LARK, Yom Kippur, and paying it forward

From The Editor:

Through my interfaith activities, I have a dear Jewish friend - Av.  This morning, I have received this message and flyer from him through a mutual interfaith friend who is a Sikh, Aunty Jessiee Kaur Singh.

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Shalom to all, especially Rosa,

I felt it might be good if I sent out this reminder that Rosa's 3-days of LARK begin today, Friday, 20 July. the flier is again attached...

A Very Little LARK... G-d works in mysterious ways

I would like to share my LARK moment of yesterday... thought I would start a day early (but still share it today!)

• I found myself in a little family-owned cafe that I rarely frequent (2 staff, 3 when busy)... and the shop was having a busy moment.
• I ordered 2 coffees and a pastry for me and a friend, handing them a $20 note.
• I wasn't sure - but guessed the total bill would be maybe $14-16 - so I expected about $5 change
• The shop assistant handed me all 3 items, and some $12 change, which whilst carrying my shopping, I didn't count!
• I had already walked out the shop, when I looked at the change, and thought to myself
  • There seems to be too much change
  • I recalculated what I'd ordered - and was sure I'd received too much change!
  • I will be honest -  for a moment I tried to rationalise & tell myself "this is my lucky day!" & should I keep going down the street...?
  • Funds continue to be lacking in my life - I could buy 2 more coffees later...
  • At that moment, I remembered Rosa's LARK project...
• I went back into the shop and politely pointed out the situation
• Yes, they'd forgotten to charge me for the pastry, thanked me for being honest, and corrected the change
• I felt strongly the LARK message all around...
• Later on... I told this story at my usual cafe... and there the staff and I got immersed in a conversation about ethics... which got us discussing all manner of ways to be honest... debating scenarios like what if it happened in bigger shops like Coles... what if a vending machine overpaid... etc.
• I believe these other people will now spend their next few days thinking about honesty, ethics... and passing the conversation forward...

All because Rosa reminded us to be kind (and honest) especially on these days... Thank you!

The moral perhaps - We can "Pay It Forward"...  Even When We "Pay It Back"!

Shabbat Shalom, 

Tsom Kal (Fast Effectively - to those that fast this Saturday night/Sunday)

Avraham

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Postscript from The Editor:

Our Jewish friends have been  in the midst of Yom Kippur 

which explains the fasting reference in Av's greeting.

Ramadan Problems

That moment when emoji's become tempting in Ramadan. #RamadanProblems #Ramadan #ProjectRamadan #Emojis #WhatsApp pic.twitter.com/t0Q8LcROgU

— Project Ramadan (@Project_Ramadan) June 22, 2015

Ramadan Tips

If you ask, ask Allah; and if you seek help, seek the help of Allah. #RamadanTips

— Ramadan Tips (@RamadanTips) June 26, 2015

Interfaith Ramadan

Interfaith Ramadan: A Shared Vision of Inclusion and Co-Existence http://t.co/Ha0oyTHchL #IFRam2015 pic.twitter.com/qrhLN6jLny

— Interfaith Ramadan (@InterfaithRam) June 13, 2015

Ramadan in Palestine

#Ramadan in Alquds is different. #Palestine pic.twitter.com/zci764LX2i

— Abbas Sarsour (@iFalasteen) June 26, 2015

RAMADAN - Questions and Answers

A Christian shares in the practice of Ramadan ---------- Dave Andrews

Dave Andrews tells us about Ramadan
from the perspective of a Christian with Muslim friends. Many thx to Dave for his permission to publish his Facebook post below.

Dave Andrews

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My Reasons For Fasting As A Christian With Muslim Friends In Ramadan

I don’t know a lot, but let me tell you the little bit I have learnt about Ramadan over the last few years. Ramadan is the ninth month in the Islamic calendar. It is a period of prayer, fasting, reflection, solidarity, accountability and charity.

Fasting during Ramadan is one of the Five Pillars (religious duties) of Islam. It is a time of self-examination and increased religious devotion Fasting occurs during daylight but meals can be eaten when the sun is down. It is common to have a pre-fast meal (suhoor) before sunrise and an evening meal (iftar) after sunset during Ramadan. Groups of people, including the chronically ill, mentally challenged, and the elderly who cannot participate due to health reasons, are exempt from fasting.

Muslims are encouraged to read the Qur'an often during Ramadan. Some Muslims recite the entire Qur'an by the end of Ramadan through special prayers known as Tarawih, which are held in the mosques every night of the month, during which a section of the Qur'an is recited. I have one Muslim friend, MK, who knows the whole of the Qur’an by heart and can recite it all by himself.

Muhammad Nazreen says ‘Ramadan has created a stream consciousness for us to rethink the system. For instance, consumerism becomes a major hindrance for the development of the marginalised poor. Ramadan gives us chances to sober up on how the poor are mistreated by the inequalities of the economic system. During this fasting month, we are encouraged to give more and get less. Perhaps, this might be an implicit message that we can learn from Ramadan.’

Ramadan is a time for Muslims to remember the hungry as they go hungry and many Muslims donate to charity by participating in food drives for the poor, organizing a collection or charity event, and other voluntary activities. During Ramadan our friends from AMARAH (Australian Muslim Advocates for the Rights of All Humanity) join us in our community meals with the ‘marginalised poor’.

The Oxford University Islamic academic, Tariq Ramadan, says: ‘Human beings must undertake the fast in a spirit of seeking nearness to the Unique, of equality and nobility among their fellows, women and men alike, and in solidarity with the downtrodden. The core of life thus rediscovered is this: to return to our hearts, to reform ourselves in the light of what is essential, and celebrate life in solidarity.’

I may not always fast during Ramadan, but I have wanted to fast and pray as a Christian with my Muslim friends during Ramadan in the last few years because it's a joy to fast and pray with friends, we remind ourselves once again of the priority of loving God and loving our neighbor, we demonstrate our solidarity as brothers and sisters in the Abrahamic families of faith, we reflect on the cruel limitations and contradictions of the consumerist capitalist system we inhabit and we remember the plight of the ‘marginalised poor’ being forced to go without food involuntarily whom we are called to serve.

YOM KIPPUR - the Day of Atonement

As I write this, my Jewish friends in Melbourne and Brisbane are having a meal before the fast of Yom Kippur begins. 

Last week there was Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, which marks the entry to what is commonly known as the High Holy days.  This ten day period is known as the Days of Awe. This is a time for serious introspection, a time to consider the sins of the previous year and repent before Yom Kippur.

Fasting on Shabbat (the Sabbath - Saturday) is not usual.  In the Jewish calendar there are six fasts. If any one of them (apart fromYom Kippur) falls out on Shabbat, Shabbat takes precedence and there is no fasting on that day. The fast is usually pushed off until Sunday (or in one instance -- the Fast of Esther -- it is observed on the Thursday beforehand, because the day after Shabbat, Sunday, will be Purim).

The one exception to this rule is Yom Kippur, when we fast even if it is Shabbat, as it is a biblical fast, and the Torah calls it "Shabbat Shabbaton" - the Shabbat of Shabbats (in English, the Sabbath of Sabbaths) implying that it takes precedence over Shabbat.

 "Tsom Kal" (have an easy fast) 

or, if you prefer,

 "Tsom Mo'iil" (have a  benefitting fast)

See also 

Jewish Greetings

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosh_Hashanah

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yom_Kippur#Rosh_Hashanah_and_Yom_Kippur

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yom_Kippur

....and after all this,

next week there is Sukkot.

I will be celebrating this at East Melbourne Synagogue.

Picture from here