At Work
Do you experience the sacred potential inherent in your work life? Here you'll find Jewish rituals, reflections, and insights that can help you to realize this potential while enhancing the meaning and spiritual significance of your work.
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Holding a Meeting
In the lot behind my house was a large, untended, bush. I f you crawled under the first set of branches, you would arrive in a fantastic cave-like area which we referred to as "the fort". What happened in the fort? Meetings. Many meetings in which we beat sticks on the dirt floor, ruthlessly deciding who was the leader and what we stood for and what we were going to do. At first it was only the boys. Then some of the girls were judged as being cool enough to be at the meetings. Eventually a girl (she was the fastest sprinter in the school and happened to be the Rabbi’s daughter) became the leader. Now I sit here and look around at the carpet and swivel chairs. We are all grown ups. It is not the same people, but it is the same meeting, and I’m trying to figure out how we can make it less ruthless.
Ritual:
Each meeting we hold, no matter what the agenda, is an opportunity for sacred encounter, provided we use our creativity, our generosity and our knowledge of Torah to guide us.
Set the ground rules for discussion:
1. Everyone here is created in God’s image. Allow time for everyone to speak.
Invite and encourage everyone’s participation.
2. We are part of a covenantal relationship. Listen carefully, respectfully and
sympathetically to what others are saying.
3. All these alternative Jewish views are the living words of the living God. Focus on
sharing your own views and experiences and work to gain insight from views other than your
own.
Teaching:
“Seven traits characterize learned people. Learned people do not begin speaking
before those who are older or wiser than they are; they do not interrupt when others
speak; they do not answer impetuously; they ask relevant questions and reply accurately;
they discuss first things first and last things lasts; they admit their ignorance; they
acknowledge the truth”
(Pirkei Avot 5:9)
Any disagreement which is in the name of Heaven will have lasting value.
(Pirkei Avot 5:19)
Hayom, im b’kolo tishma’u.
Today, if only you will listen to God’s voice.
(CLAL Faculty)
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