This week Vayera opens with Avraham sitting in his tent. In the opening words of this parashah, God appeared to Avraham, but then in the next verse we read that Avraham lifted his eyes and perceived three men were standing over him. And then he ran towards them.
I find this sequence confusing – who actually appeared to Abraham? God? Three men? Three Angels? And if they were standing over him, to whom did Avraham run towards?More
In Lech Lecha we meet Avram and Sarai, these two individuals who follow God’s command to leave their homeland and go to the land they (hope) they will know. Eventually their names will be change to Avraham and Sarah – each of them taking on a letter from one of the names we hold for the Divine Presence.
Lech Lecha follows immediately on the story of the tower of Babel where the peoples disobey God’s intentions and attempt to build towers into the heavens. In their hubris, wanting to unify and coalesce, rather than disperse through all lands speaking differing languages, they disobey God.More
This week – maybe a bit of a breather, maybe not. We read about Noach and that infamous ark Noach built using all manner of measurements that are unfamiliar to us today. Measurement – measure – in English is such an interesting word. We speak of measurement in mathematical terms, but also measured as a sense of calm, control, a presence that can be trusted. Is there a connection between these two meanings? Many of us were taught to measure twice, cut once. A sensibility of carefulness, of reasonable caution that accompanied preparations to cut be it lumber or fabric or words.More
This week we begin at the beginning again – we roll our Sefer Torah to Bereshit, and read about the beginning of Creation. What are you beginning this season? As you roll the Sefer of your life, what is your order of creation in these coming days? Looking forward to speaking with you as you are able to share some of your plans.
I wanted to take a moment and talk about meetings and greetings. Within our tradition we have all manner of greetings that are seasonally specific – Shana tova and Chag sameach, moadim l’simcha – for example are just a few greetings that you have been hearing and seeing over these past weeks.More
I look out onto our back porch and marvel again at this conjunction of joyous seasons. Our sukkah is up and colorful with hanging fabric walls, flowers, banana plant leaves and palm branches, a lulav and Etrog are awaiting to be shaken on the first morning of Sukkot – which also happens to be Canadian Thanksgiving.
A conjunction of joy and of course hodu – gratitude – (and turkey) in a pun that just must be noted!More
A number of us watched the funeral services for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth on Monday morning. I was so struck by the exactitude of execution of each element of this service, the dignity and grace of the services, and by the sheer magnificence of the honours offered to her. This service truly was unlike anything any of us will see again in our lifetimes.More
What a week – and more to come! Sunday morning we had our first B’nei Mitzvah class of the year with four students in attendance. Welcome Noah, Yardenne, Ariel and Sarahi. I think we are all in for a wonderful year of learning.
We also started a new cycle of learning on Wednesdays at noon – we are looking at the books in our Prophets, our Nevi’im this year. Everyone is welcome of course.
Learning is the foundation of what it means to be a Jew. To engage in daily learning, to apply what we have learned into our everyday lives – this is what is meant when Torah teaches that we said at Sinai; ”We will do and we will understand.” We need to muck in.More
אֶ֕רֶץ אֲשֶׁר־יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ דֹּרֵ֣שׁ אֹתָ֑הּ תָּמִ֗יד עֵינֵ֨י יְהֹוָ֤ה אֱלֹהֶ֙יךָ֙ בָּ֔הּ מֵֽרֵשִׁית֙ הַשָּׁנָ֔ה וְעַ֖ד אַחֲרִ֥ית שָׁנָֽה׃ {ס}
We read in Parashat Eikev, a few weeks ago, “It is a land which your God looks after, on which your God always keeps an eye, from year’s beginning to year’s end.”
We think of these words as we welcome Stephen, Carolyn, and Nina into Judaism, and as we and give kavod, honour to Lis and Ariel as they stand, surrounded by beloved family and friends under their chuppah.More
I have had a very special morning today; up at 4:30 to stand with three people who after two years (and more) of learning and practice have joined the holy covenant. After each person met with a Beit Din, this morning they (sequentially) entered the waters of life at very first light for mikvah. They each recited blessings of immersion and new beginnings, and then sang the Sh’ma. It was a sacred moment for us all. Carolyn, Stephen and Nina – welcome to the tribe!More
Chaye Sarah
November 13, 2022 by Rabbi Lynn Greenhough • From the Rabbi's Desk Tags: chaye sarah, First Nations, Indigenous people, Jennifer Karmona •
There is such a wonderful walking rhythm to our Torah readings, especially perhaps in the Book of Bereshit, Genesis. It can feel like we are actually moving our feet, alongside Avraham and Sarah. These stories, even with all their fractiousness intact, help us walk through our own lives. This week, in Chaye Sarah, we read about the death of Sarah. Death and life, tumah (impurity) and tahor (purity) inform much of Torah. How do we bring these sensibilities forward from their lives to ours?
More