When we say berachot on the foods we eat we can, similarly, use that opportunity to contemplate the beauty that is within creation or we can squander that existential experience by merely mumbling the words before taking a bite. Religion is something that can build us up to the highest heights or can act as a burden that weighs us down.
Many of us, unfortunately, have never graduated to a higher level of Jewish practice than we had in grade school. As youngsters we were taught to pray, wash our hands before eating bread, tie our shoes in a certain order etc… but we never developed those ideas during adulthood. Whereas we, as adults, may understand mathematical theory with greater clarity, quantum mechanics with greater depth, and the arts with greater appreciation, we rarely give much thought to how we perform the mitzvot we execute on a daily basis. What kavanah do I have when I pray? Why must I dress the way that I do? How can I reconcile my secular life with my religious life? These are just a sampling of questions that – if asked – would lead to a more fulfilling lifestyle.
Imagine a person who, every day, drives to work through traffic and construction while there is an empty freeway that goes directly to his office. The frustration that he feels each morning while sitting in traffic can be easily remedied by taking an alternate route. We can accomplish the same by simply taking a step backwards and thinking, really thinking, not just about what we do, but how and why we perform the mitzvot, what they mean to us and how we can make them more meaningful for our lives.
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Congregation Ahavath Achim is Portland’s Sephardic Synagogue. It has served the Sephardic community for close to 100 years by providing religious services, social and cultural events, and educational opportunities for its members.
Portland is home to a number of synagogues, Jewish day schools, a kollel, and many other Jewish organizations. The Jewish community has a warm, “out-of-town” feel where visitors are welcomed and newcomers feel right at home. From Portland you are an hour away from the beach in one direction and skiing on Mt. Hood in the other. For the outdoorsman to the artist and everyone in between, Portland has something to offer. The only thing that you must be careful of is that once you visit, you may not want to leave.
State Capital: Salem
State Nickname: The Beaver State
State Motto: She flies with her own wings
State Flower: Oregon Grape
State Bird: Western Meadowlark
First Shul: Congregation Beth Israel (Portland) founded in 1858
Basketball Team: Portand Trailblazers
