Blessings
The Miller family is uniquely blessed this Hanukkah (Christmas, Kwanza and Festivus for the not Jewish among my readers.)
A couple of weeks earlier than we anticipated, my daughter brought our fourth grandchild, Theodore Brook Gore into the world. Everyone is happy and healthy and joyously adjusting to this new life invasion into our already happy family. His parents are managing competently and admirably the tasks that infants impose upon their families.
Let me assure you, he is adorable. We haven’t quite figured out what to call him. Theo, Ted, Teddy—brother Judah named him Calcus. Don’t ask. Two-year-olds have reasons of their own that are not quite comprehensible to the grown up world. We’ll see what sticks.
Here are a couple of life lessons that Theo, Ted, Teddy, Calcus brought home.
Jewish liturgy daily reminds us to recount daily blessings. These we take for granted. And along comes a sweet little boy, 7 pounds fully human. He has his fingers and toes and ears and legs and arms and spleen and heart and liver, two kidneys, eyes, brain, and the desire he doesn’t even realize to suck milk and live and grow. One moment he is in my daughter’s womb. A minute later, there he is in the outside world, his new home. This is a miracle. And each human being that has ever come into being shares the same miracle story. Life and the bodies created for us are everyday miracles. Here is Theo, Ted, Teddy, Calcus with his beautiful family on his first evening home.
Ben, Judah, Theo-Ted-Teddy-Calcus, Alana
The second miracle is the nature of love itself. Before my fourth grandchild was born, my heart was full. I am blessed with an already lovely family and lovewise, I was in want of nothing. Suddenly, this little baby (you can weigh in what you want to call him) has invaded our family and our love has increased infinitely.
And catch this: It’s not as though I love my wife, children, and grandchildren any less. Love expands. It does not crowd out other loves or impinge on their quantity or our quality of affection and devotion. Theo, Ted, Teddy, Calcus—he has added infinitely and subtracted nothing.
If we believe that God is love (among other things), then God can love us each infinitely without any single person being diminished because God loves that person along with us. I couldn’t have made that up.
In the morning liturgy, Jews recite Ahava rabbah before the Sh’ma. It starts with these words:
You have loved us with an abundant love, our Eternal God, and with a great and superabundant compassion have You had compassion upon us.
Love is great. It grows infinitely and never diminishes. That is something that God will teach my grandson as his parents and family raise him towards a life of goodness in deeds and compassion for all living things.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------————————————————————
Speaking of blessings:
I am exceptionally pleased to share this list of charities that you, my readers, sent me. The world is better because of you. This list is not curated or organized by any principle, and the charities listed here appear the way I cut and pasted from your emails to me. The charities listed here are Jewish, Christian and of no faith. They impact life and lives in Alabama, Washington, DC, Israel, England and Kenya. Read through the list below and see where yours is listed. And if anything captures your fancy, by all means click on the website and drop your credit card number. You will be happy. So will your accountant.
Collat Jewish Family Services enables aging-in-place, supports mental health and wellness, and provides connections in Birmingham, Alabama. Because we are a Jewish organization living out Jewish values, we serve all people, regardless of faith or financial circumstances.
Bok Tower Gardens offers a peaceful space to be at one with nature and appreciate God’s beautiful creations.
https://boktowergardens.org/donate/
I make a small donation to DC Diaper Bank every time something good happens. It just feels so good- it can be a phone call from an old friend, a compliment from someone- anything unexpected!!
October 7 left me feeling very helpless. Below is one of the charities (rebuilding Kibbutz Nir Oz) that makes me feel a little better. I just added a bit. Thanks for the inspiration.
https://my.givingtech.org/en/fundme/kibbutzniroz
A check is in the mail: $1,000 for the Rabbi Jonathan Miller Enduring Legacy Fund. The people of Temple Emanu-El, Birmingham, many no longer with us, gave me the gift of Judaism, for which I am forever grateful and hold steadfast. I think especially of Nina and Norman Cohen
Rabbi Grafman Endowment Fund Leadership – Temple Emanu-El
The Tali Fund supports the Talia Agler Girls Shelter (TAGS) in Nairobi, Kenya. Named for the late Talia Faith Agler, the Shelter provides support, education, counseling and healing for girls and young women who have been abused, trafficked, raped, exploited, etc. Its leader was recently feted by the US Department of State for its work in counter-trafficking.
About Tali Fund | TaliFund.org | RichardAgler.com
Anti-Defamation League: To stop the defamation of the Jewish people and to secure justice and fair treatment to all.
Friends of the IDF (FIDF) is a non-political, non-military organization that works closely with the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to provide for the well-being of its soldiers, veterans, and family members.
My daughter’s very good friend has just been admitted there (North London Hospice) and this has hit my daughter hard. Whereas before, death was something that only happened to elderly people, now it affects her age group. There are no words to describe the staff’s dedication and that is why I am donating.
North London Hospice - North London Hospice
The mission of the Cooperative Downtown Ministries, Inc. (Firehouse Shelter) is to provide Birmingham men experiencing homelessness a nurturing environment, supportive services, and transformative possibilities.
Firehouse Ministries Homeless Shelter in Birmingham AL
Good Neighbors Capitol Hill (GNCH): Through Hill Havurah (Washington, DC), and 7 other religious congregations just helped settle our 144th immigrant family. They entered the US legally, and are referred by LSSS, IRC or HIAS. GNCH provides furnishings, pots, pans, dishes, linens, personal and cleaning supplies and 2 weeks of food.
https://www.goodneighborscapitolhill.org/donate-to-good-neighbors-capitol-hill.html
I’ve supported Doctors Without Borders for about 15 years because they are a non-political humanitarian organization that provides medical teams all over the world. They currently have teams in over 70 countries the provider emergency medical aid, vaccinations and care regardless of race, religion or political affiliation.
