8th, 2037.) There is also a blessing we recite on the occasion of seeing 600,000 Jews in one place:
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יהוה אֱלהֵינוּ מֶלֶך הָעולָם חכם הרזים
Baruch ata Adonai, Eloheinu melech ha-olam, chacham harazeem.
Blessed are You, Adonai, our God, Sovereign of the Universe, knower of secrets.
Our sages teach that the recitation of this blessing is a reminder that, even when within our multitudes, God knows each of us individually, not only our names and faces, but the very contents of our hearts. Each of us has our own story, our own joy and pain, our own needs and unique gifts. Our tradition ascribes to God the ultimate power of being able to differentiate us amidst the crowds and chaos of our lives. Therefore, each of us has the potential for godliness in our capacity to know one another. This Friday night, at our first Shabbat B’Yachad of the year, we take the time to do just that. B’Yachad means together, and so we open our doors and hearts wide to the full diversity of our community. From our youngest to our oldest, everyone is welcome. I hope you’ll join us tonight as we continue the sacred work of community building with K’tantan Kabbalat Shabbat, dinner for all, and services with readings by our 6th and 7th grade students.
Shabbat Shalom,
Preston