May 2020

22Moses-Receiving-the-Law-on-Mount-Sinai22-by-Benjamin-West-1

Shavuot

As the Torah Turns

Rabbi Lader’s Weekly D’var Torah

Shavuot

I was invited to share a few words during a zoom meet-up for our high school class, which included our rising 8th and 9th graders who will attend next year… and another fond farewell to our graduating seniors.  In preparation for Shavuot and recalling the experience of standing at Sinai to receive the gift of Torah, I shared with our students a midrash which explained that during the Revelation at Sinai, “Each Israelite heard what was in their power to hear” (Sh’mot Rabbah 28:6).  From babies to bubbes and zadies (grandparents)… no one experienced Sinai in exactly the same way, but everybody was present and participated in the best way they could.  I then reminded the students that so many of them had begun their Jewish education here at temple with our Consecration family program, as each child stood before the open Torah scroll with his or her parent(s) and read the Shema together… And then, how almost all of the students returned (or will soon return) to the bima to become Bar or Bat Mitzvah… And then how many have come to the bima during this time of Shavuot for Confirmation… At each stage of their life, they came to the Torah and “heard what was in their power to hear” – and sharing their understanding(s) along the way. And then, the highlight of the meet-up for me, was when the seniors were asked to share a word of wisdom with the next high school class.  They got to share their Torah:  

  • “Don’t limit yourself to what are required courses; make sure you take classes that interest you, and broaden your experience.” 
  • “Don’t be afraid to try something new; it can be the best decision you ever made.”
  • “Come to Sunday School as much as you can, and participate in NFTY to appreciate the larger Jewish community. Be proud to be a Jew.”

Their youthful wisdom rings so true: vision beyond the status quo, be prepared to move in new directions, show up with pride.

L’dor va’dor – from generation to generation; our teen’s wisdom was passed to the next generation. Each Shavuot, we again stand at Sinai and hear what is in our power to hear.  The experiences of each stage of our lives helps to inform how we share our gift of Torah.  What are your words of wisdom; what is your Torah?

From Previous Weeks


Emor – Lev. 21:1-24:23

Our Torah portion this week is ‘Emor – Lev. 21:1-24:23.  We read about specific rules for Aaron, his sons, and future generations…

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Bamidbar – Num. 1:1-4:20

As the Torah Turns

Rabbi Lader’s Weekly D’var Torah

Bamidbar – Num. 1:1-4:20

Our Torah portion this week opens the book of Bamidbar – In the Wilderness… Num. 1:1-4:20.  Our portion opens with a census of the Israelites, and that is why this book is known in English as Numbers. What is the significance of this act of counting? And why here at the beginning of the book? Besides which, there have already been two previous censuses of the people and this is the third within the space of a single year. Surely one would have been sufficient. And what does counting have to do with leadership? The place to begin, is to note what appears to be a contradiction. On the one hand Rashi says that the acts of counting in the Torah are gestures of love on the part of God…  In contradiction to this, centuries later King David counted the people, but there was Divine anger and 70,000 people died. How can this be, if counting is an expression of love? With the opening instructions of of our Torah portion, Rabbi Jonathan Sacks points out that a possible answer to this apparent contradiction lies in the phrase the Torah uses to describe the act of counting: se’u et rosh, literally, “lift the head.” This is a strange, expression. Biblical Hebrew contains many verbs meaning “to count”: limnot, lifkod, lispor, lachshov. Why does the Torah not use these simple words, choosing instead the unusual expression, “lift the heads” of the people? The short answer is this: In any census, count or roll-call there is a tendency to focus on the total: the crowd, the multitude, the mass. Here is a nation of 60 million people, or a company with 100,000 employees or a sports crowd of 60,000. Any total tends to value the group or nation as a whole. The larger the total, the stronger is the army, the more popular the team, and the more successful the company. Counting devalues the individual, and tends to make him or her replaceable. If one soldier dies in battle, another will take his place. If one person leaves the organization, someone else can be hired to do his or her job. Rabbi Sacks points to a remarkable feature of Judaism: its principled insistence on the dignity and integrity of the individual. We believe that every human being is in the image and likeness of God. The Sages said that every life is like an entire universe. Maimonides says that each of us should see ourselves as if our next act could change the fate of the world. Every dissenting view is carefully recorded in the Talmud, even if the law is otherwise. Every verse of the Torah is capable, said the Sages, of seventy interpretations. No voice, no view, is silenced. Judaism never allows us to lose our individuality in the mass. That is the meaning of the phrase, “lift the head,” used in the context of a census. In instructing Moses to count this way, God implies that there is a danger, when counting a nation, that each individual will feel insignificant. “What am I? What difference can I make? I am only one of millions, a mere wave in the ocean, a grain of sand on the sea-shore, dust on the surface of infinity.” Against that, God tells Moses to lift people’s heads by showing that they each count; they matter as individuals. In Judaism taking a census must always be done in such a way as to signal that we are valued as individuals. We each have unique gifts. There is a contribution only I can bring. To lift someone’s head means to show them favor, to recognize them. It is a gesture of love. We are a congregation… of individuals.  Individuals – each of us unique in our own way. Know that each and every one of you is a special part of what makes Beth Israel – The West Temple the special community that it is. It is not just the counting of each person, but remembering that each person counts. *****Additional note from Rabbi Lader: In thinking about the place of counting these days, I am struck by the numbers of people who have died from Covid-19 – and all we have are numbers and “big red dots” on our information maps.  We don’t have names.  This Shabbat, as we begin the book of Numbers, if you have the name of someone you know who has died from Covid-19, I invite you to send it to me so that I can include it with our list for the Mourner’s Kaddish. Also,on this Memorial Day Weekend, if you would like to include the name(s) of loved ones who lost their lives while serving our country, please send them also… to:  eclader@aol.com

