The second chamber represents our relationship to other people: It is about our relationships with friends, colleagues, children, spouse, partner, family, and even strangers. How do we bring out the best in ourselves when relating to others? How do we bring out the best in them? How do we create a healthy and sustainable relationship? How do we overcome being too judgmental? How do you truly love others?
The third chamber represents our relationship to God. Some of us call this higher power simply “God,” while others use names such as “The Creator” or “Nature” or “The Source of all Beings.” Without getting into the religiosity of the matter or each person’s level of observance, how do we perceive our being in relationship to something bigger than us? Do we remain true to ourselves at all times and represent our values as human beings operating under a higher sovereignty, even when doing so might be challenging? This chamber is about love, commitment, and seeking guidance from a higher power. It is about the concept of faith. How would you define faith within the context of your life?
I view faith as believing in something without proof, without being able to see it. A “leap of faith” is exactly that—leaping into the unknown. When we go to bed at night, we have faith that the night will end and morning will arrive as it has every other day. When we say “See you at five,” we make an assumption that we will arrive at the desired location at five o’clock. There are many things in life we believe in, even without proof. The third chamber is all about feeling that faith and trusting that some things are not meant to be seen but, nonetheless, they still exist. For me, that faith is a belief in God.
As a Jewish person, I have chosen the fourth chamber to represent those events in our life that define us, such as the birth of our children, a marriage, a Bar Mitzvah, and even graduation. In addition, I also include here our relationship as Jews to Jewish life events, Israel, and being part of the Jewish people. How do these events cultivate our actions moving forward and how do they define us? How do we cultivate a love and connection to the “Jewish tribe”? How do we continue to foster a connection with Israel in modern times when anti-Semitism and criticism of the Jewish homeland is prevalent in many corners of the world?
Within each of the four chambers of this book, you will find several entries. You have read how I transformed my uplifting videos, created for my sister (and, really, for everyone), into many of the entries within these pages. The topic of each entry is relevant to the specific chambers that form Moments of the Heart.
I first introduce the topic as it relates to Jewish thought and practice. I utilize my Hebrew knowledge to dig deep and explore the concept further. Sometimes I use a word play and explain the root of a Hebrew word. At the end of each entry, I offer a Lev Moment opportunity where I give you tools (in the form of questions and suggested actions) to further explore your own experiences and thoughts. This is your opportunity to reflect on the entry in a deep and meaningful way to you and journal your responses if you feel this would benefit you. In this section you will also have the opportunity to practice new actions. Learning by doing has proven itself useful endless times. These Lev Moments are an invitation for spiritual growth. Exploring the Lev Moments in a pace that is suitable to you may benefit you in seeing and witnessing your spiritual growth.
Below are questions to consider relating to each of the four chambers.
Chamber One—Relationship to Self
How do we take care of ourselves? How do we guard our spirit so we remain kind and grateful? What are some of the ways you love yourself? For me, it is about the small act of giving or of some kindness I can do for others that makes me feel good about myself and therefore causes me to like myself more.
Chamber Two—Relationships with Others
How do you cultivate these relationships? In the age of cell phones, internet, texting, Facebook posting, may I dare suggest the small act of picking up the telephone and calling a person to see how they are doing? I think our society is bombarded with so much amazing technology that we may, at times, forget to reach out on a human level and talk voice-to-voice with another person or meet for a coffee face-to-face.
Chamber Three—Relationship with God
Do you believe there is a source of energy/influence/goodness that is beyond human interaction? Do you have a name for it? Is it Creator? Or is it God? What is your relationship with this entity? Do you pray? Do you feel that God listens to you? Do you feel that there is a power beyond the us and the now? Why do you feel the way you feel?
Chamber Four—Relationship with Israel and Jewish Life Events
Have you visited Israel? How do you cultivate the relationship you have with Israel? How does it feel when you hear of anti-Semitic behaviors or actions? Are you proud of your Judaism? How do you show this? What are the events in your life you believe define who you are today? Was it the birth of your children? Your wedding? Your graduation? Have you attended a Brit Milah? Bar or Bat Mitzvah? Graduation ceremony? Wedding? Funeral? What wisdom can you share from your life experiences with those who are in the crossroads of these important junctions?
I hope this book will be a source of inspiration to you, and I hope it reaches your heart—m’lev el lev
Dorice surprising her sister for her thirty-ninth birthday in Israel in February of 2015.
Chamber One
RELATIONSHIP TO SELF
What’s in a Name?
The second book of the Torah, Exodus, starts with a portion called shemot, which means “names.” The Exodus story begins with the naming of all the people who went down to Egypt. Why is this important? Why do I want or need to know all these names? After all, they mean nothing to me. But, as I reflect further on the power of our names, I recall Midrash Tanchuma, Vayakhel where our rabbis taught:
“There are three names by which a person is called: the name our parents call us, i.e., the name we are born with; the name people call us; and the name we earn for ourselves. The name one makes for himself is the best one of all.”1
Do you have three names? Why did your parents give you your name? What do you do to make your name what it is? How do we live up to the name our parents gave us? Often, we are named after a person or a quality our parents want us to emulate. Have we done it? Do you feel proud of your name? Are there occasions where we are called names by others? Do you know what others call you? Do you agree with this name? Most importantly, how does one earn their own name?
In my Israeli military service, I was privileged to serve as an officer in a basic training boot camp. The