We had such a beautiful Shabbat/Shavuot service on Shabbat morning June 4th – many people brought flowers to help decorate out little shul. Thank you to everyone who helped in all manner of ways to make our morning as meaningful as could be; some helped lead the davening, some helped in the kitchen, some folded tablecloths, some helped serve food, and of course some helped with cleanup. Thank you all. More
This past week brought many interactions and connections with people, as per usual. Babies and elders and everyone in between. People have moved here, and people have moved away.
As we come to this week of preparation for Shavuot I find myself thinking about the many journeys our people have embarked upon, packing up, leaving a home and moving into the unknown. This timeless story in many ways was presaged by Abraham hearing God tell him to Lech Lecha – “Go for yourself from your land, from your relatives, and from your father’s home to the land that I will show you.”More
I have been thinking a lot this past week about the word yes. Giving assent, agreement, even within our silence.
Rabbi Mendel Torum of Rymanov taught: Only the first letter of the commandments, the aleph of anokhi, “I am,” was spoken by the Divine voice. Aleph signifies the number One, referring to the unity of all in God, in Godness. That sufficed. All the rest, Rabbi Torum taught, is our humanly transmitted commentaries. All they (who?) heard (and will hear) was the aleph of anochi. This teaching clearly suggests that the mysterious “am’ness” of the Divine Oneness can only be understood as we humans wrestle meaning out of silence.More
Each week when we have services over Zoom, I like to find part of our musical heritage to end the service – sometimes contemporary and sometimes an historical treasure. These past two weeks I was with families as we buried their beloved husbands, fathers, and grandfathers – both men born in Istanbul. In their memory, here is the link to the Sephardic Turkish music we played on Shabbat this past week: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WyuSTIwL1RI More
We had a wonderful Shabbat morning service this week. Two people were called to Torah – one for the first time, and one for the first time since her daughter’s Bat Mitzvah in 1997! Kol haKavod to George Haniotis, moved here (we hope to stay) from Quebec, and to Cathy Basskin, visiting from Calgary.More
This week in Parashat Kedoshim, we face into some of the fundamental demands of Judaism. We are commanded to be kadosh, holy – to do what is holy – in all that we do. God tells us, “I am holy, so too, you are a holy people unto Me.” But holiness for Jews isn’t a feeling, or sacred relationship – although that is certainly an ingredient in this ancient recipe.More
We are a community of learners and a community of givers. I am so grateful to be in your midst. One of our members has suggested that we use our Seders moving forward (as we did this year – instead of a full – and costly – meal), we offer the Seder as an opportunity for tzedakah, serving charoset and matzah as our meal. What a beautiful recognition of how to share in a meaningful manner. So all charoset makers – be prepared for Seder next year!More
We are now in the week of Pesach. We had a truly wonderful Seder this year, highlights included eating a delicious variety of charoset, singing with Susan Cogan, Neil and Charlotte Marcovitz, hail (marshmallows) flying around the room during the recitation of plagues, and (gently) whacking each other with scallions during Dayenu. Across the board, the consensus seems to be that we should have a similar Seder next year. Never mind the stress of preparing/hiring a meal; the charoset with matzah and chrain more than sufficed. Thanks to all who helped out: Pat Dunphy and Doug Marshall, Sam Savard, Francie Lake, Lizzie Dailey and Laura Weeks.More
Chag sameach everyone, may you all have a joyous Seder.
At our Seder this year we are incorporating a Sephardic custom of holding the Seder plate over the heads of each person, welcoming them with this song: “Bibhilu yasanu mi-mitzrayim, ha lahma ‘anya, bené horin,” “With haste we left Egypt, this is poor bread, [now] we are free.” If you would like to learn the tune, and more about the custom here is a link: https://jewishjournal.com/commentary/columnist/editors-note/313861/this-year-lets-sing-sephardic-bibhilu-at-every-seder-table/
Wishing everyone the blessing of Pesach, even as it snows!
Chag sameach,
Rabbi Lynn
Beha’alotecha
June 12, 2022 by Rabbi Lynn Greenhough • From the Rabbi's Desk Tags: Behaalotecha, rabbi manis friedman, unimaginably good •
This week we read Parashah Beha’alotecha in the Book of Bamidbar – we open up with instructions about kindling the lamps of the Menorah. We read that the Menorah is of hammered out gold, from its base to the opening of its flowers.
This week is also our Annual General Meeting, Thursday evening at 7 pm. This is our opportunity to be present as members are elected to the Board – where they will take on a different kind of enterprise. They will be hammering out policies and projections of plans to keep Kolot Mayim thriving.More