Shabbat Thoughts- Parshat Devarim- 5777

We are engulfed in words. Facebook ,Twitter, Google in our pocket; the capacity to generate thousand of words- and if we don't like them we delete them and remove tweets and posts. Our celebrities  and politicians speak and we hang on every word.  And if and when we learn that they have acted or spoken immorally, illegally, cruelly or rashly they withdraw their statements and additionally, their sponsors disavow their (former) clients. Client and promoter assert that words were taken out of context or did not have meaning.  We become accustomed to the erasure of words. Sooner or later we end up thinking that words don't really matter.

Judaism disagrees. Words do matter. Every word that you and I share in spoken and written form bears the power to harm, to heal, to destroy  and to mend. We need to guard our words. This is why promises occupy such a significant place in Jewish life. Our promises  are a shared commitment- a commitment that the ideas expressed by words are very real.

DAVAR is the Hebrew word for ‘word’. Davar also means a ‘thing’.  A word is a thing and a thing occupies as much space and time in our universe as a word. So significant is this perspective that the fifth and final volume of Torah is named Devarim which means “these are the words “ (“these are the things”) Moses was speaking about as he anticipated his death and recognized that the Israelites, about to  enter the Promised Land, were starting an entirely new journey. His last words needed to be as real for them as the journey upon which they were about to embark. Our words need to be as real as our daily life as we continue along our life’s journey. The first step in making our Devarim real is to articulate them properly; whether offered in prayer, in laughter, in tears, in discussion or in argument.

     May we choose our words with care.

Shabbat Shalom.

Rabbi Steve Silberman

Shabbat Thoughts- Haftart Mattot-Masei- 5777

The ‘Dog days of Summer’ are upon us. Named by the ancient Greeks for Sirius, the dog star obediently following on the heels of Orion, which appears at this time of year, has nothing to do with summertime heat. The heat and light we experience are due to our own sun. Even as excessive heat weakens us, light elevates our moods. Contrast long days of light with wintertime blues and blahs. Light perks us up. Remember Annie's incomparable “Tomorrow” which voices the need for optimism. Light is the promise of hope and hope sustains our hearts when we confront loss and sorrow. 

       Psalm 23 is often associated with loss because of the phrase ‘though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death.’ The word death has catapulted Psalm 23 to a special prominence associated with funerals and memorial services. The original Hebrew phrase is better understood ‘even as I walk in the valley of darkness, I will not fear that which is bad because you,God, are with me.’  It is plausible that medieval Christians did not understand an unusual Hebrew word found in Psalm 23. The long Hebrew word TZALMAVET means darkness but there are two separate Hebrew words Tzal  (shadow)and mavet (death). Likely, the King James interpretation of Tzal + mavet  of the Psalms became set in English for the past 5 centuries instead of TZALMAVET and we are all more familiar with a mistranslation than the more accurate understanding of  the original Hebrew. Thus, the Hebrew wording of Psalm 23 conveys an optimistic message. Darkness is temporary and will be followed by light. Hopefully, we can see the light yet to occur in our lives. I mention this, not only to correct a mistranslation which has taken hold of many English-speaking people, but also because the same word TZALMAVET occurs in this week’s Haftarah.

        Jeremiah calls out to his own people 2,500 year ago challenging those who think of themselves as sources of ultimate power as opposed to God. In modern words Jeremiah might be asking “Are you capable of illuminating darkness that overtakes the frail and vulnerable human spirit?” I would offer my own comment - ‘Don’t we all need to recognize that something greater than ourselves exists in this world and beyond this world?’ 

 For me, sunsets, as well as other phenomena, daily remind me of my lack of power. As the sun gives way to darkness and incomparable colors are splashed across the heavens, I see the handiwork of the creator. Jewish tradition names this creator God - the sole, responsible initiator of all creation by the first unforgettable words of ‘let there be light’. Light chases away darkness both of night and of fear. May we all allow ourselves the humility to accept support from outside ourselves, from people and from a source as remote and as close as the stars themselves. 

 Shabbat Shalom. 

Rabbi Steve Silberman

Shabbbat Thoughts -Parshat -A Word from the Rabbi

 Nearly the most difficult element for me to understand when studying Torah is the usage of animal offerings. I can appreciate the act of sharing a gift as a means of demonstrating gratitude, lifting a glass of wine which evolved from the ancient presentation of a libation offering; even the presentation of grain and produce offerings upon an altar, or to an individual. However, I cannot understand how the slaughter of an animal could accomplish worship between people and God. I understand the intention,   the motivation, even the enthusiasm – from a historical perspective – but I cannot emotionally identify with this practice.
        It is too foreign, too ancient, too primitive. I know the traditional approach presented by the Torah itself and Maimonides’s interpretation that the system was intended for a nation accustomed to sacrifices and eventually, as people changed, sacrifices would no longer be utilized. But, much of Vayikra ( Leviticus) remains obscured by the clouds of 3,000 years of history.

