Date trees, in isolation, produce dates that are sterile,
not sweet, and not marketable. Date
trees planted in groves, specifically where the branches are intertwined,
produce sweet and delicious dates.
not sweet, and not marketable. Date
trees planted in groves, specifically where the branches are intertwined,
produce sweet and delicious dates.
In Roseto, Pennsylvania, a startling discovery was made in
1966. People in that town were living
significantly longer than in any other city in America, even in adjacent
Pennsylvania towns. They died of heart
attacks at a rate only half of the rest of America.
1966. People in that town were living
significantly longer than in any other city in America, even in adjacent
Pennsylvania towns. They died of heart
attacks at a rate only half of the rest of America.
What gave?
They weren’t eating healthier or exercising – but the residents of this
town had one thing its neighbors did not: community. This was largely a town of Italian
immigrants, where the elders sat out on front porches and everyone took
responsibility for one another. This
appeared to be the direct cause of the remarkable longevity of the people of
Roseto.
town had one thing its neighbors did not: community. This was largely a town of Italian
immigrants, where the elders sat out on front porches and everyone took
responsibility for one another. This
appeared to be the direct cause of the remarkable longevity of the people of
Roseto.
Dates, people: we need each other. Our very survival depends on it.
On my recent trip to Israel, I decided to stay after the
tour was over for two extra days to shop, pray, and visit. I didn’t make firm plans with anyone,
preferring to be an independent agent and let my day unfold organically.
tour was over for two extra days to shop, pray, and visit. I didn’t make firm plans with anyone,
preferring to be an independent agent and let my day unfold organically.
The first day, I was heady with freedom. I walked wherever I wanted, ate wherever I
pleased and whenever I was hungry, reveled in having no one expect me to be
anywhere. For a working mom, this was so
completely and radically different from my daily existence that I was quite
literally drunk with joy.
pleased and whenever I was hungry, reveled in having no one expect me to be
anywhere. For a working mom, this was so
completely and radically different from my daily existence that I was quite
literally drunk with joy.
The second day, I tried the same gig. But it didn’t feel good anymore. I felt unloved; unmoored. Unneeded, ignored. Anonymous, even rejected. I craved my peeps. When I made my way to the airport much later,
I practically hugged every one of my friends at the airport (okay, I did
actually hug them all). I felt like a
hungry person who just found a meal. A
warm, hot meal, cooked with love and served on a pretty plate.
I practically hugged every one of my friends at the airport (okay, I did
actually hug them all). I felt like a
hungry person who just found a meal. A
warm, hot meal, cooked with love and served on a pretty plate.
Hey, I get that I’m an extrovert. An introvert might enjoy the solitude for
longer than I did. But I suspect the
feelings I experienced would eventually surface as well.
longer than I did. But I suspect the
feelings I experienced would eventually surface as well.
Dates… people…
What are your experiences with living in a community?
Related post: Queens Girl, Cleveland Girl
With
appreciation to Dr. David Pelcovitz, a remarkable human being, and his poignant
words at the AJOP Convention last week in Stamford, Connecticut.
appreciation to Dr. David Pelcovitz, a remarkable human being, and his poignant
words at the AJOP Convention last week in Stamford, Connecticut.
I find two things: one i like my alone time. but two, i get my batteries charged when i am around people. then, i need some alone time again.
Hannah
I also read a story about a study that was done that showed men who attend minyan on a regular basis live some years (I've forgotten how many) longer than their peers. The study postulated that it was a combination of
1. feeling needed and valued
2. people in your minyan might notice changes in you that other family members wouldn't see, especially if you are an older person living alone.
Interesting…
Community is essential to feeling secure, and thus feeling able to grow- think of children, who venture forth to explore but run back to their parents for that reminder that they're ok! I am unbelievably blessed to have six friends who I went on the first JWRP trip with– we each only knew one or two others before the trip, but since the trip we are true family. Shabbos and holidays find at least some combination of us together, we share simchas and sorrows deeply, and we inspire growth in one another that we KNOW would never have happened without "the Peeps" as we call each other. It's amazing, and B"H, we don't know what we'd do without one another. A true miracle.
Ruchi, I'm totally with you on this. I've been working in a very quiet building this week and when people ask if I'm enjoying the quiet, I emphatically say no!