In this week’s Torah portion, we find the Israelites B’midbar - in the wilderness. It is the first portion we read in the Book of Numbers. We learn that Moses and Aaron are charged with conducting a census of men over the age of 20 who are eligible to fight. Moses lists the Levites and Kohathites separately as they are responsible for the services and sacred objects of the sanctuary respectively.
Rabbinic commentators interpret this text to mean that the census is a sign of “God’s love for and reliance upon the people of Israel.” We count the people who are important to us, counting on them to care for and defend us. It is not only a sign of love, but also of need.
Pre-COVID, synagogue professionals often found themselves measuring success by how many people attended worship services, holiday celebrations, programs and of course, how many are enrolled in Religious School. One of the things that makes me so proud to be a member of TBE is that even before COVID, we learned the value of measuring success by the impact we have on our members. COVID then allowed us to deepen those connections with more attention put on authentic relationship building. We count all of you because you are important to us and we need you.
My husband and I have been giving a great deal of thought to those we love and need in our lives as our son becomes bar mitzvah this Shabbat. The pandemic has made it impossible for us to gather all of our extended family and friends in person like we did for our older son a few years ago. While at first, we were sad for this loss, it became clear that thanks to technology, we would be able to include many more people in our celebration. Family and friends from across the globe will be able to join us which brings us a great deal of joy.
We hope you will add to that joy and accept our invitation to be counted amongst those who are important to us tomorrow morning at 10:30 AM via Zoom as our son Elias ascends the bimah to become a bar mitzvah.
My heart is in the east, and I in the uttermost west-- לִבִּי בְמִזְרָח וְאָנֹכִי בְּסוֹף מַעֲרָב --Yehudah Halevi
After a tumultuous week in Israel, our hearts are also in the East. We too, feel at a loss for words. Mourning lives lost and demoralized by the distance of an ever elusive peace, we offer this prayer, written by Anat Hoffman, for the Israel we love:
Eternal God, In this moment, give us hope for Israel and her future. Renew our wonder at the miracle of the Jewish State. In the name of the pioneers who made the deserts bloom - give us the tools to cultivate a diversity of Jewish expression in Israel. In the name of our fallen soldiers - give us courage to stand up to the words and ways of zealots. Those in our own midst and those among our neighbors. In the name of Israeli inventors who have amazed the world with their innovations – help us apply the same ingenuity to finding a path to peace. In the name of all these individuals - grant us the strength to conquer doubt and despair in Israel. Replacing doubt with action. Replacing despair with hope. And let us say: Amen.
Sol Begel H. Jack Feibelman Dr. Henry Gewirtz Lawrence Hoffman Gladys H. Jacober Rebecca Jacobson Alvin Kurzer Bernie Levine Joan Adler Mark Muriel Mann Max Mann Eileen Parker Lenore Rakatansky
Arthur B. Richman Sherry Royall Fay Rozovsky Julius Schmulowitz Louis Schuman Richard Shepard Dr. Paul Sherwood Stanley Smith Tess Steingold Richard G. Strauss Florence Tilles
Anna Cohen Haberman Herman Haberman Donald David Jaffa Jean Moverman Jaffa Sloan Myles Jaffa Farrel A. Jaffa
YIZKOR ELOHIM The Congregation joins in mourning the death of Lois Fain Lorelei Benatovich Ira Silverman Mandel Sherman Judge William Hillman Harriet Quinn Maxine Morse
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