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Chaplain's Corner
Restore Our Comfort Zones
BY RABBI BARRY COHEN
The days are getting shorter. The nights are get-
ting longer. The skies are dreary. The mist and
fog are returning … and with it the rain.
Published biweekly by Fall has knocked me out of the comfort zone of
Jewish Federation of summer. Granted, at times the heat was brutal.
Greater Portland But I enjoyed the blue skies, the long sun-filled Rabbi Barry
9900 SW Greenburg Road, days and plenty of opportunities to get outside. Cohen is
the Jewish
Suite 220 For nearly two years, how many times have we community
Tigard, OR 97223 been knocked out of our comfort zones? chaplain of
503-245-6219 Pre-pandemic, I had settled into a comfortable the Greater
JewishPortland.org rhythm. Consistently, I met face-to-face with in- Portland area.
dividuals, families and groups. We shared quality
Editor time, whether in private homes, retirement com- What knocks you out of your comfort zone?
munity residences, communal meeting rooms,
Deborah Moon the MJCC lobby or coffee houses scattered After we answer that question, we face the next
editor@jewishportland.org throughout Portland. Hospitals were wide open one: How can we find a way to get back into our
503-892-7404 (message) for visits. There were also hospice interactions comfort zone?
at various locations. I enjoyed in-person teach- We can transform our indulgences into regular
Circulation ing in retirement communities, high schools and self-care. Why not spoil ourselves more often …
To receive the Jewish synagogues. guilt-free?
Review in your email inbox, I spent more time away from my office than in We can embrace the beauty of the changing
email your name and email my office. season. The day I look at the natural setting that
address to Cue the pandemic-imposed screeching of tires. surrounds us and take it for granted will be a sad,
editor@jewishportland.org COVID completely disrupted my rhythm and soulless day.
your rhythm. We can slow down. We all know how strange
OPINIONS printed in the Then the tease. I thought we turned the corner time can be. Sometimes it crawls. Sometimes it
Jewish Review do not in the summer as we began systematically to flies by. I believe we play a part in dictating the
necessarily reflect those lift restrictions. Cue the Delta variant. We were pace of time. We can be proactive. We can frame
knocked out of our comfort zones again.
portions of our day. We can set clear boundaries,
of the Jewish Review The High Holidays offered me some solace. At not to be violated. Then we can be open to what
Committee, the Jewish least I was able to gather at Congregation Beth happens next.
Federation of Greater Israel for worship. Even though we were outside We can devote portions of every day of the
Portland, its governing … even though we were masked … it beat the week to our passions: hiking, reading, coffee,
board or the staffs of either alternative of another virtual experience on my cooking, music or podcasts. We can make con-
the newspaper or the Microsoft tablet. nections with people, nature, art, religion or
Federation. The High Holidays were a valuable time to re- spirituality.
flect and to get in touch with my emotions. I now Being in our comfort zone is not always about
Upcoming clearly understand what knocks me out of my what we do. It is not dependent on productivity
comfort zone. It’s just one word. It’s four letters or on accomplishments. Often, we can be in our
issues long. comfort zone when we are in the moment, when
F-E-A-R.
we are connected, and when we are in relation-
I fear that everything will be shut down again. I ship with someone, something, some power be-
Issue date Deadline fear a breakthrough case of COVID for me or my yond ourselves.
children. I fear schools becoming virtual again.
We can do this. We can rediscover our comfort
But fear is just an emotion. That word is not re- zones and develop strategies to protect and pre-
Oct. 27 Oct. 21 flective of reality. It’s only reflective of a possible serve them. The beautiful result will be the heal-
reality … a reality that is inside my head. ing of our bodies and spirits.
Nov. 10 Nov. 4
Nov. 24 Nov. 18 Rabbi's Corner
In addition to the Chaplain's Corner, the Jewish Review offers space for a
Dec. 8 Dec. 2 Rabbi's Corner each issue. Our community's rabbis are invited to share their
thoughts on the week's parsha or current events. The Oregon Board of Rabbis
Submit news, photos organized the project.
and obituaries to Rabbis are invited to schedule a date to submit a 500- to 600-word piece.
editor@jewishportland.org For more information, email editor@jewishportland.org.
8 Jewish Review Oct. 13, 2021