It is interesting that the shoresh/root of the Hebrew word for sacrifice (of animals) also serves as the root for the word meaning to ‘draw close.’
This is not surprising, as the point of biblical sacrifice was to bring the Jewish individual, and our community, closer to God. Today, we are (thankfully) not a religion that employs animal sacrifice; however, many of us do express our religious commitment by ‘sacrificing’ our time.
This Friday is our annual Shabbat service where we honor a few select congregants whose volunteerism helps progress our congregation towards Tikkun Olom (healing a broken world).
Their example is lionized, in part, because it is inspiring.
Each of the congregants whom we are honoring with the ‘Shirley Schiffer Volunteerism’ award has dedicated a tremendous amount of their time, and energy, for the sake of others.
None of them does it for the recognition. For each, their labor is from the heart. Done with Joy.
Won’t you join me tomorrow night at Shabbat services, as we give our respect and kind words to our award winners, who give so much of themselves for our sacred Temple Emanu-El community?
They are:
Julie Barker
Lori Bohrer
Jodi Bossak
Ellen Etheridge
Alfred Finfer
Jessica Goldberg
Arthur Katz
Matthew Ranlett
Virginia Sullivan
Shabbat shalom!
Rabbi Spike