        This week’s parsha (Chukat), found in Numbers, describes a sacrifice which stands out from the rest. Yes, an animal is slaughtered and prepared in a particular way. But, in contrast with other Torah readings which describe animal sacrifices, this parsha involves the entire nation. Nearly all other passages speak of Aaron or his sons or perhaps Moses taking an animal and preparing it for a ritual. This week’s Torah reading opens with the words 

”Let the Children of Israel take a red heifer, pure and unblemished.. and ALL of you shall give it to the Cohen.”
        In no other circumstance does the entire nation act as one individual! What is so special about this ceremony that everyone, non-Cohen and peasant too, is involved?

         It is the concern over life and death and how we encounter death within life. In ancient Israel, death was considered as leaving an imprint upon the living. If an individual encountered a dead person he or she was considered impure or ‘touched’ by the milieu of death. Only a special ceremony restored an individual to full life and vitality. Sprinkling some ashes from a burned red cow upon the individual who had attended a funeral or touched someone who had died brought him back to the world of the pure;  or perhaps, the living.

        Even we today in the modern world still experience great fear, anxiety, anguish and sorrow when we lose our love ones. Many different techniques and rituals have developed to shield us from the touch of death. Funeral directors are available to make us more comfortable and to stand in for us (if we choose) when contacting the dead. Funeral homes care for our loved ones until we are ready for the funeral. Death occurs more and more frequently in nursing homes and hospitals and outside of daily life-because many people are uncomfortable with having death occur at home. Professionals have emerged in our society to take care of our deaths because some times we are unable to handle the deaths of our loved ones.

         I am struck by the need of the Israelites to communally come to terms with the loss of purity as a result of encountering a deceased person.  I see a need by the entire society to reassert the immediacy of life, strength and vitality against the backdrop of death. Mortality motivated the development of a complex and bizarre ritual in order that the entire nation not succumb to paralysis by fear of loss— and at the center of this ritual was the group’s taking hold of a ceremony which helped them all  find their way back to a shared renewal of purity, nee hope. In effect, even as the deceased was being buried and immediately thereafter, the surviving family members and close neighbors were being prepared to renter the world of life. May we all be strengthened to support each other in times of loss.May we open our hearts  to restore purity and hope to those who are struggling with loss. And may we all work together in shalom to bring a sense of Godliness into each other’s lives.

Shabbat Shalom.  

Rabbi Steve silberman

Torah Tidbits and Haftarah Highlights

By Rabbi Steven Silberman

(All page numbers refer to Etz Hayim)

July 1 - Parshat Chukat - pp. 880 - 886

The famous scene of Moses striking the rock happens in this Parshah (see p. 885 verses 9-12). What was it about this scene that indicated Moses was no longer ‘faithful to God’? Why did God determine that Moses would die in the wilderness?

Haftarat Chukat - pp. 910 - 913

Jephthah is a mighty warrior. When encountering a threat by a hostile tribe, his first action is to negotiate ( p. 911 verse 12). Only after the aggressor nation refuses to discuss terms does Israel defend itself. It is interesting that Jephthah is described as mighty. What makes him mighty?

July 8 - Parshat Balak - pp. 894 - 899

Balak is the name of a Canaanite king who is afraid of the approaching Israelites. He hires Bil-am who is a non-Israelite prophet to curse and weaken Israel. Balak’s goal is to make Israel more vulnerable to a sneak attack. Bizarrely, God is described as speaking with Bil-am three times in this passage (p. 895 verse 9, 896 verse 19, 899 verse 38)! How do you understand this experience?

Haftarat Balak - pp. 915 - 917

This is a very famous Haftarah! Our Shul’s name comes from this Haftarah. Look for the name at the end of the Haftarah. Does any other element accompany the Shul’s name?

July 15 - Parshat Pinchas - pp. 918 – 925

How does the commentary on the bottom of p. 918 view Pinchas’s behavior? Phinehas is the old English rendering of the Hebrew name Pinchas.

Haftarat Pinchas - pp. 938 - 940

The famous ‘still, small voice’ is found here. Read verses 9 - 15 and the comment on verse 10. How does the haftarah view zeal for God? How does the commentary view zeal?

