From the Rabbi’s Desk

Lech Lecha, our Torah reading this week, is our introduction to Avram and Sarai. Ten generations after Noach, Avram is called by God to lech lecha, to leave his father’s house, his homeland and go to the Land that God will show him. This Land will become Israel, the land of the Jews for over three thousand years. It is a deep and eternal heritage of land. Most Jews of course suffering through millennia of colonizers from the Assyrians to the Syrian-Greeks, the Romans, the Byzantines, the Ottomans, the British – were exiled from Israel, or not allowed to enter, until that miraculous day in 1948, when Israel became a Jewish homeland again.

The news is full of very worrying events aimed at demonizing Jews today in Canada, never mind Israel. We have increased our level of security at our shul; our students at UVic are doing their best to level the tide of hatred that is focused on them. They need our support and our protection.

We are offering a free bowl of matzah ball soup to any student who needs refuge. The Deli is open Wednesday through Friday, 11 – 1; come, sit together, take a minute and know we love you, and want you to always feel welcome within our walls. I am often at the JCC through the lunch hour, please let me know if you would like to meet, catch up, share some news.

With love, wishing you long life.
Rabbi Lynn

PS:  I invite you to listen to these remarks from Rabbi Anglea Buchdahl after the October 7th massacre: Israel At War: In the Beginning There Was The Word: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QAEjbCtZiqw

It has been a week. I have been exhausted and exhilarated, heart-sick and full of pride. Mostly, I have been reminded of when I was 12 and I came to the full realization that the world then, particularly the Christian world, had abandoned its fundamental premise of loving its neighbour. This premise of care and protection, a premise we read in Torah and read weekly in our prayers, a premise that was taught by that Jew called Jesus, was abandoned by most Christians throughout Europe as the Nazis gained foothold in Germany.More

This Shabbat, Hamas terrorized all of Israel with a premeditated and deadly attack on Israel. Civilians, soldiers have been murdered, and kidnapped; countless hundreds of citizens have been wounded in body and in heart.

Even as the Gaza border is under constant and extensive surveillance, this attack happened as Jews were celebrating Simchat Torah and Shabbat, echoing for many the Yom Kippur war. Hamas has never considered brokering a peace with Israel; their very Charter speaks against the very existence of the Israeli state. Yet, for decades monies have poured into Gaza from Europe, from the US, and from Canada. Whilst those monies were ostensibly provided for the Palestinian people living in Gaza, we know that far too many of those millions went to the military and to building the infrastructures of terrorism – the use of which we saw over these past days.

I think it is difficult for us, as Canadians, to imagine living next door to such lethal enemies. Imagine tunnels being constructed so Americans could enter Canadian soil and kidnap and murder Canadians – for being Canadian. One does not want to ever imagine such a circumstance. Israeli citizens have no choice.

Israel is continually under the periscope of the nations of the world, examined for every supposed mis-step, encouraged if not strong-armed by those same nations to utilize caution in military response, even as Israeli citizens are being bombed. Military response from Israel is universally seen as aggression. The crimes that Hamas has and is committing are unspeakable; this is not a government with which Israel can negotiate.

We are not Israel, but we are Jews. We stand with Israel. We pray with Jews everywhere, and we pray with those Palestinian peoples sick and sickened of war, for a mutual and firmly held commitment to peace.

With love, wishing you long life.
Rabbi Lynn

We have had (still having) weeks of services, with so much joy. I say this replete as I am with hot buttery challah buns and soup, eaten in our sukkah. I love eating in the crisp cold air of fall, knowing as wrapped in wool as I may be, that the season is short the joy is much.More

Hello everyone, the hinges of the gates are being oiled as we speak, so that they should open with ease. Rosh Hashanah approaches and we speak a little more cautiously, step a little more carefully perhaps, as we approach the Days of Awe. May the doors of our hearts open as well.

As we welcome new members to Kolot Mayim, as we have said goodbye to others in their time, we acknowledge the blessing of having a Jewish home to share our stories, our friendships, our meals, and our learning – in good times and bad. Each of us brings our sacred doorways, windows, and pathways with us as we figure out how to do this thing called Judaism – it differs from one to the other and we cherish us all. Maurice Yacowar just sent me a commentary about being Jewish by Harold Jacobson, a garrulous writer whom we both adore: https://www.thejc.com/lets-talk/all/some-of-us-look-like-einstein-others-like-barbie-go-figure-3Xi5rlHsYf4GXP1sQSwBm9

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One of the joys of my work is that every day is so different; I never know what the next e-mail or next phone call might bring. I never know what response might be needed of me. Some situations require my immediate attention, some allow for a more longitudinal response. I am aware that sometimes my need to delay a response or visit might be interpreted as a lack of interest or welcome, for which I am sorry. As I think about these intervals of need and reply, I wonder about my own, our own response to the voice of God.More

This is a difficult and sad week for two former members of Kolot Mayim. On Shabbat afternoon Dana Ruth Baecker died; Dana was Jenny Laing’s mother. There will be a shiva at the Bild-Enkins house at 7 pm on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings, at 1324 George Street (corner of Olive). Jenny was the heart and soul of Kolot Mayim for years, and I know she will appreciate seeing you at shiva.

On this past Sunday morning, Mr. Lawrence Bookman died, Reesa Vermeulen’s father. His levayah, his funeral will be held at Hatley Jewish Cemetery on Tuesday afternoon. May their memories be a blessing for their families and for all who knew these souls.More

Usually I stay within the realm of providing whatever leadership I can for religious services, life cycle events, etc. The Board makes all governance and fiscal decisions.

However, during these few weeks before Rosh Hashanah, we have a time for all manner of renewals. I suggest our spiritual and religious renewals also include renewal of membership in Kolot Mayim. I wanted to add my perspective to the whole idea of ‘belonging’ to a synagogue.

There are two issues for me.

One is we need your physical presence in the room. We need a minyan. We need ten Jews in the room to proceed with certain prayers, to read Torah publicly. And, more importantly, I think, we need your presence to spend time with you, to talk with you, to get to know you. Most of you are aware of this need, and it is very important.

But I also want to discuss another reason for renewing your membership – even if you don’t particularly like coming to services. With your membership you are helping to support the presence of Reform Judaism in Victoria and on Vancouver Island. You are helping to support my efforts as rabbi to be available to everyone, including the many unaffiliated Jews I see over the course of any year: People who are ill, and may be dying, and their families; people I meet to plan funerals and burials; people I meet to plan their weddings; people who might join Kolot Mayim to allow their children to become Bar and Bat Mitzvah. I meet many interfaith families who have not felt welcomed elsewhere – with your membership you are directly helping me help their return to Jewish community. Could there be a greater mitzvah?

I – we – can only be available to those who call if we have this actual presence. And that presence requires your financial support. This week in Shoftim we read tzedek tzedek tirdof – righteousness, righteousness you shall pursue. We often interpret this phrase – and quite rightly – as running towards a mitzvah. And one of our central mitzvot is giving tzedakah.

So this is my plea as your rabbi, tzedek tzedek tirdof – help Kolot Mayim stand firmly within the larger Jewish community here in Victoria. Allow all of us to reach out and reach in with welcome.

Many thanks, and with great love to all,
Rabbi Lynn

Re’eh is one of those parshiot that commands us to open our eyes.  We can be so overwhelmed with keeping up (remember that rabbit I mentioned last week?) that we can often not see the miracles around us. We can also miss those opportunities in front of us where we can step up and step in.

What am I not seeing, not understanding this week, this month? How can I better see where I can step forward, in or around to make things a little better for myself and for others I love?More