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In this week’s Torah portion, Naso, we are privileged to read the Priestly Blessing that may be familiar to many of us.
May God bless you and Keep you.
May God make His face shine upon you.
May God lift His face to you and grant you peace.
The three lines, totaling 15 Hebrew words, seek connection with God spiritually, emotionally, and physically. The notion of God having a “face” that can “shine” upon a person or be” lifted” to that person places God in a human context that is quite interesting.
As I am writing I am still savoring the Shavuot/Shabbat weekend, and I am recognizing the blessings that the Holy One has given. If you were not here, I report to you that our JCC was truly alive this past holiday weekend. It was alive with people, it was alive with song, and it was alive with community. And what a blessing it all was.
We started Shavuot on Thursday evening with a Tikkun Leil Shavuot, study sessions. First, Stu Lehrer Led us in a study of Psalm 78:38. Believe it or not, this one verse shows up in our daily liturgy several times. We learned that, among other things, it appears so often because it speaks of a merciful, forgiving, and compassionate God.
Next, your Rabbi(That’s me) taught about Jewish views on Sex. Among other things we learned that sex in a healthy relationship can be holy. As you might imagine, this led to some fascinating discussion.
What could be bad about people being together and learning while eating cheesecake and making L’Chaims? The short answer is nothing! Next year, dear reader, join us. Better yet, teach something.
Services for the first day of Shavuot include a recitation of the Ten Commandments. They are read directly from the Torah as the congregation stands, re-enacting the original giving of the Torah as the Israelites stood under Mount Sinai. featured a blessing given to all the children who attended. One of our joys on Shavuot is that we have several families that join us from the White Plains in Westchester, New York. The building was literally humming with children of all ages. After services we had a lovely (dairy) meal.
The blessings continued the second day of Shavuot, which was also Shabbat. The JCC had additional people because there was also a Yizkor (remembrance) Service. Again, the sanctuary had an added energy that fed into a meaningful Yizkor service. I have referred to the Yizkor service as an opportunity to spend some time with the loved ones we have lost.
When the Torah was out, since we had a lot of children, I asked them all to rise and pronounced the following blessing:
Oh God our Creator and our Teacher, bless these children who have come into your sanctuary with eager minds and warm hearts. This day may they be imbued the strength and the desire to study Torah, to live loves of kindness, and compassion. May they yearn to live by the Jewish principles of Service of your Name and Gemilut Chasidim, doing deeds of loving kindness. May they bring joy to all who love them and honor to the whole House of Israel. Strengthen them and guide them on their path. Blessed is the Lord, the Giver and Teacher of Torah to God’s people.
The whole Shavuot experience was what I refer to as a “Sinai Moment”, a time that one can feel the smiling presence of God. The building was full, the bimah was full, and my heart was full. (Eventually our stomachs were full.)
Over the course of the long holiday weekend there was not a day when the JCC was not filled with people seeking, prayer, community, camaraderie, memory, God, and/or peace. Shavuot is called the Feast of Weeks; this year it felt more like a Feast of Blessings.
Indeed, God showed us kindness and granted us peace.
A few notes:
Next Friday, June 5th, we will be having an Israel Shabbat. Dinner will feature Israeli food. We will play Israeli music, and JNF will help us to celebrate our Homeland. At a time when Israel and the Jewish people are constantly being physically and verbally attacked, it is important that we join together and show solidarity. Dinner is at 6:30 with services to follow at approximately 7:30. Call the office to RSVP.
On Wednesday, June 10th, at 7:30 pm, the Clergy of Long Beach Island are sponsoring an interfaith concert featuring the Island Singers. Given the complexities of the world in which we find ourselves, this is an important event to attend. It is important that we strengthen our bonds with everyone in our island community. If you are on or near the Island, please join us. The event requires pre-registration so look for more information elsewhere in this Shabbat reminder and scan the QR Code.
Shabbat Shalom – Rabbi Michael S. Jay
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