From Previous Weeks


Emor – Lev. 21:1-24:23

Our Torah portion this week is ‘Emor – Lev. 21:1-24:23.  We read about specific rules for Aaron, his sons, and future generations…

Read More

siddur

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From Peter Sackett, our Board President​

News You Can Use

From Peter Sackett, our Board President

Mishkan T'filahAn ad-hoc group met earlier this week to talk about ritual matters.  We discussed the High Holy Days, etc.Service leaders bemoaned the fact that ‘paging’ through the virtual service was time consuming; as a service attendee, I couldn’t agree more! THUS, we’re taking an old-fashioned approach to service materials – The Prayer Book!!!Yes, our somewhat dusty prayer books.It’s time to place them in the hands of those “attending” services. (Of course, if you are looking for a spiritual uplift, it’s always nice to turn to the prayer book for some helpful texts.) THUS, tomorrow, Friday, May 15th, between the hours of 10:00 am – 4:00 pm stop by BI-TWT.We will be at the back door in gloves and mask; we will hand you a Prayer Book. One book per family unit, please.   Starting tomorrow night, service leaders can simply call out, ‘turn to page 71’!!! Be well. Peter

strong confident woman open arms to sunrise at sea

BeHar/Be’Chukotai – Lev. 25:1-26:2/26:3-27:34

As the Torah Turns

Rabbi Lader’s Weekly D’var Torah

BeHar/Be’Chukotai – Lev. 25:1-26:2/26:3-27:34

This week, we have another

double portion – BeHar/Be’Chukotai – Lev. 25:1-26:2/26:3-27:34, which will bring us to the conclusion of the book of Leviticus.  In his book Day by Day: Reflections on the Themes of the Torah from Literature, Philosophy, and Religious Thought, Rabbi Chaim Stern notes that [Lev. 26] promises a time of security, peace, and prosperity for those who follow God’s laws and are faithful to God’s commandments.  And yet… in the midst of times when things do not go so well, Rabbi Stern teaches that “… we are wise to count our blessings and to live with gratitude in our hearts.  That, too, is faithfulness.” (p. 219) During these challenging times, it is too easy to see what we don’t have… what we cannot do… Rabbi Stern reminds us, in the midst of difficulties, to open our eyes and our hearts to see and to feel the joy and thankfulness of our blessings… of what we do have… of what we can do.  The Radziminer Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Guterman, Polish Chassidic rabbi (d. 1934), said:  We cross an ocean and are rescued from a shipwreck, so we give thanks to God.  Should we not thank God as we cross without mishap?  I am cured of a dangerous illness and recite a thanksgiving blessing.  Should I not give thanks that I am well and preserved from illness? (p. 223) As we navigate our way through the question mark of these days, may we find blessing in being able to make our way through to each new morning… May we find blessing with each new opportunity to reach out to a friend… May we find blessing with each new possibility in the songs of the birds and the budding of the leaves and flowers around us. And… as we come to the end of another book of Torah, we say, “Chazak, Chazak, v’Nit’Chazek! – Be strong! Be strong! And let us strengthen each other!”  Now, more than ever!

From Previous Weeks


Emor – Lev. 21:1-24:23

Our Torah portion this week is ‘Emor – Lev. 21:1-24:23.  We read about specific rules for Aaron, his sons, and future generations…

Read More

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Emor – Lev. 21:1-24:23

As the Torah Turns

Rabbi Lader’s Weekly D’var Torah

Emor – Lev. 21:1-24:23

Our Torah portion this week is ‘Emor – Lev. 21:1-24:23.  We read about specific rules for Aaron, his sons, and future generations of priests.  We also read about the cycle of the Jewish year with regards to Shabbat and the festivals.  In the midst of detailing the agricultural aspects Pesach and Shavuot and Succot, we read: “And when you reap the harvest of your land. you shall not reap all the way to the edges of your field, or gather the gleanings of your harvest;  you shall leave them for the poor and the stranger.” (Lev. 23:22) This is the second time we are given these instructions.  The first time was in Lev. 19:10, and included not only the harvests of the field, but also the harvests of the vineyards.  The first mention is in the context of what it means to be holy – looking out for the poor and the stranger, and making sure they do not go hungry, but are treated in a kind and supportive way, as well as maintaining their dignity. This second iteration is in the midst of details for the harvest festivals; holiness is not only imbued in our behaviors, but also in Shabbat and our festivals.  With regards to Shabbat, in Genesis we read: “And so the Eternal blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy…” (Gen. 2:3) and this is reiterated in Lev. 23:3 – “On six days work may be done, but on the seventh day there shall be a Shabbat Shabbaton – a Sabbath of complete rest, a sacred occasion.”  With regards to the festivals, each is described as a “mikrah kodesh – a sacred occasion.” Holiness is not relegated only to Aaron and his sons and the future generations of priests.  Our Torah underscores the value of holiness in our lives – through the times of our lives, and through our actions – with and for each other.

From Previous Weeks


Shabbos Chol HaMoed

The special Torah reading for this Shabbat during Chol HaMo-eid Pesach, the intermediate days of Passover, is Exodus 33:12-34:26…

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