The Message, Volume 9, Number 39, July 1982 Page: 4 of 4
[4] p. : ill. ; 28 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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SUMMER SPECIALS
VALEDICTORY ADDRESS DELIVERED AT
CONFIRMATION MAY 28, 1982
THE VIEW FROM OUR EYES
BY: Lori Lesser and Denise Rashti
KIPOT, WHERE ARE YOU?
Have you noticed overflowing drawers in your home, or
book shelves straining under the weight of extra books? If
you happen to have some of our Kipot (yarmulkes), or books
from our school or library, we would appreciate it if you
would return them at your earliest convenience.
stated, “The fault lies not in our stars but in ourselves if we
are underlings.” Hillel emphasized that we must respect
ourselves and others to be happy, while Cassius supports that
this will not just happen, unless we stand up and make it
happen.
We realize that as we stand here in the midst of luxuries,
both material and intangible, not everyone is so blessed. We
know that as we stand here, there are those who not only
hunger for bread, but also yearn for love — something that
we would like to see exist more in our world. The word love
is overused today, and so its meaning is taken for granted.
Think about how many times you say you “love” a car, shoes,
hair, a TV program, or a story. If only we all could save up
love and give it to people we see need it. Sometimes the best
way to show love is to give it when it is most desperately
needed, such as a pat on the back or a shoulder on which to
cry, or helping a friend in turmoil. We are thankful we have
been blessed with most important luxuries: parents who care,
friends we trust, and relatives to whom we feel close. We also
have Rabbis we respect and from whom we learn. We realize
that not everyone is this fortunate and if called upon, we hope
we shall be there to help people and extend a hand to those
individuals in need as we go through life.
So in peace, love, and true maturity, we see the beginning
and the end. The end of war, famine, emotional pain, and
trivial dilemmas, and the beginning of a more harmonious
world for us and our future children to enjoy.
Tonight, we, the members of Beth Yeshurun 1982 Con-
firmation Class are expressing that we care about something
other than the usual teen concerns: the opposite sex, the high-
est fashions, and the latest cars. All of us have heard the
thoughts of what the world is like from the mouths of con-
gressmen, evangelists, statesmen, generals, and parents. We,
however, want to express our views on what we would like
the world to be.
The world today needs peace. Although everyone agrees
on this fact, no one knows how to achieve it. As teenagers who
will soon have to register for the draft, the subject of war and
peace is a main concern for us. Countries should concentrate
on improving the quality of life for their people rather than
seeking power through violence. Even a small country can
be happy if its inhabitants learn how to share. People need
to realize that all people around the world have the same
basic needs and wants. No one seems to notice that as people
we are all on the same team. Perhaps we need to be stranded
in a jungle or be invaded by another planet for us to realize
we are all in the same boat simply because we are humans.
We should consider that inhabitants of other countries want
the same things we do: families, love, and security, rather
than listening to a ruler who may not voice the same thoughts.
People should make sunshine in their corner of the earth,
not make war.
Along with this peace, the world also needs more matur-
ity. Some people think this comes automatically with age.
However, some teenagers can tell what is valuable in life
now, while some adults never truly grow up. Rather than
running to keep up with the Joneses, we hope we can grow
up to see our own personal values and respect those of others.
Rather than disregarding individual opinionsand squabbling
over such issues such as when life begins or which country
owns what, we should channel that time and energy to curing
diseases and truly caring for people. At our age, we see clear-
ly that we would rather eliminate pain and disease than win
at a dear cost a trivial prize that no one person can truly put
to good use. Each country should count on making the world
a better place, not count how many times it can blow the
woriu up. A country’s success should not be measured in the
size of its army, but in the happiness of its people.
People all over the world should use the following defini-
tion of true maturity:
1. When one stops thinking of what he can get and con-
centrates on what he can give. Think how nice jobs, schools,
and the whole world would be if we knew everyone would
have this attitude.
2. When one is secure with what he is and not what he
has. Think how pleasant things would be if dictators, rulers,
and every upstanding person had this idea. Then everyone
would not think about negligible details and concentrate on
important matters such as integrity, honesty, self-respect,
and companionship.
Two different religions, far apart in doctrines, add their
own opinions similar to these statements. This is a testimony
to the universality of our wishes, for these speeches were said
in different times from different points of view, politically,
financially, and socially. Hillel said, “If I am not for myself,
who will be for me? And if I am only for myself, of what value
am I? And if not now, when?” The Roman Caius Cassius
JUST BE A MENTSCH!
Our Sages have taught us:
. . . we were created in the image of God;
. . . we are but a little bit lower than the angels;
. . . the soul God has given us is pure.
Therefore, our potential, as human beings, is boundless!
We have but to take advantage of what we are.
We have but to honestly look at ourselves.
We have but to develop the best that is within us —
to become the loving human beings we all are.
From Jewish Family Living Women’s League for Conservative Judaism.
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BETH YESHURUN SISTERHOOD
GIFT SHOP
Tallis, Tefillin, Yarmulkes,
Kidush cups and wine decanters.
EVERYTHING FOR THE BRIDE
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Congregation Beth Yeshurun (Houston, Tex.). The Message, Volume 9, Number 39, July 1982, periodical, July 23, 1982; Houston, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1294150/m1/4/: accessed July 17, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Rice University Woodson Research Center.