Message From The Rabbi

Rabbi Rachael Miller

If you spend any time on social media, listen to podcasts, or watch/read the news, then you probably haven’t heard much Jewish joy in recent weeks…months? 

But Jewish joy is all around us. 

Across the country, tens of thousands of young children have already gone or will soon go to Jewish summer camps. 

The summer wedding season is upon us. This means that Jews and their partners of all faith backgrounds will be standing beneath the chuppah as they begin to build their physical and spiritual Jewish homes together. 

Babies will enter this world and be handed into the loving arms of their parents, who will welcome them into the covenant of the Jewish people with baby naming and brit milah ceremonies. 

Every week, millions of Jews light Shabbat candles and welcome Shabbat with joy, love, and hope for a peaceful time. 

This week, find moments to take a break from the doom and gloom and find moments to seek out Jewish joy in your lives. I find Jewish joy when my kids and I say a blessing before or after we eat, when I sing them Shema and an angel blessing at night, when Max and I sing Jewish songs around the house, when I study a piece of profound Jewish text, and the list goes on and on. 

Take a breath, find the joy…and if you’re having trouble finding it, start to make it! 

Shavua Tov, 

Rabbi Rachael