Keeping warm

In the early 1980s, Blu Greenberg, an American writer specializing in modern Judaism and women’s issues, published a book titled On Women and Judaism: A View from Tradition. This book became the basis of much of thinking around enhancing the role of women in the communal spheres that had been, and still are, largely dominated by men. Ms. Greenberg came to Dallas on a book tour, and I was thrilled to have the chance to go and listen to her speak.

Shortly before the talk began, I went to use the restroom. As I was washing my hands, I heard a small voice from one of the stalls saying “can you help me? The door seems to be stuck.” With both of us pushing, we managed to open the door, and much to my surprise I was standing face to face with Blu Greenberg. Never have I been nor ever am I likely to be given the opportunity to help someone I so admire! I have continued to hold that image with me over the years as I have had the honor of meeting and hearing her speak many times. Unfortunately, I also had the opportunity to visit her after the untimely and tragic death of her 36-year-old son in a bicycle accident in 2002.

On the Jewish calendar, today is Tisha b’Av, the 9^th day of the month of Av. Many calamitous events in Jewish history have occurred on this date, which is observed as a day of fasting and prayer. The book of Lamentations is read, along with Kinot (elegies). When we left the house to go to synagogue last evening, it was still quite warm out, and, not thinking about the possibility of too much air conditioning, I had not brought a sweater. After about a half hour I was simply frozen, and I left the sanctuary just to walk outside a bit. On my way, I saw Blu Greenberg, alone in the lobby. She asked if I was alright (a question that people often ask either because of the oxygen or because I am still a bit unsteady on my feet), and I said I was fine but frozen. Her problem was that she was wearing sandals and her feet were cold. She then said to me that there were a bunch of jackets and sweaters that had been left behind in the coat room, and despite my insistence that she needn’t worry about me, she she took it upon herself to look through the items hanging on the rack and found a sweater I could wear. I took the sweater and went back to the sanctuary for the remainder of the service.

No amount of reading lamentations can teach a lesson more eloquently than I learned from Blu last night. We have the power to make our lives better if we just stop and notice the people around us and reach out to help when help is needed. It seems such a simple lesson, something we certainly all have learned. But like so many good habits, we tend to become lax and stop noticing. Here is a person who is well known, creative, and surely has more important things to think about than my being cold. But there she was, continuing in every way to add not only a figurative but a very real touch of warmth to my life.

Love,

Rebecca