Emotions on the Ocean: Some Reflections

I recently returned from a once in a lifetime trip. I spent seven days aboard the Caribbean Princess officiating a young man's Bar Mitzvah. All of this is due to his family's graciousness and generosity, something they have always shown me over the past 30 years. I enjoy doing alternative rites. They take on much meaning for those who participate and it gives me the opportunity for one on one study with kids who really want to do a meaningful ceremony -- one that sets them on the path of TOV, of actions and behaviors that reflect the Values of their tradition. As I said before, a Bar/Bat Mitzvah is not a day, IT’S A LIFE! Otherwise, you have what one rabbi described as, "Riteless Passages and Passageless Rites."

My student, Steven, did a great job. It was an absolute pleasure to work with someone who was engaged and asked questions; and whose dad also participated in the studies and discussions. Steven's portion was the beginning of the Book of Exodus, which in Hebrew is the word Sh'mot, which means Names. We are given names when we're born, and then there are other names we acquire by our actions and behavior as we go through this life. We become associated with words like," kind, generous, trustworthy, righteous and TOV," and the opposite, "liar, cheater, blamer, monster, and RAH (opposite of TOV)" and the like.

During the journey we passed through some rough seas. I was on one of the upper decks looking through the large windows at the churning sea. Here we are in an endless ocean on a massive ship with over 4,000 people, with all that technology and a ship designed to go through storms, being tossed around like a bathtub boat. You could see the wind whipping the water into huge mists. It occurs to you at moments like that just how really puny humans are. This was a storm, not a hurricane or a typhoon and we find ourselves at the mercy of the awesome power of nature and this planet! For me, looking at the artwork always reveals something about the Artist. (And OK, I admit it, I really did run around the ship singing, "Yodee Hodee Shiver Me Timbers Capn's Got The Fever." in my best Jewish pirate brogue)

The other thing I noticed, was that people seemed to be more pleasant to one another, strangers would talk to other strangers and engage with each other in various activities, even in the elevators. People stopped, held doors and helped others who had challenges getting around. It was uplifting seeing that kindness.

I feel very blessed to have had this experience and look forward to a Year of TOV for all.

Rabbi Jeffrey Leynor