember that the frowned-upon rebellion and defiance and simply giving in to the inclination for mischief often yields "the greater good" - and a whole lot of potential fun.

Alternatively, if you have no impulse to be naughty ever, what do you do to be nice? Why do you like being nice? Are you duty-bound? Do you take pleasure in doing the nice thing?  It's a no-brainer that being nice makes the world a more pleasant place. Or maybe you just want treats in your Christmas stocking instead of coal?

I grew up in a home with three fireplaces, but never once were they decorated with stockings for treats or coal. Santa was never invited down any of the chimneys. No tree, no tinsel, no caroling (though we knew all the words, from school and the radio). No ham or goose or plum pudding or ancient fruit cake (not something I ever missed, truth be told).

So we also were never admonished to a fear of coal in the stockings that were never hung up. But there's something fundamental about taking a moment to reflect on the past year and think about whether you've been "naughty" or nice" - it seems to be a universal human need for seasonal reflection, though the seasons differ across cultures, of course. We force ourselves to pay attention to the year that has passed - to note the good deeds, the ones that need improvement and maybe atonement....and to establish resolutions for the coming year (oh, wait, that's next week!).

Sitting in Jerusalem on Christmas Eve is uncommon, I think, among Christmas Eve experiences across the world. Christmas is not in the air. Not anywhere. Well, actually, that's an exaggeration - go to Bethlehem or the Church of the Holy Sepulchre or the Via Dolorosa and Christmas is holy. Those last two are surely more important for Easter, but special Christmas mass draws many visitors. Truth be told, I've never been to either, but back in the days when the road to Gush Etzion passed through Bethlehem, I did travel it once on Christmas Eve. The road was lit with festive lights, just as most of the United States and Europe enters Christmas mode. Somehow, incredibly appropriate - no matter how little I personally celebrate the day (and I'm quite averse...except for the festive element).

  

Just for the record, Jerusalem IS festive - Chanukah is in the air. But that will have to wait for another post. Fortunately, there are 8 days to Chanukah, so I have a few more. As my 5-year-old nephew told his 7-year-old-sister, when she complained that they receive fewer presents than their Christian schoolmates, "No, we have EIGHT days" (he's good at math). They have no fear of coal either. 

In the meantime, I encourage a moment of reflection on the past year - naughty or nice? And how much naughty do you want in your coming year of nice?

Growing into Delays (and Out of Them)

I began this blog because I knew I wanted to be writing, and I had found a topic to explore, as decision-making effects every aspect of life, to a greater or lesser extent.

I still know that I want to be writing, and I have much to explore in my chosen topic of "choices."

When I began back at the end of April, a nay-sayer inquired: How do you possibly have time to blog?

I answered that, firstly, when I have more things on my plate, I am more likely to accomplish them. And secondly, by focusing on the brief essays of blog-posts, I would sharpen my powers of expression for other writing that is incumbent upon me to complete. And thirdly, I would not let blogging interfere with the academic tasks I have undertaken.

Thus, I disappeared for more than a month. 38 days to be exact. The academic writing is taking precedence. It is also taking over my life - in a not entirely altogether bad way. But I will be glad to return to a more diverse schedule, and I have decided - every post needs decisions! - to post the juicy posts I have cooking in the next few days, deadlines or no.

Committing myself to write more, at this point, will force me to write more. Win-win, as far as I am concerned.

Thanks for being patient. I do hope I'm finally "back."