Hammer Time... Long Live the Maccabees... the 5th Night

Rabbi Rick's Reading List

Edward Kritzler: Jewish Pirates of the Caribbean: How a Generation of Swashbuckling Jews Carved Out an Empire in the New World in Their Quest for Treasure, Religious Freedom--and Revenge
This one's been sitting on my pile of books for months waiting for a window of opportunity to pick it up and read. I'm a few chapters in already and it's not disappointing. The non-fictional account reads smoothly and while the author gives plenty of warning that there is significant speculation involved in the scholarship, his conclusions are plausible. Jewish pirates? I just want to know what there mothers thought.
Benyamin Cohen: My Jesus Year: A Rabbi's Son Wanders the Bible Belt in Search of His Own Faith
Our most recent book club selection... a great read, humorous, fascinating and thought provoking as the author challenges his traditional Jewish upbringing as he searches for meaning in Judaism through the lens of Christianity... and some off the beaten path Christian practices at that. Well worth the read.
Adin Steinsaltz: The Thirteen Petalled Rose: A Discourse On The Essence Of Jewish Existence And Belief
My rabbi growing up used to love quoting Adin Steinsaltz. We thought he just liked the name, but it turns out the Steinsaltz is one of the great teachers of traditional Judaism in today's world and he does so from the perspective of deep devotion. This early Steinsaltz tome explains Jewish mysticism by someone steeped in Jewish tradition.
Simkha Weintraub, editor: Healing of Soul, Healing of Body: Spiritual Leaders Unfold the Strength & Solace in Psalms
A fascinating look at Rebbe Nachman of Bratzlav's prescription of 10 psalms employed for healing. We offer Mi Shebeirach prayers of healing for those in need but there are other traditional passages used for providing comfort. The Psalms have long been considered a source of strength. This work explores the particular psalms offered by the Bratzlaver rebbe as a complete course of treatment for ailments.
Maggie Anton: Rashi's Daughters, Book III: Rachel: A Novel of Love and the Talmud in Medieval France
The last of the trilogy. A good read and window into the world of Jewish life in Medieval France. Maggie Anton knows her subject inside and out and does justice to the subject matter. It's historical fiction done well. For those familiar with Talmud and the world of Jewish folklore, the novel is especially rich, but apparently still engaging if you're a novice in those areas.
Benjamin Nugent: American Nerd: The Story of My People
We chose this for our book group because the author is coming to speak at Beth Emek, the evening of November 15th. Nugent examines the 'nerd' and how they got that way. Living in a lab city, it's impossible to read this work without looking around seeing some of the personalities he describes.
Edward K. Kaplan: Spiritual Radical: Abraham Joshua Heschel in America, 1940-1972
This fascinating volume chronicles the life of Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel through his years in America. One of the great modern theologians, Heschel also contributed actively to the Civil Rights Movement.
Geraldine Brooks: People of the Book
Our last Beth Emek Book Group selection. It's a historical novel inspired by the Sarajevo Haggadah. I enjoyed reading it and recommend it highly. It's also a good book leading into the upcoming festival of Passover with it revolving around a historic Passover Haggadah. Enjoy!
John Steinbeck: East of Eden
The Reform movement's reading list has featured this epic novel by California's own John Steinbeck since the list's inception. We're now reading it for the Beth Emek Book Group.
Robert Bly: Iron John: A Book About Men
I've been rereading Iron John in preparation for the Men's Retreat I'm putting together for the beginning of December. Much time has passed since the book first appeared, but it still speaks well to today's men, many of whom are still trying to figure out what it means to be a man in today's world.

Rabbi Rick's Music List

Dan Nichols & e18teen: My Heart is in the East
I was looking for some music to get me into the proper mood for Yom Kippur. I chose this one because the song Or Zarua appears at the beginning of the Erev Yom Kippur service, and then the following song, Kehilla Kedosha quotes the Torah portion from the next morning's service. The album is soulful and ethereal and perfect for my High Holyday preparation. Thanks Dan!
Rabbi Joe Black: Aleph Bet Boogie
This is good music for kids. The kind of music that adult can enjoy listening to with their kids and not being reduced to infantile babbling.
Rabbi Joe Black: Sabbatical
Rabbi Black is a talented musician and thoughtful songwriter and we're blessed to have him come and play in our sukkah this year!
Julie Silver: It's Chanukah Time
Julie is one of my absolute favorite Jewish artists. Her voice is beautiful and sweet. She is a talented musician who writes consistently pleasant music. This album is a must in your Chanukah music collection!
Matisyahu: Youth
The latest by reggae/rap artist Matisyahu. If you're into reggae or rap you should check this out. It's certainly unique.
Mah Tovu: Only This
One of my favorite Jewish albums
The LeeVees: Hanukkah Rocks
The most fun Chanukah album I've listed to in a long time.
Matisyahu: Live at Stubb's
A combination of Reggae and Hip Hop from a practitioner of Chabad Judaism - need I say more!
Shehecheyanu
Beignet Yisrael: Four Jewish Doughnuts in New Orleans
A fun group of two cantors, a cantorial soloist and a rabbi from New Orleans. I hope there will be good reasons to sing Shehecheyanu in New Orleans soon.
When the Saints Go Marchin' In
Preservation Hall Jazz Band: Best of
On the wall in Preservation Hall is a sign that gives the cost of requests: $1 for Traditional songs, $2 for others and $5 for 'Saints.' Not because it's a bad song, quite the opposite. It's the most requested, classic Dixieland piece. I hope the sign is still there right now.

Long before Stanley Burrell donned the name ‘Hammer’ and told us ‘U Can’t Touch This,’ a bunch of religious warriors took on the name and took on the overwhelming Greek forces to achieve religious freedom.

Mattathias challenged the Greeks and, with his sons, led by Judah, took up the fight against the Hellenization of the Israelites. Judah and his band became known as the Maccabees, a name which likely meant ‘hammer,’ and reflected the tough and tenacious nature of the rebel warriors.

The story of the Maccabees closed over 2100 years ago… or did it?

We continue to battle with the influences of foreign culture and today it’s all the more challenging as the boundaries have become so permeable. Like the ancient Maccabees, we strive to maintain our identity and, thanks to the ancient Maccabees, we have some additional choices…

I’ve observed many people in ethnic restaurants choosing beverages indigenous to the ethnic culture… Kirin, Tsingtao, Corona, Stella. It appears that the Maccabees returned to give us our own ethnic lager… Maccabee beer.

Of course, many people enjoy such a beverage after a workout. One of the Maccabees’ original sources of contention was the, shall we say, gym memberships in the Greek empire and their proclivity to workout sans uniforms. This was not in keeping with traditional Jewish rules of modesty. Again, the Maccabees have returned to offer an acceptable alternative. Today the Maccabiah Games bring Jewish athletes from all over the world to Israel to compete in a wide variety of athletic events... and the uniforms are generally tasteful and appropriately modest.

The Maccabee name continues to compete victoriously as the Israeli champion franchises in both basketball and soccer… Maccabi Tel Aviv.

Continuing the theme...

One of the most fun Chanukah music videos in recent years comes to us from a group called the Maccabeats:

Season of Giving

And if you'd like to support the continuing heroics of today's Maccabees, the athletes of Maccabi USA always can use financial assistance in preparing for competition. Check out and support Maccabi USA

Comments

If they ever run out of equipment for the discus throw, they can always use my potato latkes. They could probably knock over a tank.

Posted by: Sarah Stegall | December 24, 2011 at 04:07 PM

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