From the Rabbi’s Desk

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

So many recipes for Shavuot – cheesecakes, blintzes, cottage cheese pancakes, home-made ice creams – what a time of year. These days, we even have dairy-free options for all of the above these days. I am sure Moses would approve. A joyous time of year.

Please come and join us at shul on the morning of the 27^th. Shavuot is a very special holiday where we honour and celebrate our people-hood. We remember, for good and for sometimes not so good, we are family, we are k’lal Yisroel.

Gam zeh l’tovah.

My love to all,
Rabbi Lynn

Aaron and I are both beyond grateful for the many, many messages of condolence you have sent us, for the visits, for the food with which you have nourished us.

In the middle of unbearable loss, we have felt the love of home and the sweetness of your kindnesses.

We use the language of Hebrew to describe kindness – chesed – and wrapped in chesed we have been. Interestingly when we speak of our mitzvot we open up and expand that word and speak of gemilut chasidim, acts of loving kindness, as it is usually translated. However, if we look closely, we see a plural – acts of loving kindnesses. Gemilut chasadim has punctuated our lives since we left Victoria for Edmonton. I will never forget the small gestures, the quiet presences, the words, “I’ve got this” that enabled us both to focus on whatever was an immediate need.

As we celebrate Pesach this year, God willing, kindness will continue to be our leitmotif for not only the season, but hopefully for the months to come.

Thank you, Chag Pesach sameach, and may we all grow in kindnesses, and in joy.

Rabbi Lynn