Page 12 - JR March 3 21 FINAL

Chaplain's Corner

The Storm Will End

BY RABBI BARRY COHEN corresponds with the words
shared and emotions expressed.
Now is the time to catch our To varying degrees, many of
breath. We just finished cele- us are feeling the same emo-
Published biweekly by brating Purim when we’re com- tions and experiencing similar
Jewish Federation of manded to be happy, rejoice and situations. There has been lone-
Greater Portland not take life too seriously. We liness, guilt and despair. We
9900 SW Greenburg Road, used our sense of humor, the have had to realize and begin to
Suite 220 secret sauce that enabled us to accept that life has not worked
Tigard, OR 97223 be resilient and thrive through out the way we planned. We
503-245-6219 the centuries. have had to let go of dreams im-
JewishPortland.org Next up? Passover. This will possible to fulfill and formulate
be a much more serious holi- more realistic dreams we are
Editor day. We will retell our redemp- able to achieve. We have asked
tion from slavery. Moreover, difficult questions: What’s the
Rabbi Barry Cohen is the
Deborah Moon we are instructed to act and feel point? Has God abandoned us? Jewish community chaplain of
editor@jewishportland.org as if we ourselves are being re- Will I catch COVID-19? Will I, the Greater Portland area.
503-892-7404 (message) deemed from slavery. For more too, become deathly ill?
than a year, we have longed for In response to these emotions a sense of being a vital and nec-
Circulation redemption, as we have strug- and questions, we can be of essary part of the larger world.
To receive the Jewish gled with pandemic-related en- service to one another. As a We can relate all of these ideas
Review in your email inbox, slavement and plagues. result, we ourselves can benefit to the celebration of Passover,
email your name and email We have a valuable opportu- by making inner connections. the story of the birth of the
address to nity to make the most of these We can get more in tune with Jewish people. Every year,
editor@jewishportland.org days between Purim and Pass- what we feel. We can reassess we tell the story and teach the
over. I want to share some of our hopes, expectations and importance and necessity of
OPINIONS printed in the the lessons taught by Rabbi dreams. This will lead to a re- our connections with our com-
Jewish Review do not Mike Schultz from a recent discovery of meaning and pur- munity and with our God. We
necessarily reflect those “Benefits of Pastoral Care” pose. As a result, despite chal- emphasize the need to redefine
Zoom session. Schultz is the lenging circumstances, we can our identity from slavery to
of the Jewish Review head of spiritual care of the On-
Committee, the Jewish cology Unit of Rambam Medi- still grow and thrive. freedom. We recognize that we
Schultz taught that we also can heal from any trauma and
Federation of Greater cal Center in Haifa. can make connections with oth- rediscover meaning and pur-
Portland, its governing He taught that we have the pre- ers. Whether virtually or liter- pose. We regain faith.
board or the staffs of either cious opportunity to help one ally, we can be with the people Schultz emphasizes what we
the newspaper or the another navigate the plagues who are most meaningful to can achieve: greater calm, less
Federation. that have inflicted us: illness, us. There is power in knowing anxiety, an appreciation for
chronic disease, social isola- we can lean on others. There what we have and gratitude
Upcoming tion, unexpected crises, grief is no shame is recognizing our for a chance to use our inner
resources.
and the death of loved ones. weaknesses and seeking reas-
issues We do so not through conver- surance and encouragement During these precious days
sations, but through cultivating from others. There is strength between Purim and Passover,
quality experiences. We can in humility. may we fill our coffers with
Issue date Deadline talk less and listen more. We We can also make connections hope and with the possibility
can focus on what is not said. with something greater than of what will be. Inevitably, the
March 17 March 11 We can pay extra attention to ourselves. This can include re- storm will end, replaced by
body language and whether it ligious beliefs, ethical values or bright, safe and secure days.
March 31 March 25
Rabbi's Corner
April 14 April 8
In addition to the Chaplain's Corner, the Jewish Review offers space for a
April 28 April 22 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 by the Rabbis are invited to schedule a date to submit a 500- to 600-word piece. For
issue deadline to more information, email editor@jewishportland.org.
editor@jewishportland.org
12 Jewish Review March 3, 2021