October 14, 2022 * Chol HaMoed Sukkot

Shmini Atzeret and Simchat Torah

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The Inheritence of All of Israel

This week we read the final 12 verses of our Torah and begin again. In this last parsha, we read the words to one of our favorite Torah songs:

תּוֹרָ֥ה צִוָּה־לָ֖נוּ מֹשֶׁ֑ה מוֹרָשָׁ֖ה קְהִלַּ֥ת יַעֲקֹֽב׃

Torah (repeated many times) tziva lanu Moshe, Morasha Kehilat Ya’akov

Torah, commanded by Moses, The Morasha of the Community of Jacob

But what is a “morasha”?

Most of our sources describe it as an inheritance. The Torah is ours because it was Jacob’s and his father’s and his father’s before that. It has been passed on to us to read and to keep.

Sforno, however, suggests that it is more than this, that this is not just something we receive because it is our birthright, rather we have to work for it. If it was just through lineage, the word would be yorasha. Instead, this is a gift that we must work for, we must seek out, and ask to have it taught to us.

The Tur HaAruch adds to this as well. He says that when it says Kehillat Ya’akov, this makes it clear that it has little to do with lineage at all as there are those who are not direct descendents of Jacob, and those that join our kehillah have Torah as their heritage as much as anyone else in the community.

This is why we want everyone attached to the Jewish community to feel a part of it and feel proud of it.

When we are called up to the Torah, we are called by our Hebrew names. Hebrew, being a gendered language, immediately leaves out those who do not identify as the gender they were assigned at birth and it leaves them feeling detached from the Torah, their heritage.

The Conservative Movement has been having discussions and released an answer to address this issue. We will be discussing this topic after Shabbat services tomorrow morning and I hope you join us! The Torah should be the inheritance of all who call themselves within the community of Jacob.

Shabbat Shalom and Moadim L’Simcha!

Rabbi Blatt

Chag Sameach!

Saturday, October 15th

9:30am Shabbat Services including reading of Kohelet. Followed by a Howard Kanter Luncheon and Kiddush Conversation

8pm Rock the Sukkah!

Sunday, October 16th

9:15am Hoshana Rabbah Services

Beat the willow leaves off the lulav!

3pm-5pm Open House at the Rabbis' Blatt's Sukkah! Email for the Address

6:30pm Erev Shmini Atzeret Services

Monday, October 17th

9:30am Shmini Atzeret Services - Bring your Yizkor Books

5:30pm Kids Simchat Torah Activities

6:30pm Erev Simchat Torah Services and Hakafot!

Tuesday, October 18th

9:30am Simchat Torah Services

7:30pm Weekday Sukkot Services

Join by Zoom: https://zoom.us/j/502257197

Meeting ID: 502 257 197

Livestreamed here: www.kolami.org/streaming.html

Kiddush Conversation

in the Sukkah

Saturday, October 15, 2022

Join us after Shabbat services for a Howard Kanter Luncheon and a conversation new response from the Conservative movement including how to call up someone who is non-binary to the Torah.

Have a Chat with Rabbi Blatt

No matter the reason, you can always pull up a seat in Rabbi Blatt's office! To schedule a time, call Joanna in the office at 813-962-6338 or click the link below to be connected directly to Rabbi Blatt's calendar.

Click here to make an appointment online!