| April 2007
Sinai Update – Week of April 22-28, 2007
Parashiyot Acharei Mot-Kedoshim (Leviticus 16:1 – 20:27) Reflections on the Jewish Calendar – Rabbi Andy Vogel
On Monday and Tuesday, Israel observed Yom Ha’atzma’ut, the national celebration of the 59th anniversary of Israeli Independence (observed according to the Hebrew calendar, the 5th of Iyar). Some supporters (and critics) of Israel may look at the events of the past year, citing last summer’s war with Hezbollah, a Hamas entrenched and a lack of progress in peace with the Palestinians, and scandals and uncertainty among the highest levels of Israel’s own government, and they might emote only frustration and perhaps even despair as this birthday arrives. Certainly, these problems, and others, are cause for concern.
And yet, there is so much to celebrate. Whenever we come to Israel’s birthday, we can look back to see how much this little state has accomplished in so little time. Israel has already fulfilled her mission of providing safe shelter for Jews throughout the world – Jewish refugees have come en masse to Israel from Europe and North Africa, in the early years of the state, as well as Ethiopia, Yemen, Argentina, and the former Soviet Union (over a million former Soviet Jews now live in Israel). In addition to developing into an advanced, modern country, Israel has revived the Hebrew language, fostered a rich multi-ethnic culture, and it is that Jewish-Israeli culture to which we as American Jews can look for spiritual inspiration. Israel is where our Biblical roots are as Jews, it is where our history lies, and where the Jewish present and future are as well.
As the State of Israel enters into her 60th year, we are aware of how much there is yet to achieve and resolve, but also we can take pride in this country and her accomplishments. Israel is, I believe, the most ambitious project the Jewish people has ever undertaken. May it continue to thrive and Happy Yom Ha’atzma’ut.
- Rabbi Andy Vogel Sinai Update – Week of April 15-21, 2007
Parashat Tazria/Metzora Reflections on the Jewish Calendar – Rabbi Andy Vogel
We turn our attention to a text from Pirke Avot, the book of Jewish wisdom sayings read during the seven-week period from Passover to Shavu’ot:
“Rabbi Chalafta ben Dosa used to say: ‘When ten Jews sit and study Torah together, the Divine Presence abides among them… But others say this is also true when just five Jews sit and study together… and when three… and just two study together. It applies to just one Jew, since the Torah says, “In every place where I cause My name to be mentioned, I will come and bless you” [Exodus 20::24].’” (Pirke Avot 3:6)
This teaching first begins by affirming the need for Jews to study within a community and it suggests that a minyan is ideal for Jewish study. Then, step by step, the teaching suggests that God’s Presence rests upon a group of any number of people (five, three, two) who are seeking spiritual truth together. Last, the saying establishes that even one person engaged in Torah alone is blessed by God’s Presence. Scholar Jacob Neusner writes that this conclusion affirms “the observation that Torah changes us, whether as a community or as a single individual.” - Rabbi Andy Vogel
Sinai Update – Week of April 8-14, 2007 Parashat Shemini (Leviticus 9:1 – 11:47) Reflections on the Jewish Calendar – Rabbi Andy Vogel
The Jewish world will mark Yom HaShoah this Saturday evening and Sunday, April 14-15 (please join us for a film on Thursday night that tells one story from the Holocaust – see below). In 1959, the Knesset declared the 27th of Nisan as a day of remembrance, choosing the anniversary of the Warsaw Ghetto uprising as its annual date. In Israel, citizens will hear a siren blare at an appointed hour throughout the country, and stop everything they do to stand for two minutes of silence. The entire country stops. Around the world, Jews will recall the Six Million who perished in the Holocaust.
Israeli poet Dan Pagis wrote a poem titled “Written in a Pencil in the Sealed Railway-Car.” In it, he is able to express the horror and shock at the evil that human beings inflicted upon one another during the Shoah, the victimization of the Jews as Abel, and the absence of God.
“here in this carload
I encourage you to light a Yahrzeit candle in memory of the Jews who were murdered during the darkness of the Shoah, as our community observes this day of remembrance.
- Rabbi Andy Vogel |
