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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.
Kedoshim
This week in Parashat Kedoshim, we face into some of the fundamental demands of Judaism. We are commanded to be kadosh, holy – to do what is holy – in all that we do. God tells us, “I am holy, so too, you are a holy people unto Me.” But holiness for Jews isn’t a feeling, or […]
Shavuot
May 30, 2022 by Rabbi Lynn Greenhough • From the Rabbi's Desk Tags: 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 […]