I was at the Legislature again this past Shabbat afternoon, with a few regulars, including Sharona. Various people dropped by to express their gratitude for our showing up. Cruise ship travellers walking by, some from Israel, some Canadian, an American and an Australian. Iris from Israel, now Halifa, in town for a conference stood with us for awhile. An Iranian man came by to shake our hands and tell us fervently how he is praying for the release of the hostages, and the end of the current regime in Iran, whom he blames for the entire instability in the Middle East, lands he loves, foods he loves, peoples he loves.
We stand for those who cannot, I stand in particular for the 59 still held hostage in Gaza, and it was truly heartwarming to have some counterbalance to the usual vitriol. Tiferet and Mark turned up to wish us well – all in all, it was an afternoon filled with hope! Strangers and friends and acquaintances -all expressing their appreciation and love to us.
And such love in action is commanded in Torah, particularly in Kedoshim. Kedoshim commands we love the neighbour, the stranger – even, perhaps the hardest, as we are to love ourselves. But our Jewish tradition, our Torah does not understand love as mere emotion. Love needs a plan; we are commanded to not just feel, but to make a commitment to putting our love into action, buttressed by a commitment to justice and order. Torah, Kedoshim, teaches us that in that order, we will find sacred connection, relationship, that I-Thou’ness we seek.
Gratitude: I am so grateful to Vancouver Federation for underwriting the costs of our Shabbat meals this past Friday night and Shabbat morning. We were able to sit with Shelichot from Israel, Yuval and Lihi, and their Federation representative, Michal, and ask our questions and discuss matters in Israel. The delicious dinner came from Des Panjaab on Tillicum. See: https://despanjaab.com/Victoria/
Am Yisroel Chai.
Wishing all long life, healthy life, a good life,
With deep love,
Rabbi Lynn
Acharei-Kedoshim
May 6, 2025 by Rabbi Lynn Greenhough • From the Rabbi's Desk
I was at the Legislature again this past Shabbat afternoon, with a few regulars, including Sharona. Various people dropped by to express their gratitude for our showing up. Cruise ship travellers walking by, some from Israel, some Canadian, an American and an Australian. Iris from Israel, now Halifa, in town for a conference stood with us for awhile. An Iranian man came by to shake our hands and tell us fervently how he is praying for the release of the hostages, and the end of the current regime in Iran, whom he blames for the entire instability in the Middle East, lands he loves, foods he loves, peoples he loves.
We stand for those who cannot, I stand in particular for the 59 still held hostage in Gaza, and it was truly heartwarming to have some counterbalance to the usual vitriol. Tiferet and Mark turned up to wish us well – all in all, it was an afternoon filled with hope! Strangers and friends and acquaintances -all expressing their appreciation and love to us.
And such love in action is commanded in Torah, particularly in Kedoshim. Kedoshim commands we love the neighbour, the stranger – even, perhaps the hardest, as we are to love ourselves. But our Jewish tradition, our Torah does not understand love as mere emotion. Love needs a plan; we are commanded to not just feel, but to make a commitment to putting our love into action, buttressed by a commitment to justice and order. Torah, Kedoshim, teaches us that in that order, we will find sacred connection, relationship, that I-Thou’ness we seek.
Gratitude: I am so grateful to Vancouver Federation for underwriting the costs of our Shabbat meals this past Friday night and Shabbat morning. We were able to sit with Shelichot from Israel, Yuval and Lihi, and their Federation representative, Michal, and ask our questions and discuss matters in Israel. The delicious dinner came from Des Panjaab on Tillicum. See: https://despanjaab.com/Victoria/
Am Yisroel Chai.
Wishing all long life, healthy life, a good life,
With deep love,
Rabbi Lynn