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Dear Friends,
Rather than my usual brief Torah commentary, I want to take this space to recognize the special wonder of marking the 250th Anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence of the United States of America. The interweaving of Jewish and American identities is core to all of our lives. In that pursuit, I studied the 'Talmud of America" booklet developed by the faculty at the Pardes Institute in Jerusalem.
Four faculty members, each one an Oleh from the USA, took a phrase from the Declaration of Independence and examined that phrase in a Talmudic context. Dr. David I. Bernstein, Dean Emeritus of Pardes, explored the phrase, "We mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor." He describes parallel structures and values to the phrase in the Shema, "With all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your might." In both cases, he finds, "these ideals are not only fulfilled in moments of dramatic sacrifice. They are realized in the ongoing work of creating a just society: in civic engagement, in the protection of rights, in the willingness to take responsibility for the collective good."
You can get your own copy of this interesting and complex booklet here,
This week we meet in the Dorff-Nelson chapel at 9:45 am. The Gabbai and the participating Prayer Leaders will highlight the overlap of Independence Day and Shabbat this week by using American melodies when possible and appropriate. Please sing along when you can. We will have a basic Kiddush following services.
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