Found: A Community in City of 8 Million
This week I could not have been in a better time or place. Spring has sprung in New York City and it is beautiful, beautiful beyond my imagination. Daffodils, tulips, magnolias, even ornamental cherries are out in full bloom, turning the bare parks and streets (yes, many of our streets have flowering flora) into public havens.
I have been taking walks every chance I could - Wednesday in Byrant Park, Thursday in the Carl Schurz Park, Shabbat in Central Park, and today in Madison Square Park. But the best part about each stroll was that we (my walking buddy of the day and I) were never alone. The parks were filled with others who craved outdoor space, fresh air and sights of spring.
Hundreds of years ago people did not lack greenery or nature - urban sprawl hadn’t yet been invented. Still, rabbis understood that no matter how close nature is “out there,” cities need a bit of it “in here.”
As I have referenced before, I do my best to connect with life sustaining earth, even as I live three floors from it. Having potted gardens and backyards are wonderful for personal pleasure, but this text goes beyond. It requires us to live in a city with a garden, not a home. This week reminded me why. In a city of 8 million people, I went to the parks and immediately became part of an intimate community. Each park, a unique community, all sharing a time and place among the natural beauty.
I have been taking walks every chance I could - Wednesday in Byrant Park, Thursday in the Carl Schurz Park, Shabbat in Central Park, and today in Madison Square Park. But the best part about each stroll was that we (my walking buddy of the day and I) were never alone. The parks were filled with others who craved outdoor space, fresh air and sights of spring.
Hundreds of years ago people did not lack greenery or nature - urban sprawl hadn’t yet been invented. Still, rabbis understood that no matter how close nature is “out there,” cities need a bit of it “in here.”
“It is forbidden to live in a city that does not have a garden or greenery.”
- Mishna Kiddushin 4:12As I have referenced before, I do my best to connect with life sustaining earth, even as I live three floors from it. Having potted gardens and backyards are wonderful for personal pleasure, but this text goes beyond. It requires us to live in a city with a garden, not a home. This week reminded me why. In a city of 8 million people, I went to the parks and immediately became part of an intimate community. Each park, a unique community, all sharing a time and place among the natural beauty.
