From the Rabbi’s Desk

Va’etchanan is the second parashah in Devarim – where we re-visit the Aseret Dibrot and the Shema – words to live by. I spoke last Shabbat about word – all the many words of our canon and all the words in our subsequent writings. This week we learn to listen, to make time for inner quietude, to listen from our deepest core.

Millenia before therapists were counselling active listening, God gave us this very simple six-word statement.

שְׁמַע יִשְׂרָאֵל יְיָ אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ יְיָ אֶחָד

Sh’ma Yisra’eil Adonai Eloheinu Adonai echad.
Hear, Israel, the Lord is our God, the Lord is One.

How do we hear these words today? Come to shul on Friday evening. Mark Pressler is going to speak about these words that he deeply loves. Let’s listen.

I will be at work this coming week and then I am on leave for the month of July, although available in case of emergency, as needed.

This past Shabbat was extraordinary – our shul was full to the brim with friends and family as Morris Bleviss and Maurice Yacowar and Neomi Summers celebrated their 83^rd year with reading and words of Torah, and da’avening. I heard many gracious words from our guests as they expressed their pleasure at being included in our service. That morning was also a first for our hard-working Marilyn Wolovick who read from Torah for the first time. A morning of tremendous blessing.

Thank you to Janna and her friends who helped prepare for this day, in all manner of ways, and to our entire Kolot Mayim family – as Maurice pointed out, you make our group of individuals cohere into a kehillah.

 Wishing everyone well, during these coming days,
Rabbi Lynn

I can only hope and pray and take care of myself to the degree necessary, that I will be as robust and active at 83, as I am at 73. Morris, Maurice and Neomi are all examples of elders in our midst, who contribute to the liveliness that is Kolot Mayim. Kol haKavod to each of you, todah rabbah for all you give to us.

A shul exists to serve: we are there to share times of joy and times of grief, times of lonely questioning, and times of celebration, of simcha. A shul is Kohelet in action. We all know unaffiliated Jews, Jews who have chosen to not join a shul – for all manner of reasons.

I hope we see an increase of those Jews – and you – choosing to affiliate with Kolot Mayim and with other shuls, particularly during these days when our very existence is under attack. We need each other, we need to know each other.

It is time to reach out and reach in. If you know someone who has been thinking about joining a shul, I am more than happy to meet with them.

Wishing everyone well, during these eventful days,
Rabbi Lynn

Gratitude:  A word or two of gratitude for all those in the background of Kolot Mayim and our larger Jewish community. On Friday I officiated at a levayah for Mr. Ron Aron, z”l. People had come together to arrange for his grave to be prepared, Chevra Kadisha members gathered, our funeral home, Sands, juggled appointment and commitments to allow everything to happen in a timely way. People came to the levayah to ensure we had a minyan, others offered to be a pallbearer – all for a man they didn’t know. As we do. I am so grateful to all of you, as is the family. Thank you all, very much.

We now have the blessings of warmer weather, the summer green markets are full of abundant local vegetables and berries, and sharing meals outside.

The beauty and bounty of our natural surroundings is often commented upon in our Torah. This week we read again of the people Israel remembering the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions and garlic they had left behind in Egypt. Sounds like my basic shopping list!More

This has been a very busy few weeks, involving for me, unaccustomed travel. Two weddings, one in Vancouver, and two funerals in Calgary. Such is the circle of life. My apologies to those I have not seen in my usual regular schedule as three of these events have taken me out of town.

Naso is a parashah some of whose words are often repeated weekly by parents as they bless their children – or as they might have the blessing to receive from their own parents. What we more commonly may know as Birkat haKohanim, the Blessing of the Kohanim, or the Priestly Blessing s also recited on Shabbat. The text to be used for the blessing is specified in Numbers 6:22–27:

“And the LORD spoke unto Moses, saying:

Speak unto Aaron and unto his sons, saying: In this way you shall bless the children of Israel; you shall say to them:

“May the LORD bless you, and keep you;

May the LORD make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you;

May the LORD lift up His face to you, and give you peace.”

With these words our Kohanim may bless us, our parents may bless us, we continue that chain of blessing.

Gratitude: I am so grateful to the volunteers of the Chevra Kadisha in Calgary for caring for the body and souls of those we have loved. To know this mitzvah is available enables us to all share a different chain of connection, one of deep trust, of kavod, honour and of love.

Wishing all long life, healthy life, a good life,
With deep love,
Rabbi Lynn

The roses are blooming, weddings are being planned, Shavuot is here! What a wonderful time of year. I am flower-sitting pots of flowers for a few weeks, and every time I walk by their colourful cheerfulness, I am warmed by their beauty. I am also grateful for Carolyn Canny entrusting them to my not-so-green thumb. By the time you read this note, Carolyn will be settled into her new home in Calgary. We are also grateful for FaceTime, which will enable us to stay in touch.More

We are making plans with members of Kolot Mayim to ensure all services and events will run smoothly in my absence during July, when I will be on holiday. Members are stepping up in all manner of ways, and I know everything will run smoothly. If needs be, I can be contacted, but otherwise we have good hands taking care of matters. I will be providing information regarding contacts later in June, if people have questions about membership, services, etc.More

I couldn’t help it, I had to sing: “When the moon hits your eye, like a big pizza pie, that’s Emor…”

This parashah continues with the laws of the Kohanim, the laws pertaining to our Festivals, including the Omer, and finally we read a line that is very resonant for many in Kolot Mayim: “There shall be one law for you, it shall be for the ger (the proselyte) and the native alike, for I am God, your God.”More

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.More

This is a very particular and special week in our calendar. The Yamim – or more colloquially, the Yoms. Yom HaShoah, Yom HaZikaron and Yom HaAtzmaut. Days of memory, memorializing and a day of celebration with Israel on Yom HaAtzmaut.

And then this coming Shabbat will also be special as we have two young women coming to spend both Friday evening and Shabbat morning with us – please bring your questions, your thoughtfulness, your gratitude and join with us as we welcome Yuval and Lihi to Victoria.More