SB Left – 3 Column
Korach
Korach, our Torah parashah this week, seemingly examines what happens to those who complain. The leader of the rebellion, also from the tribe of Levi, a cousin of Moshe, challenges his authority. Korach asks the question – “Isn’t this entire assembly a holy people.” Are we not equal? It is a question that resonates with […]
Shlach
My car is the Victoria Jewish bookmobile – as fast as I empty it out (not fast) someone else offers me books. But where oh where has this book ended up? If you have it, the original owner would dearly love to have it back – please be in touch with me, and I will […]
Beha’alotecha
This week we read Parashah Beha’alotecha in the Book of Bamidbar – we open up with instructions about kindling the lamps of the Menorah. We read that the Menorah is of hammered out gold, from its base to the opening of its flowers. This week is also our Annual General Meeting, Thursday evening at 7 pm. […]
Naso
We had such a beautiful Shabbat/Shavuot service on Shabbat morning June 4th – many people brought flowers to help decorate out little shul. Thank you to everyone who helped in all manner of ways to make our morning as meaningful as could be; some helped lead the davening, some helped in the kitchen, some folded tablecloths, […]
Shavuot
This past week brought many interactions and connections with people, as per usual. Babies and elders and everyone in between. People have moved here, and people have moved away. As we come to this week of preparation for Shavuot I find myself thinking about the many journeys our people have embarked upon, packing up, leaving a home […]
Bechukotai
I have been thinking a lot this past week about the word yes. Giving assent, agreement, even within our silence. Rabbi Mendel Torum of Rymanov taught: Only the first letter of the commandments, the aleph of anokhi, “I am,” was spoken by the Divine voice. Aleph signifies the number One, referring to the unity of all in God, […]
Behar
Each week when we have services over Zoom, I like to find part of our musical heritage to end the service – sometimes contemporary and sometimes an historical treasure. These past two weeks I was with families as we buried their beloved husbands, fathers, and grandfathers – both men born in Istanbul. In their memory, […]
Emor
We had a wonderful Shabbat morning service this week. Two people were called to Torah – one for the first time, and one for the first time since her daughter’s Bat Mitzvah in 1997! Kol haKavod to George Haniotis, moved here (we hope to stay) from Quebec, and to Cathy Basskin, visiting from Calgary.
Chukat
July 5, 2022 by Rabbi Lynn Greenhough • From the Rabbi's Desk
July always seems to bring one of those very special weeks. This July brings two conversions completed – a few more to come later in the summer, (Mazal tov to Chasida Shai Fudger and Aidan Doduck); we will celebrate a Bat Mitzvah, (Mazal tov to Charlotte Marcovitz and her entire family); and we also celebrate […]