"Crisis:" Hebrew Etymology

After a wonderful dinner of spicy Indian food and lots of vegetables, I picked up a book at random and began to read. I don't think I have told you yet that the AVODAH house came fully stocked with Jewish books for all occasions. But it does. And tons of other books too, including cookbooks, novels, and travel guides.

The book I picked up was entitled G-d Was Not in the Fire: The Search for a Spiritual Judaism, by Daniel Gordis. At the end of his introduction, he writes: " 'Crisis' in Hebrew is mash-ber', a word also used for birthstool, a seat upon which a woman in ancient times sat as she gave birth. The Hebrew language recognized that while crises are often frightening, they are also filled with potential. Adversity, our tradition suggests, needs to be turned into opportunity."

First, I'll assure you that I myself am not in crisis right now. This has been one of the easiest transitions of my life, and I am so grateful to all of my friends and family and wonderful housemates and Avodahniks and co-workers who have helped make it such an engaging and rewarding experience so far. That being said, I've been thinking a lot about crisis lately, and change. I guess that only makes sense, giving that Yom Kippur is on Saturday.

I really love the idea of crisis as being connected to giving birth and the potential we all have within us. Change can be incredibly hard. I resist it often. Too often, in fact. But without it, you don't grow, you don't learn, you can never be sure that what you're doing is for you rather than for someone else. This year is all about trying new things. It's about being comfortable, but not complacent. I challenge you to examine your own life, and see if you can look at crisis in a new, more forgiving, light.