Alyssa Alhadeff, age 14 Scott Beigel, 35 Martin Duque, 14 Nicholas Dworet, 17 Aaron Feis, 37 Jaime Guttenberg, 14 Chris Hixon, 49 Luke Hoyer, 15 Cara Loughran, 14 Gina Montalto, 14 Joaquin Oliver, 17 Alaina Petty, 14 Meadow Pollack, 18 Helena Ramsay, 17 Alex Schachter, 14 Carmen Schentrup, 16 Peter Wang, 15 When 17 souls departed the earth on this date last year in the halls of their high school, the city of Parkland and all of America went into a deep state of grief and mourning. One year later and those affected by the shooting are revisiting their anger, pain, disbelief, and grief. I believe that we were all affected. Many in our community send children to school every day. This five-day routine now includes a deep breath and a brief pause after the words, “I love you, have a good day” are uttered in drop-off lines and at bus stops. When entire communities are touched by grief, suffering, and worry, Judaism offers us a tradition to lean on for support and comfort. Our Mi Shebeirach … [Read more...]
A “lucky” month for Jews
This week we entered into the Hebrew month of Adar, which is extra special to me because it is the month after which we named our daughter when she was born. It just seemed right. Primarily, because she was born in the month of Adar. But also because Judaism considers Adar to be a time where we can expect both joy and good fortune. After all, Purim is in Adar, our Exodus began in Adar, and Jewish mystics hold that this month is one where amazing things happen to us regardless of the era. Jewish time runs on a solar-lunar calendar (as does the Chinese year) and so this new moon that marks the lunar new-year is one that indicates the beginning of a great part of our spiritual cycle. The days are getting warmer, the flowers are beginning to bloom, and we have some of the most fun and profound Jewish holidays on the near horizon. What a great name to give to a child who we knew would bring us so much joy, and hope. In Judaism names are important, sometimes optimistically prophetic while … [Read more...]
A Braided Community
Every Jewish holiday and any Jewish gathering worth its salt always has an element of food involved, yes, even Yom Kippur (breakfast anyone?)! The foods at the oneg, seder, or Shabbat table are what mark the times in our days, weeks, or year. For me, the most important food that marks my week is challah. Like a fine wine, chocolate, or cheese, I taste each week’s challah and compare it to the last. My weeks are woven together with this simple, savory (or sweet), braided bread. This past Sunday over a hundred congregants came together to share in the making of this magical bread. For many, it was the first time making challah. For some, it had been months or years since their last attempt, but what I saw on everyone’s face was the shared joy of a braided community. What I mean by a braided community is one that works together, that weaves lives together, and that grows together. I believe all of this starts with the simplicity of braiding challah. My challenge for all of us this Shabbat … [Read more...]
Electric Change
This past Monday, I had the incredible honor to represent the Jewish community at the 51st MLK commemoration ceremony at Ebenezer Baptist Church. Sitting feet away from Martin Luther King’s daughter, Dr. Bernice King was mind-blowing- it was like touching history. Electric energy permeated the air; the sanctuary filled with passionate words directed towards radical reformation and change. When I stood to offer my reading of Torah, I felt this electricity almost overwhelm my entire being. Faith leaders and activists charged the audience with the mission to right the injustice and racism that pervades America today. Bryan Stevenson, the keynote speaker, encouraged folks to “get proximate, change the narrative, maintain hope and to get uncomfortable” in a mission to better reach out to and lift up those who live below the poverty line, or who lie on the margins of society. Stevenson explains that one must move into the heart of the issue they are trying to elevate. This … [Read more...]
Take the Long Way Home
This week’s Torah portion, Beshalach, from the book of Exodus is considered by many rabbis as the central part of our Jewish narrative… the splitting of the Red Sea. Remember, we had been slaves in Egypt for more than 400 years when God (via Moses) brought the ten plagues unto the Egyptians, the last of which was the slaying of their first born sons. Only at that point did Pharaoh relent and release us. And so we began our journey towards Israel. Looking at a map, one can see that the shortest route from Egypt to Israel is northeast, along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea. Torah tells us that God deliberately did not lead us the shortest route… “because it was near (!) (fearing that) perhaps the people would reconsider when they see a war, and then will return themselves to Egypt.” (Exodus 13:17) The 10th century sage known as Rashi explains that even though we ‘were armed’ when we left Egypt (Exodus 13:18), God knew that we were in a very vulnerable place, newly … [Read more...]
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