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What a time we had this past Shabbat and weekend. First, we started the Book of Bamidbar(Numbers). Any time we begin a new book of the Torah it is worthy of celebration.
On Sunday we officially kicked off our 75th anniversary programming with an Interfaith concert featuring the Island Singers and songs connected to the “Road of Life”. Over the course of the concert, I, and the clergy who joined us, offered spiritual and/or liturgical readings.
Joining us were Reverend Diane Burkland, Father Peter De Franco, Interim Reverend at The Episcopal Church of the Holy Innocents, Vicar Genevieve Bishop of St. Peters at the Light, Pastor Scott Bostwick of the United Methodist Churches of LBI, and Deacon Tom Foley of Christ Church in Toms River.
Our guests let us know that we have friends in community which was very comforting given the extreme prevalence of antisemitism that we have seen in the world lately.
Right after the concert, we kicked off the Shavuot holiday with study sessions in which Stu Lehrer taught about the Ohr Chadash, “A New Light” prayer that we read during morning services. I did a deep dive into the Ten Commandments during which we discussed which commandment could be deleted and, what commandment should it be replaced with. There was no consensus on which commandment should be deleted, but a majority did agree that the newly added commandment should be the requirement to eat a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup every day.
On both days of Shavuot, we had wonderful attendance spearheaded by Rabi Harry Pell and the “White Plains Crew”. Finally, on Tuesday we had a very meaningful Yizkor service. Good food was served, including the Rabbi’s Moroccan Roasted Cauliflower and Maccaroni and Cheese.
If you did not join us for either the concert or Shavuot this year, make sure to put it on your calendar for next year!
By the way….As if Shabbat, and the concert, and Shavuot were not great enough, I got to spend much of Wednesday with my new grandson. Now, that was the cherry on top of an already pretty perfect cake.
In this week’s Torah portion, Naso, we are presented with the Priestly blessing that we still use today when blessing our children and our community. At Numbers 6:22-27 it says:
The Lord spoke to Moses: Speak to Aaron and his sons: Thus, shall you bless the people of Israel. Say to them:
The Lord bless you and protect you!
The Lord deal kindly and graciously with you!
The Lord bestow His favor upon you and grant you peace!
The blessing itself is very interesting. Though it was originally intended for the Kohanim (Priests) to say to the entire Israelite community, it is written in the singular form. The intention is that the blessing is given not to the group, but to each individual present.
God is consistently looking for direct connection and seeking relationship with each of us.
I think that there is a lesson here. If God is seeking individual relationships with each of us, perhaps the message is that we should be seeking deeper and more meaningful personal relationships with those around us. If the Holy One seeks connection, how much more so should we seek to connect.
Perhaps more importantly, we should seek to help the people with whom we are connecting. What if we replaced the word “Lord” where it appears in the blessing with “May I”
May I bless you and protect you!
May I deal kindly and graciously with you!
May I bestow my favor upon you and grant you peace!
If each of us sought to bring blessing, protection, graciousness, favor and peace, to those we meet, what a different world we would live in. What a better (holier) community we would live in.
Strong communities are built one relationship at a time. Strong communities exist when each individual takes it upon himself, or herself, to project the image of God in Whom we are all created. May it happen in our time.
Don’t forget to help us to Celebrate 75 years of Faith, Family, Friends, and Fun!
Shabbat Shalom – Rabbi Michael S. Jay
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