I donate to Backyard Blessing. They feed over 800 children in Walker County, Alabama. The less fortunate children are given bags of food and beverage to last them over the weekend, otherwise they would go hungry. They also feed the children during school breaks.
https://app.aplos.com/aws/give/BackyardBlessings/
Tomorrow’s Women is a 20-year-old program that brings 16-year-old girls Israeli and Palestinian to Santa Fe for three weeks of dialogue in a peaceful remote location where they learn compassionate listening and authentic speaking (learning that an enemy is someone whose story you have not heard) before going back to the Middle East for a year or more of leadership training.
The New York Police Department's Shomrim Society is a 100 year-old non-profit fraternal organization supporting Jewish members of the NYPD with programs and services including scholarships, charitable events, and cemetery grounds.
I’m making a donation this month to the Stiff Persons Syndrome Research Foundation in honor of my friend, --- who is afflicted with this awful disease!
The Israel Guide Dog Center is dedicated to improving the lives of visually impaired Israelis through the faithful assistance of a guide dog. Our amazing dogs provide mobility, independence, and self-confidence to clients in need.
https://www.israelguidedog.org/
UMCOR is the disaster relief agency of the United Methodist Church that delivers manpower and resources to victims of natural disasters and some human created disasters. Hurricanes, tornadoes, famine, droughts, fires, earthquakes, UMCOR is there.
Global Ministries - UMCOR US Disaster Response and Recovery
The Presbyterian Home for Children, located in Talladega, AL is an institution that was founded in the wake of the Civil War to help provide housing for orphans in 1868 and continues in their mission even to this day. I am especially glad to help in light of their newer programs, particularly "Family Bridges" which helps families navigate the challenges of marriage, children and work, with an emphasis on reunification and preservation of the family unit.
Founded in 1931, Jewish Braille Institute provides people of all ages and backgrounds living with blindness, low vision, or print disability access to a vast circulating library, liturgical texts, customized materials, and cultural offerings, enabling connection to the rich literary, cultural, and religious life of the Jewish community.
We make a contribution to Planned Parenthood. That is part of our Thanksgiving ritual started by our grandson, ---, many years ago.
Planned Parenthood | Official Site
I chose M-Power ministry because the work they do is truly life changing for the participants.
M-POWER Ministries | Give to M-POWER
I made a nice contribution to Indian Springs School last week. The students who are awarded scholarships for summer study all over the world in memory of my son thrill me.
Support Indian Springs School | Birmingham, AL
Canine Companions is the largest and oldest mobility service dog provider in the country. It provides hundreds of expertly trained service dogs for free that make a huge difference in the lives of people with physical disabilities, PTSD and veterans. It's also a disability rights organization that puts people first and only uses dogs to get to that goal.
United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) does whatever it takes to deliver lifesaving food to children and families most in need, wherever they are in the world by distributing staples during emergencies, providing meals in schools, and delivering food vouchers.
Support us | World Food Programme
Maranathan Academy is a nonprofit private school for critically at-risk youth. I’ve been a volunteer teacher of creative writing there for 6 years.
https://www.maranathanacademy.com/
Tunnel for Towers builds homes for servicemen and their families who have fallen in the line of service, giving their bodies and sometimes their lives to protect us at home. This includes fireman, police, military, and others. I am a volunteer fireman, so this cause really hits home for me!
ImpactIsrael partners with Yemin Orde Youth Village and Village Way Educational Initiatives to turn Israel's most vulnerable youth into upstanding individuals through the power of education. Through the innovative and data-proven Village Way methodology, we are creating a stronger nation.
The Alabama Holocaust Education Center shares stories lessons that give us direction and hope for better outcomes as we navigate this slippery slope of rising antisemitism and threats to mankind everywhere. The Center has evolved into a state-of-the-art educational facility with a small but mighty crew positioned to do more and impact more people than ever. We owe it to all who perished in the Holocaust, and all who survived with little but their lives - to build a world that honors the sacredness of life with the many tools we have at the AHEC.
SOME provides material aid and comfort to our vulnerable neighbors in the District, helping them break the cycle of poverty and homelessness through programs and services that save lives, improve lives, and help transform lives of individuals and families, their communities, and the systems and structures that affect them.
Donate - SOME (So Others Might Eat)
Greater Birmingham Ministries (GBM) was founded in 1969 in response to urgent human and justice needs in the greater Birmingham area. GBM is a multi-faith, multi-racial organization that provides emergency services for people in need and engages the poor and the non-poor in systemic change efforts to build a strong, supportive, engaged community and pursue a more just society for all people.
2024 End of the Year Fundraising Campaign | Greater Birmingham Ministries
The GBM Prayer
This prayer was developed by our Faith in Community workgroup to give voice to GBM’s mission through an interfaith lens:
“O God of many names, remind us that You love all people, no matter how hard we try to deny that love in our thoughts, words, and deeds.
Renew our hearts, our souls, and our bodies so that we may serve people more fully.
Give us strength to stand with those who struggle, wisdom to see needs clearly, and courage to pursue justice.
Grant us compassion so that we may open our arms, our minds, and our hearts to build a community for all.
Amen.“