Dear friends,
This week (Sunday through Wednesday), I am attending a conference for those of us involved with the Chevra Kadisha (Jewish Burial Societies) and Jewish funerals. The conference is held every year by an organization called Kavod V’Nichum. Nineteen years ago I was in a kitchen in Columbia, Maryland with the executive director of KVN, David Zinner, and with Rena Boroditsky from the Chesed Shel Emes Winnipeg, as we planned out the programme for our very first conference.
Dear friends,
The sun is trying. Garden party season is virtually upon us – we live in hope. The blossoms went to my head last week– this week is Parashat Naso!!
I don’t comment on world events very often – we have multiple sources of information available to us these days, with whatever built-in biases they may hold. But as we watch the large cities of the United States burn, and black families post story after story of their desperation to keep their sons (in particular) safe, as we watch the events unfolding from the murder – I think I am safe in using this word – of George Floyd, I have to say something.More
This week in Torah we read the book of Naso – which has one of our most significant blessings:
Many Jews recite this blessing over the heads of their children on Friday nights before reciting Kiddush. It is a special moment in the family when parents come up to their children and acknowledge the circle of blessing they live within. The blessing originates as a Blessing of the Kohanim, the Priestly class, and today in more traditional synagogues on certain days the Kohanim are still called to raise their hands, separate their fingers, and recite this blessing over their congregants. It is a ceremony both mystical and profoundly touching.
Dear friends,
Shavua tov, a good week to all of you. This week we are in yet another double portion: the books of Behar – the shortest parashah in Torah and Bechukotai.
Shavua tov, dear friends.
We are in the middle of the middle as I said on Friday night – not the middle of the muddle, as COVID may make us feel. We are in the very centre of Vayikra, the Book of Leviticus, and in the central readings of that book. This week we are reading Emor – speaking about some of the Biblical rituals that pertained whilst the Temple stood, but don’t apply today. Why do we still learn about these rituals? Why haven’t we issued a new and revised Torah? (Actually, apparently the Danish Lutheran Church has just done so, eliminating all mention of “Israel” from their revised New Testament).
Dear friends,
Shavua tov, a good week to all of you. This cool’ish spring is allowing many of our spring flowers to linger in our gardens – our bluebells are giving us several weeks of delight. I have been picking and serving some wild “weeds” from our garden areas over these past weeks – weeds I have previously ignored. With an interest to limit trips to the market, I have been adding miner’s lettuce to our salads and soups, purple dead nettle and dandelion to pesto sauces and using lemon balm with parsley and miner’s lettuce in all manner of meals. This isn’t just a lesson in making do (although that was certainly the initial intention), but a lesson in gratitude and a lesson in paying attention – to not overlook the bounty that surrounds us. Here is a website if you would like to learn more about what is growing around us. http://edibleplants.b-king.ca/#harvestingMore
Good morning dear friends. Every day we are finding new opportunities and new challenges. On Thursday evening we held a Yizkor service (which we do four times a year – Pesach, Shavuot, Sukkot and Yom Kippur). Yesterday (Sunday) afternoon we were able to gather in a shiva minyan (of 52) to provide comfort and consolation to Marilyn Wolovick and her family members who had just buried their beloved mother Sarah. Our friend Rabbi Allan Finkel conducted the funeral which was live streamed, albeit over the wind, and then he joined us here in Victoria for shiva. Jewish geography meets technological advances! We will continue to meet on-line for classes and services.
Korach
June 23, 2020 by Rabbi Lynn Greenhough • From the Rabbi's Desk Tags: korach •
Dear friends,
Again, mazal tov to Willem Hanevelt, Tyler, Katrina Greenfield and Jay Hanevelt from all of us at Kolot Mayim. What a wonderful simcha we witnessed on Shabbat morning this past week. I heard from several of you about how moving you found his ceremony – even on Zoom!More