Vayetze is such a special parashah for me – and has been for decades. But even I could not have anticipated what this past week brought to us.
We have been needing a second Sefer Torah – for holidays, Rosh Chodesh – all manner of occasions need a second Torah set and ready for reading. This past week I began a conversation with a friend who is a sofer in London England. Marc Michaels is married to Avielah Barclay, a soferet herself, (and FYI,Marc will be our April guest speaker in our lecture series).
Marc was given a small (50 cm) Sefer Torah at the beginning of his career as a Sofer – a gift from this teacher. Much of the calligraphy dates back to the 18th century and yet is clear and readable – I looked through about 300 photographs. Marc is completing his PhD, and has several large projects on the go, so it will be awhile before arriving, but what an amazing conjunction of Vayetze, Torah and Kolot Mayim!
Marc and I have a handshake agreement that he will repair and refurbish the Torah so that it is fully kosher, and then we will arrange to have it brought to Victoria and we hold a siyyum. See: https://www.sofer.co.uk/siyyum We are calling this new-to-us Sefer Torah our Patchwork Quilt Torah. As Jessica Havens put it, “A patchwork quilt Torah for our patchwork quilt community.”
And we are moving forward with our Yartzeit Board installation – thank you Gilda and Dorothy. Lots to give thanks for.
This past Shabbat we had a special opportunity to honour Carolyn Canny. Not only does Carolyn manage the week-to-week organization of people coming to shul to help set up and clean up, she organizes the Kiddush lunches, food for Onegs, purchasing of wine and juice as needed, and organizes the cleaning staff, again, as needed. Not only does she accomplish all of this – which for many would more than suffice, Carolyn took on being our Membership Chair this year. This is a challenging position and thankfully a few people stepped up to help Carolyn learn the ropes of Excel files amongst other details. Thank you, J.H. and Jan Mitchell. Carolyn is mastering the files, and all the details, and we are very grateful to her.
So, this Shabbat her friends honoured her with the most delicious Kiddush lunch, Morris and Janna gave her a bouquet of flowers, and we all kvelled. One mitzvah leads to another, not just for ourselves, but for all those around us. I know that the complete sincerity of Carolyn’s dedication to Kolot Mayim has inspired others to put themselves forward to help. So, may you go from strength to strength, Carolyn. תּוֹדָה רַבָּה Todah rabbah, thank you very much, from all your Kolot Mayim friends (and members!!).
With love,
Rabbi Lynn
Vayishlach
December 9, 2024 by Rabbi Lynn Greenhough • From the Rabbi's Desk
Vayetze is such a special parashah for me – and has been for decades. But even I could not have anticipated what this past week brought to us.
We have been needing a second Sefer Torah – for holidays, Rosh Chodesh – all manner of occasions need a second Torah set and ready for reading. This past week I began a conversation with a friend who is a sofer in London England. Marc Michaels is married to Avielah Barclay, a soferet herself, (and FYI,Marc will be our April guest speaker in our lecture series).
Marc was given a small (50 cm) Sefer Torah at the beginning of his career as a Sofer – a gift from this teacher. Much of the calligraphy dates back to the 18th century and yet is clear and readable – I looked through about 300 photographs. Marc is completing his PhD, and has several large projects on the go, so it will be awhile before arriving, but what an amazing conjunction of Vayetze, Torah and Kolot Mayim!
Marc and I have a handshake agreement that he will repair and refurbish the Torah so that it is fully kosher, and then we will arrange to have it brought to Victoria and we hold a siyyum. See: https://www.sofer.co.uk/siyyum We are calling this new-to-us Sefer Torah our Patchwork Quilt Torah. As Jessica Havens put it, “A patchwork quilt Torah for our patchwork quilt community.”
And we are moving forward with our Yartzeit Board installation – thank you Gilda and Dorothy. Lots to give thanks for.
This past Shabbat we had a special opportunity to honour Carolyn Canny. Not only does Carolyn manage the week-to-week organization of people coming to shul to help set up and clean up, she organizes the Kiddush lunches, food for Onegs, purchasing of wine and juice as needed, and organizes the cleaning staff, again, as needed. Not only does she accomplish all of this – which for many would more than suffice, Carolyn took on being our Membership Chair this year. This is a challenging position and thankfully a few people stepped up to help Carolyn learn the ropes of Excel files amongst other details. Thank you, J.H. and Jan Mitchell. Carolyn is mastering the files, and all the details, and we are very grateful to her.
So, this Shabbat her friends honoured her with the most delicious Kiddush lunch, Morris and Janna gave her a bouquet of flowers, and we all kvelled. One mitzvah leads to another, not just for ourselves, but for all those around us. I know that the complete sincerity of Carolyn’s dedication to Kolot Mayim has inspired others to put themselves forward to help. So, may you go from strength to strength, Carolyn. תּוֹדָה רַבָּה Todah rabbah, thank you very much, from all your Kolot Mayim friends (and members!!).
With love,
Rabbi Lynn