Shabbat Thoughts, Weekly Parchat, A word from the Rabbi June 2017

Growing up in Connecticut I was accustomed to four seasons; winter being the most demanding of me with snow to shovel and ice to chop. During my high school years my family moved to Phoenix, Arizona. We arrived in Mid-August. I  clearly remember passing a bank with an outdoor clock, shocked to see 117 degrees displayed, wondering how life could be possible in such extremes. The  two-fold answer is air-conditioning (the local term being ‘refrigeration’) and people move slowly. The mountains in the ‘Valley of the Sun’ are perpetually brown; rock, cactus and dirt being the only adornments in an arid landscape. I remember thinking ‘everything is brown.’

Slowly, my Connecticut eyes became accustomed to a new terrain. I began to discern the many subtle shades of browns, reds, tans, oranges and even hints of purple and gray.  As we took more walks and explored trails and hills, over a span of months, I came to enjoy and appreciate desertscape as a beautiful alternative to lush green lawns (not to mention the sustainability factor). Though the desert and its mountains initially struck me as stark and barren, I gradually came to an awareness of its fullness; a fullness of color, shape and fauna.

      This week we begin to read the fourth volume of the Torah which is named Bamidbar. The book opens with a census of the Israelites, in the desert, as they prepare for the continuing journey towards the Promised Land. Fourteen months have elapsed since the Exodus. They are now citizens of the desert, with eyes becoming accustomed to new beauties and new fears, new challenges and new opportunities. The memories of Egypt are beginning to fade. As the 12 tribes prepare to combat foreign forces along the way, they organize into military units, probably undertaking military training. It’s a whole new world for them; a world of new vistas, physical and perspectival. What will they see as they step forward into the Midbar ( desert wilderness)? What might we see if we are able to peer over their shoulders and look through their eyes?

Shabbat Shalom. 

Torah Tidbits and Haftarah Highlights

By Rabbi Steven Silberman

(All page numbers refer to Etz Hayim)

June 3 - Parshat Naso – pp. 791-794 

Three families descended from a man name Levi are given the privilege and obligation of carrying the Tabernacle through the wilderness. These families are named Gershon, Merari and Kehat. They are instructed in carrying the components and furniture of the portable tabernacle (Mishkan). Why is so much detail needed? Why can't they just take turns and pick up the items?

Haftarat Naso - pp. 813-815

Samson's birth is announced. He is connected to this Torah reading because he is going to be a leader. How does the mother respond to the news she will give birth to a future leader? How does the father respond? Whom do you admire in this scene and why?

June 10 - Parshat B-Ha-alotecha –pp. 816-821

Aaron is commanded to take care of the Menorah. How many branches are on this Menorah? What happens centuries later and why?

Haftarat B-Ha-alotecha – pp. 837-839

This passage describes a vision. A man named Joshua (not Moses's helper) sees a Menorah and two olive trees. This connects the Haftarah to the Parshah. Separate from today, on which holiday do we read this Haftarah?

June 17 - Parshat Shelach - pp. 840-845

Have you ever seen the symbol of two men carrying a huge cluster of grapes suspended from a pole between them? This comes from the Torah reading and is found on page 842. What is the context of these huge grapes?

Haftarat Shelach - pp. 857-859

Joshua, who leads Israel after Moses’s death, is featured in the Torah and Haftarah. What links Joshua in the Haftarah to the Parshah in Torah?

June 24 - Parshat Korach - pp. 860-868

In this week's Torah reading we learn of the terrible event of a rebellion against Moses. Why do you think Moses falls on his face when his own cousins challenge him? What is the consequence of this rebellion?

Haftarat Korach (Shabbat Rosh Chodesh) – pp. 1220-1223

A special haftarah is read because today is Rosh Chodesh. It is the first day of Tammuz. This Haftarah is read because Rosh Chodesh is like a mini-Rosh Hashanah and the theme of the Haftarah is the beauty of creation. Furthermore, the last verse speaks of Shabbat coinciding with Rosh Chodesh.

A MESSAGE FROM OUR RABBI

A few weeks ago Kathy and her crew prepared a beautiful and delicious brunch for us all. We enjoyed champagne in the Etz Chayim foyer and a tasty meal in a beautifully appointed social hall. Neil Buchman and Barry Ripps worked together to display some of our old, shared family photos on the screen in the big Shul. It was a pleasant and upbeat morning and I shared a few thoughts. Herein is a summary.

During Rosh Hashanah, I shared a chuckle with you. I mentioned that my Hebrew is very good but for the first 27 years of our being together I had never noticed that the initials of our Shul’s name actually form a Hebrew word. It took me 27 years to see that Ahavas Chesed’s Hebrew initials are “ACH” which means ‘brother’.

The name of our shul is ‘Love of kindness’ and can be summarized by initials as 'brother.' It’s transformative! How powerful it is to realize that our shared name is to be a brother and sister to each other. The defining element of being a member of Ahavas Chesed is to view each other as brother/sister- to see yourself as a sister/brother.

This epiphany has been my personal guide this past year since Rosh Hashanah. Ever since, the farm to table Sukkos dinner put together by Katy Webster and Melanie Lobel, the dog Park Erev Shabbat service (thanks to Bess Rich for the idea), our Guitar Shabbat services (we couldn’t do them without Yehuda Silverwolf), the art exhibit at Mobile Arts Council (thank you to Jeff Marcus for his terrific help) and the new members who have joined this current year — all of this has been informed by this new realization that we are brethren to each other. Such an awareness brings us closer to each other. Such an awareness enriches our lives.

