We are all pulled in many directions. Like you, there are days when I am literally running. Time has a way of getting away from us. In a few hours Shabbat begins. According to a mystical tradition each of us is granted an additional soul on Shabbat. How dramatic! To be doubly spirited! On those days when I am feeling out of breath, I pause and look forward, anticipating gaining an additional soul. This centers me. For this reason and many others I alter my behavior and I step out of ordinary time and what has recently become ordinary American practice. I refrain from email, phone use and computer work.
During Shabbas, I pose a question to myself. How does my behavior respond to my spiritual reality? This question never gets old!
Tomorrow night immediately, after Shabbos, we begin the holiday of Shavuos. It is our anniversary of standing at Mount Sinai and experiencing unparalleled transformative words whose significance have the greatest potential in our world. I invite you to join me at Shul tomorrow evening for an ice cream social at 8 PM. We will have Havdallah, sing a bit and study briefly. Feel free to drop by anytime between 8:00- 9:30 PM.
Our Shul is having a Torah cleaning party Sunday morning at 10:00 a.m! What could be more traditional and chivalrous in terms of caring for our Torahs! Please exercise your prerogative as a descendent of Moses and ancestor of Jews yet to be born by taking hold of a Torah scroll. Help us clean a Torah and dedicate a few minutes of Sunday morning to sacred purpose.
Please remember that Monday is Yizkor. We will have a short Torah study and Yizkor from Noon-1:00 p.m. on June13. The office will be closed in observance of Yomtov.
Always remember that your soul receives a twin every Shabbat. How will you care for these two souls which are entrusted to you every weekend?
Shabbat Shalom and Chag Sameach (Happy Holiday!)
P.S. You might take a few minutes tomorrow evening and Sunday evening to make Kiddush after sundown in honor of our Jewish holiday Follow along with the melody from this website and the text. Transform your home by pausing and listening to this prayer and drinking a bit of wine.
Kiddush for Shavuot Eve:
Yomtov Kiddush Melodyhttp://
Baruch atah Adonai Eloheinu melech ha’olam, borei p'ri hagafen. Baruch atah Adonai Eloheinu melech ha’olam, asher bachar banu mikol am v'rom'manu mikol lashon, v'kid'shanu b'mitzvotav. Vatiten lanu Adonai eloheinu b'ahavah moadim l'simcha, chagim uz'manim l'sason, et yom chag hashavuot hazeh, z'man matan torateinu mikra kodesh, zeicher litzi’at mitzrayim. Ki vanu vacharta v'otanu kidashta mikol ha’amim, umoadei kod'shecha b'simchah uv'sason hinchaltanu. Baruch atah Adonai, m'kadeish yisrael v'haz'manim. Baruch atah Adonai eloheinu melech ha’olam, shehecheyanu v'kiy'manu v'higi’anu lazman haze.
**Feel free to light candles as well, Saturday and Sunday evenings after sundown.
Barukh atah Adonai Eloheinu melekh ha’olam asher kid’shanu b’mitzvotav v’tzivanu l’hadlik ner shel yom tov.
Blessed are You, Lord our God, Ruler of the Universe, who has sanctified us with commandments, and commanded us to light festival candles.
Blessed are You, Lord our God, Ruler of the Universe, who has sanctified us with commandments, and commanded us to light festival candles.
Barukh atah Adonai Eloheinu melekh ha’olam sheheheyanu v’kiyimanu, v’higiyanu laz’man hazeh.
Blessed are You, Lord our God, Ruler of the Universe, who has given us life, and sustained us, and enabled us to reach this season.
Blessed are You, Lord our God, Ruler of the Universe, who has given us life, and sustained us, and enabled us to reach this season.
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