Hannukah music, videos, food, much to be enjoyed with friends and family. From Neomi Summers: West Side Story Chanukah video. Enjoy. https://youtu.be/jiskf_lZXv8
What is Rosh Chodesh? We prepare for Rosh Chodesh Tevet on December 4th acknowledging the New Moon for the coming month of Tevet, beginning on Sunday.
Shavua tov, dear friends. Our province is looking at days, weeks, months and years of recovery from the terrible flooding, mud slides, and loss of property, animals and of lives. Please take notes of ways you can give tzedakah towards relief efforts. I heard one of the Food Bank managers speak about how they have the capacity to turn every dollar given into three, with their capacity for bulk buying. So many people are helping in every way imaginable. Jewish Federation and our own Reform movement are providing avenues of support to those who need our help.
Shavua tov, dear friends.
On Sunday, Aaron and I took the ferry over to Salt Spring Island to help bury our cousin Uri Cogan. Uri was buried in land dedicated by a local farming family for a natural green burial site, an area of woodlands, and a beautiful resting place for a soul that had loved this island for many years.
Uri was born in Haifa, had served in the IDF, and then come to Canada with his wife Susan. His burial was a muddy affair, as burials can be during our rainy season. And our burials are a very physical rite, with all present engaged in getting their hands dirty, as it were.
Last Friday evening one of our congregants asked about the word “levayah” which is the word we use for funeral/burial. Levayah means to accompany. As a community we have suffered a loss, just as the more direct mourners suffer, when someone dies in our midst. It is a mitzvah to accompany those mourners, as we accompany the deceased to their burial. We do the work of life.
We live in community, in death as in life. May all of you have long life.
With love,Rabbi Lynn
Shavua tov, dear friends.
So many opportunities for us to learn with each other. This morning I participated in learning from Rabbi Gila Caine, the first of our speakers in the lecture series so ably led by Marilyn Wolovick. Marilyn and her committee have put together a series of speakers, all of whom bring their background and engagement in Jewish community to our doorstep. It will be an exciting year! As you may have noticed above, the speaker series organized by the Victoria Jewish choir is bringing in Rob Menes, a former Victorian, who became a noted cantor – perfect timing for those in the Prayer course. Please join us.More
Shavua tov, dear friends.
A message of gratitude this week. Friday afternoon I received two messages about one of our members being in ICU. He was dying. I needed to go immediately to the hospital. Dropping my groceries, my plans for dinner and for the rest of the day, I drove to the Jubilee and stayed with the family until death was declared that evening.
Meanwhile, I texted Aaron to see if he could substitute for me on Zoom at Kabbalat Shabbat. I texted Marilyn to ask if she was willing to put her new learning to the test and lead the Amidah prayers and ask others to participate. When I finally got home Aaron told me about what sounded to be a wonderful service with people participating and engaging. My heart is so full as I write these words. Thank you all. This is who we are.
Love to all,Rabbi Lynn
Shavua tov. Last Shabbat morning we celebrated with Sam Greif and his family as Sam was called to Torah. We were, with the amazing technological wizardry of Zoom, able to bring Rabbi Moch into our room. Sam had begun his studies for his Bar Mitzvah with Rabbi Moch. But life rarely moves in a straight line, and finally at 17, Sam recited his Blessings for Torah and gave a remarkably moving d’var. Rabbi Moch was able to speak to Sam as well. Mazal tov to the Greif family.
Shavua tov, everyone. Does life sometimes feel like a mirage? Have you ever wondered if you are really seeing what your eyes appear to be seeing? If seeing is believing, then is nothing lost in translation between sight, vision, perception and belief?
What did Avraham actually see on the plains of Mamre, sitting still in pain from his circumcision. The language is unclear. He saw three men standing over him – and he also ran towards them, implying some distance between them. Here? Or there?
Shavua tov, everyone. Covid has brought us a number of Back to the Future moments. The Board of Kolot Mayim decided this past week to primarily return to Zoom for delivery of our Shabbat services. The Hybrid model – providing a Zoom of in-person services as/is complicated and our in-person numbers were just too low – to the point where justifying the expenditure of effort was not possible. We will be holding an in-person service once a month for everyone who feels able to attend – followed by a light lunch. Meanwhile let’s think of other ways that we can encourage our members to gather in small bubbles – here are some ideas generated from last week’s Shabbat service.
Ideas for getting together
Shabbat – On Friday nights and Saturday mornings, invite a few people to join you for a Shabbat meal and enjoy singing together while following the Zoom service.
On Shabbat afternoons – arrange to have tea and a visit – maybe every other week.
Arrange for Zoom or phone visits Friday morning/early afternoons to check in with friends – and maybe people you don’t know so well yet.
Let’s make our Zoom services as interactive as possible.
Help with services:
Want to learn to sing one of the prayers for Friday evening or Shabbat morning? Call Rabbi Lynn.
Love music? Help the rabbi locate Jewish music videos to play on Zoom.
Give a d’var on the weekly parashah – contact Rabbi Lynn for ideas.
Want to help with our once monthly in person service?
We need a volunteer to organize a rota of people to bring the following: Bring paper bowls, a crockpot of vegetarian soup, bread (Challah/Pita) and dessert.
We have an opportunity to build Shabbat connections and well beyond. I am looking forward to hearing from you about your ideas and how you might like to participate as we continue to build our kehillah.
Kol tuv,
Rabbi Lynn
I want to continue the conversation I began last week and acknowledge some deeply important teachings that we as Jews share with the many Indigenous Canadian communities around us. As the process of speaking Truth and beginning Reconciliation is a process that will continue over time, so too must we all pay attention to speaking our own truth about our own history – of exile and survival, of re-building, of moving on yet again, and of recognizing our capacity for tenacity and joy along those many ways.
Vayigash
December 6, 2021 by Rabbi Lynn Greenhough • From the Rabbi's Desk
Hannukah is over, and now we hold sweet memories of eating with friends and families over these days of lighting candles together. Last week in our Torah portion we read how Joseph prepared a table for his brothers; this week he finally shared the news that he was, in fact, their brother. He promised them bread, that they would eat, even in such a time of famine.
It is not insignificant that Joseph prepared a meal to help ready himself to share this truth. There is something profoundly fundamental about sharing our food, even if it is the most simple of meals. Even as Abraham ran forward to welcome the three men he spied whilst sitting in his tent, Joseph knew that to honour guests with food – no matter whom they may be – is in no small way honouring God.
Food, be it bread and salt, or the most sumptuous of feasts, plays such a role in our Torah and in our tradition. Blessings accompany our eating as we acknowledge how eating binds us in sacred relationship with God and with those we love.
All the more do we want to share food together at Kolot Mayim. Each Shabbat morning (first of every month) when we meet in person, we now share food. More and more of us are coming and staying, hungry not so much for edible delicacies, but for nourishment of company. Food is a vehicle of connection to the blessing of company and companionship. Come and join us on January 1st (that other New Year), as we share prayer, song and food together.
Kol tuv,
Rabbi Lynn