New members of ACH include:

Veronica and David Meola and their children Elise, Anthony, Alexander, Evan

Tonya Ben Mansour and her children Landon, Ramzi, Farah

Deborah Gurt and Marek Steedman and their children Lev, Jacob, Gabriel 

Joanne and James Conlon 

Linda and Ed Blassingame 

Sheri and Yehuda Silverwolf

Tonya taught self-defense classes last December and Veronica taught ballroom dance classes this past year. There is more to come. I hope you share in what ACH has to offer.

This past year we have added six 5th graders and five kindergartners to our Shul school! Eleven new students joined us, with babies and toddlers on the way. It is very exciting to see our new young brothers and sisters!

As the summer progresses and things settle down, drop by Shul for a Guitar Shabbat or Poetry Shabbat service and introduce yourself to some new faces. Recently, Zach Pall and his mother Beth along with other newcomers Danielle and Josh Isen and Teddy Ward have been part of our crowd. New people are joining us and seeing how much we have to offer! Be part of the brotherhood envisioned by your ancestors in the selection of our name.

Lend your own personal caring to our community and bring your brotherly affection to our shul to help bind us together. May Hashem bless us all as we enjoy a pleasant summer and recharge our batteries for the upcoming year.

From one ACH to another-

Shalom, Rabbi Steve Silberman

A Jewish Idea- Jerusalem Reunited

  Fifty years ago, yesterday, Jewish history changed. The world changed. Jerusalem  became an intact city once again. Many of us remember the Six Day War, the lightning- fast victory of Israel which garnered the Sinai Peninsula, the Golan Heights, a restored Judea and Samaria and Jerusalem -especially the Kotel in our hands- not to mention, international acclaim over the power of a small Jewish nation. Pride soared. It became cool to be Jewish and to be a supporter of Israel. Yesterday marked the Hebrew anniversary of the 3rd day of the war, and is known as Yom Yerushalayim ( the day of Jerusalem) and marks the date upon which Israeli forces took the Kotel from Jordanian control. ( Under the terms of the original  UN Mandate Jerusalem was to be an international city. Jordan seized it during the 1948-9 war and no international objection was heard. For 19 years Jews took their lives in their hands if they walked too close to the Jewish section of Jerusaelm, coming into range of Jordanian snipers). 

      Now, today much of the world views Israel differently. Although a pioneer in many areas of innovation and research and still surrounded by many hostile forces, because of her military prowess and the West Bank Arabs under her control ,Israel is now viewed less sympathetically. Many criticize Israel for not quickly ‘solving’ the Palestinian problem. Unless and until overseas critics visit Israel and see for themselves the size of Israel and appreciate the complexities of living in tight quarters with many potential combatants who are more inclined to attack than committing to living side-by-side without hostility, this negative view will likely not diminish.  Admittedly, the problem is colossal in scope and Israel must develop a consistent approach and carry out that approach. Just as the American electorate is dramatically split, so, too is the Israeli electorate divided. Thus, we have the divide between the political parties in Israel which are representing the majority consensus even as many Israeli citizens and Knesset members champion a more liberal approach.  It is complicated.

       May we all see shalom in Israel and, indeed, the entire world.

Rabbi Steve Silberman

Shabbat Thoughts- Parshat Emor 5777

Cheerleaders have a tough job.  Whether the team is winning or losing they are expected to be cheerful, and they are to be consistently energetic while the energy within the audience waxes and wanes or while some stretch their legs and others intently focus on food, the big screen or the myriad distractions at a big game. The question remains - how to motivate  a community of many diverse perspectives to speak with one voice?

      These days we in America are sharply divided. Turn on the TV and the voices, (politicians , political analysts, community leaders, consumer advocates, corporate owners, minimum wage earners and neighbors on our streets) are seemingly ever more divided. More important than trying to come to a consensus is the felt need to shout louder than the other person, group or party. While  we are speaking loudly these past years about ending bullying in schools, bullying is becoming ever more common in the adult world which exists beyond our K-12 schools. While we speak of the importance of preserving life and many shout slogans in support of closing abortion clinics, fewer shout of the need to increase funding of health and education programs for at-risk populations, both here and overseas. While we speak of the importance of improved health care we do not take the necessary time  to study the health needs of 320 million Americans. While we work to be a nation which cares equally for people of different racial backgrounds, the chasm between Black and White yawns ever ever more widely. We are all descendants of immigrants and we forget what we or our ancestors experienced as many shout “Close the doors” without suggesting proposals as to how the door could be more secure and remain partially ajar. Our voices are scattered.

       Is there not one guiding principle to which we can all agree? I have a short list of possible suggestions. 1)Listen to someone and allow that person to finish speaking without interruption. 2)When disagreeing, disagree with the approach or the perspective or the interpretation of evidence-do not disagree with the individual. 3) Name-calling does not help. 4) In your mind’s eye see yourself as living in some other place ( a different apartment or home) and perhaps you will view the situation being discussed differently.

        This week’s Torah reading, Parshat Emor, is a challenge to moderns. It addresses the Cohen and stipulates many protocols for maintaining purity. Many Cohanim lived throughout ancient Israel; some were old, some young, some married, some single, perhaps some were Conservative and some were Liberal. They probably did not agree with each other on every  issue of daily life. But there was one element to which they could all agree- the need to be pure. And it was this need for purity which effected them and influenced their community. Perhaps we could all identify one common principle which we could articulate, one voice which we could all share, thus beginning to nullify the discord found in so many parts of our beloved land.

Shabbat Shalom.

Rabbi Steve Silberman