Hineynu– We are here. We are ready.
February 17, 2009
Words, over time, accrue added layers of meaning. That is one reason why the Hebrew language is so vastly deep and rich, for over the millennia, varied contexts in which individual words and phrases have appeared infuses them with ever increasing significance, associations and nuance.
Among the first words a young child learns in Hebrew School is often Hineyni – a term composed from the word “Hiney – Here” and the pronominal suffix connoting “I.” And so the student will answer to the teacher’s roll call of names with a confident “Hineyni”, meaning “Present.” Or more literally, “I am here.”
But in the Torah, when Abraham answers God’s call to service with the same word, “Hineyni”, he is indicating more than his mere physical presence. His response is a confident affirmation of understanding the gravity of the sacred task before him, and his willingness to take on the challenge to the best of his ability. For Abraham, and other Biblical prophets who likewise answer God’s call, Hineyni really means: “I am here. And I am ready.”
Recognizing the increasing challenges and difficulties confronting many of our members, particularly in the midst of economic recession the likes of which haven’t been experienced for more than a generation, our Board of Trustees authorized the creation of a new taskforce to explore the unique role that the Temple might play in providing assistance, support and direction to those facing a variety of needs. For many years, and throughout the history of Temple Emanu-El, caring for our members in times of sickness, sorrow or pain has been a core aspect of our mission. Our rabbis, staff, auxiliaries, and countless volunteers have always tried to respond when some extra help and support might be needed, but our leadership recognized that these times call for heightened awareness and a significantly more coordinated response.
Wasting no time, such a task force was promptly assembled and went immediately to work, exploring the variety of ways we, as a congregation, can help and support one another. The name of the program was chosen to indicate how important it is to be present when a need arises. Thus, “Hineynu”. We are here. And we are ready.
Of course, the Temple does not possess the resources of a social service organization. Rather, we will work in concert with communal resources such as Jewish Family Services, the Marblehead Counseling Center, and various local and State agencies (even while recognizing that all of these are likewise enduring severe budget cuts and shortfalls). Wherever possible, we will try to make up for a shortage of financial resources with an abundance of human resources, for those we possess in no small measure.
The story is told of two woodchoppers who felled a tree that was over one hundred years old. Looking at the growth rings to determine the tree’s age, the younger man noticed that there were five very narrow rings. He concluded that there had been a five-year drought, during which the tree had shown very little growth.
However, the other lumberjack, a wise, older man had a different viewpoint. He contended that the dry years actually were the most significant in the tree’s history. His reason: because of the drought, the tree had to force its roots down farther to get the water and the minerals it needed. With a strengthened root system, it was able to grow faster and taller once conditions improved.
So as we launch our Hineynu initiative, we do so in the hope and trust that these “dry years” will force us to further strengthen the very foundations of our congregation and community, which is our ability to look out for the well-being of one another. Perhaps future generations will look back at what we were able to accomplish and perceive these years, too, as years of significant growth and progress.
