Monday, September 28, 2015

Chol HaMo-eid Sukkot

Holidays Exodus 33:12–34:26

Reconstructionist Sukkot


For Sukkot of 5767 (2006), a group of Midwest congregations decided to collaboratively create a Sukkot supplement for their synagogues. They wanted to bring together ritually oriented folks from multiple synagogues to create something of value that their communities and others could use. Dina April, who was then the JRF regional director, served as organizer and editor for the project.


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Monday, September 21, 2015

Haazinu

Deuteronomy 32:1–52

By Rabbi Ellen Dannin for Jewish Reconstructionist Communities

Between a Rock and a Hard Place


The Torah constantly puts us between a rock and a hard place . . . literally.

Take Ha'azinu, for example. A few years ago I first noticed something interesting about rocks while reading Ha'azinu, Moses' farewell poem. It is a poignant piece of literature, because it is impossible to read it without knowing that it is given in the shadow of his death. Even worse than his death, Moses is to be left behind as the children of Israel - the same people who have plagued his life through forty years in the desert - get to enter the Promised Land. Ha'azinu's gracious song of praise to God is a remarkable act under the circumstances.

Those circumstances become even more ironic, for hidden within that song, Moses seems to be twitting God. Moses refers to God as the "Rock." The parsha begins with Moses extolling God, saying, "The Rock! - His deeds are perfect, Yea, all His ways are just." (Deuteronomy 32:4) Again, this seems bittersweet, but when in context it seems mostly bitter.


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Monday, September 14, 2015

Shabbat Shuva Vayeilech

Deuteronomy 31:1–30

By Rabbi Lewis Eron for Jewish Reconstructionist Communities

You Should Live to Be 120


Every Shabbat morning during services at the Jewish Geriatric Home, our residents, our volunteers, our guests and I pause to offer thanksgiving for the joyous events in our lives. There is always a simcha or two for us to celebrate a birthday or an anniversary, a grandchild's engagement, a great grandchild's Bris always a happy occurrence.

One Shabbat morning about a year ago, I announced that a well-loved resident was celebrating a milestone birthday in the coming week and I wished that she live to the proverbial age of 120 years. At that moment, a friend of hers raised her voice and corrected me. The friend said firmly, "No, Rabbi, you should wish her 120 years and three months."

"Why the extra three months?" I replied, quite perplexed.

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Thursday, September 10, 2015

Nitzavim

Deuteronomy 29:9–30:20


Rabbi Steven Pik-Nathan for Jewish Reconstructionist Communities 

Choose Life


This week's parasha is the double portion Nitzavim/Vayeleh. At the beginning of the parasha Moses tells the Jewish People, "You stand this day, all of you, before the Eternal your God . . . to enter into the covenant of the Eternal your God, which the Eternal your God is concluding with you this day . . . that God may establish you this day as God's people and be your God."

Three times, Moses stresses the phrase, "this day," emphasizing the contemporaneity of God's outreach to the Jewish People. Rashi notices this repetition, and comments that the chorus of "this day" indicates that, "just as this day enlightens, so will God enlighten [the Jewish People] in the future." The text reminds us that each one of us stands before God "this day" because God is always present to us. This relationship that continues from generation to generation reminds us not only of our connection to God, but to our ancestors and our future descendants as well. We have stood, stand, and will stand in God's presence, surrounded and filled with the power of Divinity, if we only recognize this. God's presence will then continue to enlighten us for all time. The text applies this to the Jewish people, but we certainly understand this as applying to all who choose to connect with the Divine within their lives.

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Monday, September 7, 2015

Ki Tavo

Deuteronomy 26:1–29:8

Rabbi Steven Pik-Nathan for Jewish Reconstructionist Communities

First Fruits


This week's parasha, Ki Tavo, includes within it a description of the intricate ritual the people were to engage in once settled in the Land of Israel. Moses commands them to place in a basket the first fruits of their harvest and to present them to the priests at the Temple. While doing so they are to recite a formula recalling they were slaves in Egypt, liberated by God, and given the land whose first fruits they now enjoy. They are also to set aside a tenth part of their yield for the Levite, the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, and they are to keep all the commandments given to them.

This ritual gets described in even great detail in the Mishnah (completed around 200 CE) and includes a description of the people being led up the mountain to the Temple by a dancing flutist and an ox adorned with gold and being welcomed to the Temple by a chorus of Levites. Clearly this was a major event in the lives of our ancestors!

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