This week’s parshah, Vayechi, contains the last chapters in Genesis that describe Jacob’s blessings to his sons from his deathbed. Remember, because Joseph had interpreted Pharaoh’s dream and saved Egypt (and his family) from famine, Pharaoh rewarded Joseph by allowing his entire family to immigrate to Egypt and granted them land. As the years went by, life went on, and Joseph married a nice Egyptian girl by the name of Asenath. Together they had two boys, Ephraim & Menasha. From his deathbed, Jacob called for his two grandsons, whom he had never met. When the two boys approached him with their father, Joseph, Jacob exclaimed, ‘mi aleh?’/Who are these two guys? For you see, to old Jacob, his grandsons did not ‘look Jewish’. They did not dress like Jews, but rather like Egyptians. They did not speak ‘Jewish’, but rather Egyptian. Even their mannerisms were foreign to Jacob. This makes sense as the boys were born in Egypt to an Egyptian mother. They had grown up in the … [Read more...]
I have a smile on my face.
Why? Because I just received a note from a wonderful local Jewish family who just joined Temple Emanu-El. “Hi Rabbi! We have received lovely and generous emails and phone messages from many folks at Temple Emanu-El, thank you thank you all so much for welcoming us, very much looking forward to seeing and meeting and getting to know each of you!! My husband had a side conversation at work with someone, and found out that they also belong to Temple Emanu-El. We are excited about all the new and terrific things happening, have a good week!” To their delight, since they joined TE last week, they have discovered that they have many friends who are already members here. Their motivation for joining us as new members was so that they could live a deeper, more beautiful, and more meaningful life through their Judaism. Temple Emanu-El is their avenue, and we are thrilled to welcome them! As you know, new members are vitally important to the energy and health of our … [Read more...]
The Sublime, Holy Beauty of Music
Music has always been at the heart of Judaism in story, history and prayer. In Bereshit, God sings the world into being, and in Shemot, we sing ourselves to freedom as we wade through the red sea. In the book of Dvarim, Moses offered his dying words to Israel in the form of song. Abraham Joshua Heschel describes song as “the most intimate expression of man.” The Hassidic movement in Judaism elevates the practice of singing wordless melodies, niggunim, as the ultimate method of attaining true prayer. As Rabbi Reuven Hammer writes, “what words can adequately express our prayers to God? What words [alone] can truly capture the depths of our emotions at times of grief or of overwhelming joy?” The melodies of our prayers serve as a vehicle towards d’veikut, the feeling of closeness, or oneness with something greater. The melodies hold up our words. Melody and music become the conduit for our souls. When we come together as a community, our prayers become offerings to each other, and … [Read more...]
Confirmation of Our Future
This Friday night, I would ask that you make a real effort to come to our Shabbat services. Even more than usual, I strongly suspect that they will move you, inspire you, and connect you. Why? Because this one Shabbat each year, I find myself especially effected in a way that I would label ‘profound.’ Why? Because our services this Friday night will be led by our graduating Confirmation class of 10th graders. Stop. Please take a moment to pause on these last words. You might think I’m asking you to come to services to support our 10th graders who have been studying together for these past two years every Sunday with me in my office, who have volunteered together in our community feeding the hungry, who have committed to leading our Jewish Community, and who have traveled together to our nation’s capital to lobby our elected politicians on matters that are priorities for the Jews of Georgia. Sure. Yes please. Come support them. But I’m asking you to come to Temple Emanu-El this Shabbat … [Read more...]
Friday With Family
I can recall many beautiful moments from the prayer experiences of my early years. As a child, my family and I would head to synagogue, about once a month, and join with the congregation in prayer and song. These sacred memories are still dear to my heart today. I recall the rabbi inviting my friends and me to open the ark for Aleinu L’Shabeiach: we would race forward to try to be the first one to grab a door and be helpful! I recall my parents sitting on my left and right, pointing to the words in the prayer book: as an eager reader, I practiced sounding out words and trying to keep up with the pace of the congregation. I recall the community clapping in unison during everyone’s favorite Mi Chamocha (and the rabbi never getting the rhythm quite right). Finally, I recall feeling a great sense of joy, purpose, and pride: Joy in singing with my family and friends; purpose in knowing that my voice added to the sound of the community; pride in my Jewish identity and feeling … [Read more...]
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