July 22 - Parshat Matot - pp. 941 - 949

The parshah opens with the importance of keeping vows. Judaism expects us to keep our promises. Pp. 946 - 947 speak of some Israelite warriors who took spoils of war in violation of Moses’s instructions. Is there a connection between these two sections?

Haftarat Matot - pp. 968 - 971

This Haftarah introduces us to Jeremiah. He was not a bullfrog in the Tanach (Bible). He was the prophet with whom God spoke in a very close and personal manner. Look at verse 5 on p. 969. How do you feel when reading this verse?

July 29 - Parshat Devarim - pp. 981 - 989

This Shabbat we begin to read the fifth volume of Torah. The Hebrew name of this book is Devarim. What does Devarim mean? What does Deuteronomy mean?

Haftarat Devarim - pp. 1000 - 1004

What could warrant our being called Sodom’s chiefs? The behavior must have been atrocious. Hint: see p. 1002 verse 17.

A MESSAGE FROM OUR RABBI

We are all very familiar with Adam and Eve.

Ever since childhood we have heard the famous account of the first couple. We are so familiar with this passage that we do not even realize that a key element is missing. In a moment close your eyes and ask yourself what is missing from this very famous text.

Do you give up?

Before I share the answer let me remind you of an epiphany I shared with you at Rosh Hashanah and also in last month’s bulletin.

Ahavas Chesed is two Hebrew words. Literally meaning ‘love of kindness’ the word Ahavas begins with Aleph and the word Chesed begins with Chet Placed together Aleph and Chet spell out ACH- which means brother! The essence of Ahavas Chesed is to be a brother to each other.

Now, returning to my stumper about Adam and Eve. What is missing? Their wedding! There is no wedding in the Torah! How could it be that the Torah not include a wedding for the first couple?

A sharp-eyed and compassionate Midrashist noticed this glaring absence of a most wondrous event and authored a Midrash wherein he described the wedding between Adam and Eve, including guests (all the animals of the world), attendants of bride and groom (angels), and the officiant.

Who is left to be the officiant? 

God officiated at the ceremony. How very cool to have God be your wedding officiant! However, one important detail remained before the ceremony could begin. Eve needed to be assisted in preparing to come to the chuppah. She had no helper to assist her at the most important moment of her life. So God braided Eve’s hair. And then she was ready to enter the chuppah.

How beautiful! 

Our Jewish tradition, both explicitly in Torah and creatively expansive through Talmud and Midrash, seeks to inculcate lessons of compassion and kindness in our daily lives. Will we attend to people, near and far, in need of kindness and caring? As members of

Ahavas Chesed we are instructed in caring for others- being an ACH, noticing a need for action like God who braided Eve’s hair.

Shalom,

Rabbi Steve Silberman

Shabbat Thoughts - Parshat Korach-5777

 

We cannot compare suffering. The anguish of an individual is  all his own. But, of late, our community, our Shul community has experienced two extreme losses. Laura and Ben Meisler have lost their young adult son, Harry, and Sue and Ethan Fishman have lost their son-in-law, Ronen, husband and father of two young sons. 

          No parent should ever bury a child, no grandparent should ever bury a grandchild, no 5 year-old should ask “when is Daddy finally coming home?”

         Our Shul is not just a building. Our Shul is a community of people. Whether we know more or fewer members, we have agreed that Shabbat is the time for Jews to assemble and pray. 

        I request that you to come to Shul tomorrow evening at 6:00 p.m. - whether you know the Meisler family, Laura & Ben and Bert, or not, and whether you know Sue and Ethan Fishman or not.  Be in the room together with families who are suffering and in need of solace in the face of anguish. Remain in the social hall for 5-10 minutes after services and extend yourself to people whom you do not typically visit and say ‘I am sorry for your loss.’

          No one is expecting you or me to answer the question “why?”  But we are expecting that others care for each other.  That is part of the agreement we all made when we became members of  Shul.

         This week’s Torah reading is Korach. Famously, this is the only revolt described as occurring during the 40 years of Moses and Aaron. Parshat Korach relates the captivating story of a community which did not see itself as united. Korach and 253 other people rose up against Moses and Aaron and sought to wrest leadership from their hands. The end result of a faction’s  breaking away from the community was great loss and suffering. Typically,  from this parshah, we teach the importance of recognizing leaders and accepting lawfully-appointed leaders. However,  this week I am reading the parshah with an eye towards the people which comprise the community. Shall we only be motivated by the passion of our neighbors to obtain limited glory for ourselves or shall we view ourselves as Menschen and remain part of the community- supporting the community’s needs?

