The crowds and atmosphere on Shavuot were truly amazing, and we appreciate each and every person who was able to join us to mark and celebrate the holiday.
Wednesday evening was a meaningful night as we concluded a very engaging course, "For all Humankind". It included a lot of beautiful ideas and discussions about how to make the universal messages of Judaism, be understood and appreciated by ourselves and the world around us.
Our next course "Sinai & Civics", celebrating 250 years of America is starting on June 9th and you can read more info about this great course.
We had several beautiful services this week and thank everyone for coming and for enabling others to say the Kaddish. This coming week, we have several more scheduled.
Multiple Bar Mitzvahs are happening at this time of the year, and we are looking forward to celebrating one tomorrow with Jacoby Allen and his family and several more over the weeks to come.
The final weeks of Hebrew School and CTEEN programs are coming to a close over the next two weeks, and from there we move right into Camp!
While growth and joyful moments are always there, in reality in our community and area, there are of course other moments of loss, health challenges, pain, and people struggling. As a community we collectively try and be there for each other for the good, the celebrations, and shoulders to lean on, and providing support in tangible ways, as needed along the way, for those who it makes so much of a difference to.
Thank you to everyone who helps make the growth of community and connection happen for so many, each and every week.
Tomorrow as read about the many offerings of the twelve tribes at the inauguration of the Tabernacle, it almost seems redundant to repeat the identical gift of each and every tribe. The commentaries discuss this at length and present various ideas and explanations for why the Torah, which is often so sparing on words, chooses to repeat so much identical messages in this week's portion.
One of the main themes, is that no two people are the same, and no two tribes are the same, and even what appears to be the same action on the surface, on a deeper level, when we talk about emotions, sentiments, Kavana, intent and the inspiration and meaning that we assign to our actions, the same action, can be vastly different despite looking very similar on the outside.
The Torah wishes to teach this idea and to acknowledge that while we do have so many actions and Mitzvot we seek to do in our Jewish tradition, the actions and intent of each person are considered unique and special to that person, and to G-d, it is not just play and repeat, but rather it has the unique input and qualities of that specific person.
Likewise as we observe and celebrate the growth and dynamics of a community, it is always so important to remember and be mindful of the fact, that each and every person, with their joy, pain, happiness, challenges, strengths and weaknesses, are truly bringing something unique and special to the community and its growth.
Please join us tomorrow for the Shabbat Services & Kiddush Luncheon as we celebrate community together!
Shabbat Shalom & Good Shabbos
Yisroel