There's Still Time

By Rabbi Jerome M. Epstein

Rabbi Akiva was extraordinary. Not because of who he was -- but because of who he became. He was not a child scholar. An unassuming shepherd until the age of 40, he had never studied. In fact he could not read.

One day, while standing near a well at Lod, he noticed a hollowed-out stone and asked, "How did this happen?" He was told, "Akiva, water falling upon a stone, day after day, from a well wears it away and can create a hole.

At that instant, Akiva asked himself, "Is my mind harder than the stone? I can go and study at least one section of the Torah." He went directly to the schoolhouse and began to learn. And he continued studying until he learned the entire Torah.

Now Akiva did not accomplish this without help. His family and teachers inspired and encouraged him during the 12 years in which he became a knowledgeable and learned Jew.

We learn an important lesson from the experience of Rabbi Akiva. We are who we are at the present moment; but -- if we are truly committed and have the support of others -- it is never too late to grow toward our potential.

As we reflect on our lives, we realize that there is much more we could have done. Still, this is not the time for regret -- it is the time for growth. For us, as for Rabbi Akiva, it is never too late.

God did not complete the world as a perfected creation in seven days. Rather, He created the framework and challenged humanity to make it our home. As Conservative Jews, we are expected to be God's partner in the continuous process of creation.

If we are receptive to its message,our congregation can serve as a model of how we can contribute to the world. The synagogue can inspire us to make a difference. Since we may not be accustomed to committing personal time, this will require us to change our lives. But we must begin at once.

For example, we know that we are commanded to give tzedakah. Nevertheless, we may not be accustomed to giving our "fair share". It is time to take a closer look at our patterns of giving. Similarly, we must internalize the knowledge that hunger and illiteracy, homelessness and loneliness will only be eradicated through the gift of our personal effort. It is never too late to reorient our priorities.

As Jews, we are privileged to share personal intimacies with God -- we do not require an intermediary. Our challenge is to open our hearts; to express our feelings, hopes and pains and to express our gratitude for the bounty we enjoy. We share our lives with God through regular prayer. If you are not yet enjoying the spiritual intimacy that prayer can provide, your synagogue is committed to serve as your guide and mentor. It is never too late to grow.

Behaviors determined by the life cycle as well as by the Jewish calendar can enrich our lives. We know that these mitzvot are God's gift to help us reach our potential. But if Shabbat and yom tov observance, kashrut and other mitzvot are not currently a part of our life, it is hard to begin. Without a commitment to live a full Jewish life, it is difficult to grow. As your coach and mentor, your synagogue accepts the challenge of stimulating and supporting your religious development. It may be hard to reach our potential, but it is never too late.

Learning is a lifelong imperative. The study of Jewish texts and sources provides guidance for daily living and spiritual growth. The synagogue can be your teacher in your quest for knowledge. What counts is not only what you know, but what you study. The Conservative Movement is committed to your individual growth as a Jew. Last year, many Conservative Jews began to study the core of Jewish life, the Tanakh, by committing to read a chapter of the Jewish Bible each day. You may not have joined us, but you can grow with us now. As we learn from Rabbi Akiva, it is never too late.

Most of us are creatures of habit, living each year without giving careful consideration to the acts we perform or the choices we make. Thus, we rarely leave ourselves open to new opportunities, challenges or experiences. It is time to begin adding important new activities. Read through the list on this page and see if there are any new patterns of behavior you might want to adopt in the new year.

To-Do List

1. Re-examine the tzedakah I gave last year: Did my giving pattern reflect my priorities? Seek out someone I respect and have a dialogue about new or different tzedakah patterns I might consider.
2. Select an activity that I can do with others to enrich the world or its inhabitants.
3. God gave us mitzvot to enrich our lives. Select three new mitzvot to incorporate into my life this year. Find a "mentor" to serve as my guide.
4. Prayer is the way we communicate with God. Make a commitment to recite a prayer before and after each meal. Make a commitment to pray in the synagogue, at least once each week.
5. Through studying God's word, God communicates with us. Select something I want to learn, that will make a difference is my life. Ask my congregational leadership to help me learn it.

Remember: It's not too late to change!