Message From The Rabbi

Our Rabbinic Sage by the memorable name of Ben Bag Bag, used to say, “Turn it, and turn it, for everything is therein.”* Meaning, “Study the Torah, then study it again, because we always have something to learn from the text.”  

This past Torah cycle was unlike anything I’d ever read before. In many ways, it felt like the entire text had changed. I couldn’t read about the laws of war, or the stories of enemies trying to destroy the Israelites, or the way leaders functioned (or didn’t function) in the Torah stories without thinking about Israel’s multi-front war. But then I remembered Ben Bag Bag’s quote. The text remains, but boy, have we changed this past year. 

October 7th, 2023 was the morning of Simchat Torah. I had planned a special Torah study that morning in the large social hall with our entire Torah unrolled. By that hour we only knew that something bad was unfolding, but we did not know what. Now we know. The Gregorian date has passed, but we will mark Sh’mini Atzeret/Simchat Torah on the morning of October 24th with our 9:00am Yizkor service. The same time we began our Torah study on Simchat Torah one year prior. It will be a solemn hour to gather, but an important one. 

Then, on Friday night, we will be reminded that the Jewish people live and we don’t stop living. From generation to generation, we pass down our stories, ethics, and values. Our Simchat Torah celebration and Consecration will all be a part of our Friday night service, which begins at the special time of 6:30pm. As congregants of all ages gather to dance with the Torah, we proudly declare, Am Yisrael Chai, the Jewish people live. 

Shavua Tov and Moadim L’Simcha, 

Rabbi Rachael  

P.S. Join us for dinner prior to services at 5:45pm. Register HERE. 

*Pirkei Avot 5:22