 Please remember we are having a special song-filled service with Danielle and Josh Isen next Friday, June 30, from 6:00-7:00 p.m. Join us for singing and an Oneg Shabbat.  https://www.facebook.com/AhavasChesedSynagogue/videos/1921682868096049/

 Shabbat Shalom.

 Rabbi Steve Silberman

Shabbat Thoughts- Parshat B-ha-a-lo-techa 5777

 “Let there be light!” Few phrases in the English language are as evocative. In our mind’s eyes we can see light sweeping across a horizon and removing darkness from the panorama before us. Before all began there was need for light, for energy, for caring. Light became synonymous with creation, hope and learning. Even today we speak of being illuminated by art, enlightened by thought and experiencing the gleam of understanding. It is no wonder that candle-lighting becomes significant in Jewish tradition; ushering in Jewish holidays and Shabbat, escorting Elijah out of our homes on Saturday evenings, affording us a glow of memory on occasions of loss and chasing away moments of darkness of mood and brooking a sense of hope for the future.

       One would expect that all of us would be active in the kindling of lights. Indeed, in our modern world this is the case. Central to our ritual is the kindling of flames and we teach all of our children including our youngest to sing as we bring light into our homes. But, this week’s Torah reading, B-ha-alotecha, directs that Aaron approach the Menorah  alone to kindle the 7 flames. No other individual is permitted to tend the light. In our day, flipping a switch and using our smartphone screens for quick illumination are mundane acts which serve our purposes of avoiding confusion and preventing a fall. Why does the regulation stress that only Aaron approach the Menorah?

       Perhaps the goal of this mitzvah is to teach us that a mundane act can become a sacred act. Every routine deed bears the potential of being powerful and spiritual. By dressing the High Priest in splendid robes and prescribing a specific method for trimming wicks and adding oil, a trivial task is transformed into wonderment reflecting the first creative act. Mindfully lighting candles and losing ourselves in the dance of the flickering flames carries us to new heights of experience. It is no wonder that this week’s Torah reading  is named B-ha-alo-techa( ‘In your going up to light'). The word ALIYAH is Hebraically within the opening word of this ritual. May we all ascend as we kindle our flames.

• By the way, tomorrow evening is Shabbat. Light flames in your home. Invite friends and relatives over for a candlelight toast. After lighting the candles, raise a glass wine and enjoy some time together. Shabbat is meant to be enjoyed.
•  
• The blessing is Baruch atah Adonai eloheinu melech ha-olam asher kidshanu b’mitzvotav v-tzeevanu l’hadleek ner shel shabbat.
• ( Blessed are you ,Lord our God, ruler of the universe who has made us holy with the commandment of kindling the Shabbat flames.)

         Baruch atah adonai eloheinu melech ha-olam boray pri hagafen. Blessed are you, Lord our God ruler of the universe who creates the fruit of the vine.

Shabbat  Shalom,

Rabbi Steve Silberman

Shabbat Thoughts- Parshat Naso 5777

     There are moments in our lives which stand out beyond compare; moments of intensity and occasions of great significance: birth, death, recovery from illness, witnessing an adult child's growth. These moments overwhelm us. We seek words for experiences that defy words. Perhaps words from thousands of years ago in some way give speech to grand moments.

      In this week’s Parshah we find three phrases which are among the most famous of all Jewish tradition. They emerge from a man named Aaron who is called upon to dedicate a shared worship space. Never before has Israel had a worship place. At the occasion of the first dedication EVER we hear the words “May God bless you and keep you, may God turn God's face to you and protect you, may God turn God’s face to you and grant you peace.”

       Originally, this threefold blessing was intended for the entire nation of hundreds of thousands of Israelites. At a later stage in history parents took hold of this phrasing and offered these words over their children. We learn that you do not need to be a high priest to bless loved ones. Anyone of us is authorized to bless someone as long as he/she opens himself/herself to the vulnerability of being incapable of accomplishing this blessing itself. Only by appreciating our limits does our blessing carry forth- as long as we are motivated by love. Love and humility are the essential elements of effectuating a blessing upon others.

        May we not wait until momentous occasions to bring God into our lives and to offer blessings upon others.  May we all recognize that every week is an opportunity to express love and humility and connect ourselves and others to the tradition of Aaron 3,300 years ago, anchoring ourselves in history and in effect serving as a high priest. May we open our mouths to each other in love and humility.

Shabbat shalom. Rabbi Steve Silberman

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