"There is no more potent symbol of Jewish history than the sukkah, the temporary dwelling. For that, for the greater part of four thousand years, is where Jews lived. Our story has been one of exiles and dispersions, as if wandering in the Wilderness was not the fate of Moses' generation alone but a recurring theme of Jewish life. Jewish history reads like a vast continuation of the stages of the Israelites' journey in the book of Numbers: 'They travelled...and they encamped...They travelled...and they encamped.' The very name ivri, or Hebrew, means one who wanders from place to place. More than most, Jews have known insecurity, whether in the land of Israel or elsewhere. Too often home turned out to be no more than a temporary dwelling, a sukkah. Yet Judaism declared Sukkot to be not a time of sadness but the 'season of our rejoicing'. For the tabernacle in all its vulnerability symbolizes faith: the faith of a people who set out long ago on a risk-laden journey across a desert of space and time with no more protection than the sheltering divine presence. Sitting in the sukkah underneath its canopy of leaves I often think of my ancestors and their wanderings in search of safety, and I begin to understand how faith was their only home. It was fragile, chillingly exposed to the storms of prejudice and hate. But it proved stronger than empires. Their faith survived."
[Rabbi Jonathan Sacks]
We have another celebratory holiday weekend here at M'kor Shalom!
Friday evening, join Cantor Hochman and me for our Erev Shabbat service, beginning at 8:00 pm in the Sanctuary.
Shabbat morning, I will be leading Torah Study beginning at 9:00 am in the Chapel, followed by our Spice Up Your Judaism program (10:00 am in the Social Hall) led by congregant Scott Kushner.
And Sunday, we celebrate Simchat Torah together at 7:00 pm in the Sanctuary with a family-friendly service. This service includes our Consecration ceremony, a congregational hakafah, and our annual "Torah Wave" as our Religious School students lead us in the opening verses of Genesis. Following the service, we move into the Social Hall for dancing with our Torah scrolls to the music of IZZY, our in-house Klezmer band, and the unrolling of one of our scrolls.
Monday morning, our Simchat Torah morning service begins at 10:00 am in the chapel, which will include a Yizkor memorial service, followed by a light brunch.
October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. We want to make sure everyone is aware of the very important and life-saving resources here within our own community through Jewish Family and Children's Services. The JFCS Domestic Abuse Program, Project SARAH (Stop Abusive Relationships at Home), provides multi-faceted services which include counseling, support groups, resource information and other forms of assistance to support individuals who are victims of domestic abuse and their families.
You can find more information HERE.
Chag Sameach,
Rabbi Jennifer L. Frenkel
|