From the Rabbi’s Desk

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

Dear friends, I am always surprised (not sure why) at how apt the Torah reading of the week is for any particular occasion. This week we return to weekly services and the Torah reading is from Vaetchanan, where again we hear Moses review the Aseret Dibrot, the Ten Commandments given at Sinai. Just as Moses needed to remind the people of Israel of their obligations before entering the Land, we too need regular reminders of our obligations to each other and to God.More

Again I want to thank all of you for all the love and support you have given both Aaron and me over these past few months. Most of you know I will be on leave over July. I very much need this time to have quiet. Please know that even as you don’t see me, know I am probably connecting with you, just in a different dimension from the physical.More

Have you ever wanted to bring home good news – and then hesitated, only seeing all the pitfalls that might preclude reporting the good?

The leaders of each tribe of Israel did exactly that. Commanded by God, asked by Moses, chosen by their tribe members, each leader ventured into the Land to see what it was like. This Land, this eternal gift was abundant with fruits, and yet even as they came home carrying staves laden with enormous grapes, they came home abundant with fear.

What enables us to trust a future we cannot yet imagine? We marry, we have children – we make all manner of choices based on trust and on love. We imagine a future – and then we live it. It took the Israelites 40 years to learn to “do and then understand” and in doing so, bring their promise to fruition. This is our promise we continue to make as Jews with our own life decisions every day.

Shelach teaches us to trust in God, trust in our tradition even when the walls seem too fortified, and the land seems full of stones. In doing so we learn to trust each other, to trust beyond our own reckoning. Every day.

With love,
Rabbi Lynn

Most days I get up early, and on these warm days one of the first things I attend to is watering the many “rooms” in our garden – sides, back yard, front rhododendrons. All are thirsty.

I often find myself thinking about how we all, too, are parched and thirsty. We too are in need of that mayim, that quenching drink that might help alleviate our sadness, our lonliness, our need.

We learn throughout Torah that the Land receives rains from the heavens, early rains and late rains, there is water that springs from rocks, there are wells, there is water that follows Miriam throughout their days in the wilderness. Water is life, essential. We call our Torah mayim chayim, waters of life.

In virtually every parashah, Torah teaches us some lesson about how to quench our own thirsts. Our siddur as well guides us through our tradition with teachings about how in our obligations to each other, we are actually acting with kindness, offering each other a glass of life-giving waters.

We learn to speak gently, act with gentle kindness, and in doing so, building trust. May your watering be gentle throughout your days, and may we each drink as we need.

With love,
Rabbi Lynn

Shavuot was just wonderful – with a beautiful and stirring d’var given by Lis Louwrier. Lis reminded us that we never stand alone at Sinai as she listed many of those who help make our kehillah what it is.

This morning I read the (exceedingly lengthy) list of requirements that potential rabbinic candidates were to meet to be considered for a position in Louisiana. Whenever I read one of these postings I have the very same thought – “They are looking for Mashiach!”

Of course, the listed requirements are written to meet an ideal – but… the rabbi is expected to do everything from run all services including daily minyanim, supervise Hebrew schools, be on call to all congregational needs, etc. etc. It is a very lengthy and comprehensive list – well beyond the capacity of any one person – even someone who is an oldest daughter, Type A personality (mentioning no names).

I would love to see an ad posted that flipped such a list: this ad would read like this.

Rabbi in search of a congregation:

Congregants should be conversant with all Shabbat and all Holiday services, able to chant Torah/Haftarot as required, be able to respond to all life questions for fellow members, those both traditional and progressive, be willing to attend professional and denominational conferences, conduct all necessary life-cycle events from funerals/shiva, brit milah/baby namings, conduct Bar and Bat Mitzvah ceremonies, and weddings, teach Hebrew school and B’nei mitzvah curriculum, teach all adult education programmes, create and teach conversion programmes, visit the sick and elderly, meet the needs of all congregants regardless of their housing situations, be it assisted living, or all those homebound, ensure healthy relationships between Board and Rabbi, be community builders, be working scholars, have engaging and dynamic personalities, encourage unaffiliated members to join and learn, and have appropriate office hours.

The rabbi will be on call to assist with all of these congregational endeavours.

This ad I assure us all, will bring Mashiach!! May we all stand at Sinai every day.

Gam zeh l’tovah.

My love to all,
Rabbi Lynn