Cantor's Blog

Oseh Ma’asei Vereishit

Sitting on a balcony aboard a cruise ship on my way to Portugal, I am listening to the world’s most beautifully composed music, the haunting sound of the waves.  Together with the vision of the breaking water, its smell, and a light breeze, my mind wanders to words of blessing: Baruch Ata…oseh ma’asei vereishit,  - Praised are You…Who has created an incredible world.

                                                            

We are all prone to becoming consumed by routine, by daily tasks and responsibilities, and, in so doing, to being immunized to the spectacular, the sense of awe and grandeur which could be inherent in daily life. But it need not be so.  Abraham, Joshua Heschel speaks of  “ radical amazement,” the ability to stride through our lives, perceiving the world around us, as if for the very first time.  We have all watched a young child’s wild eyes as he/she encountered a moving firmament underfoot (the sands of the beach) or see, hear, and perhaps touch fascinating new animals in the zoo. Heschel challenges us to re-experience the routine through that “child-like” lens. How much more meaningful and powerful would life be, if only…

                                                                  

Years ago, I heard Dennis Prager speak in person. He described the desperate sensation of wanting a new toy, a new or upgraded device, a new car - something new with which to play. He also highlighted the commonly experienced inevitable loss of that sense of novel excitement with our new toy - for all man-made products eventually become normalized. In contrast, Prager portrayed God’s creations as filled with an awe which does not lose its inspirational power. Consider observing an inspiringly colorful sunset, the calm peacefulness of sitting in a coffee shop by a running stream, or the sensation-overload of the unrelenting ocean. God’s works alone have the capacity to eternally compel our fascination.

This sabbatical, with which Brith Shalom has blessed me, and for which I am so grateful, has deepened the opportunity to appreciate God’s grandeur. I look forward to many more such moments as I explore the wonders of the world in the weeks to come. But the bigger challenge, as I return, will be for me to allow myself to be “radically amazed” by what can easily seem mundane. May we all recognize the blessings of life, seeing each moment with fresh eyes and new appreciation.  Oseh Ma’asei Vereishit.