Shabbat Shalom! Parashat Chukat

Parashat Chukat

July 12, 2019

9 Tamuz 5779

Candle Lighting: 7:40 p.m.

Dear Friends,

This Shabbat Tifereth Israel will be marching in the San Diego Pride Parade. Together, we will celebrate and support the LGBTQ community and our society’s journey towards equality and acceptance, both legally, as well as in all of our hearts and minds. Over the years there has been a lot of progress made, but there is still a lot more progress to be made.

Tomorrow morning, please consider joining us for an abbreviated Shabbat service which will be held down town. (There will still be services at Tifereth Israel as well.) Please contact the office for more information. Following the service, we will walk over to the Parade and march proudly together, under our Tifereth Israel banner. When we do so, we will be following the advice of the great conservative Jewish theologen Abraham Joshua Heschel; we will be “praying with our feet.”

In lieu of D’var Torah this week, in honor of San Diego Pride, I wanted to share a blessing with all of you, adapted from a version written by Rabbi Joshua Zlochower, Rabbi Erica Steelman and Dr. Gloria Becker, in celebration of Pride.

Wishing everyone a Shabbat Shalom ,

Josh

July 12:

6:15 p.m.

Kabbalat Shabbat

July 13:

9:30 a.m.

Shabbat Service

10:00 a.m.

T I S T a k e s P ride

An abbreviated Shabbat service will take place at a private home within walking distance of the parade. Our time together will end at the end of the parade route.

Havdalah: 8:48 p.m.

Mekor HaChayim , Source of Life, You have blessed each of us with Your Spirit. In Your Wisdom, you have made each of us a unique treasure. M’ayan Chayeinu , Wellspring of our Lives, cause us to flow with courage, strength, and compassion to live our stories openly, proudly, and joyfully.

Shekhina shel Ahavah , Presence of Love, embrace us with Your Love. May we embrace ourselves, our partners, our lovers, our friends, our children, our dear ones with the power of Your Ahavah Rabbah , Your Unending, Boundless Love.

Ru’ach HaShalom , Spirit of Peace and Wholeness, open our eyes to the gifts and blessings we offer and receive from each other; open our hearts to welcome each other fully and truly; open our hands to embrace, to support, to lift each other b’geela, b’reena, b’shalom, uv’rei-ut —with joy, with song, with peace, and with deep friendship.

On this Shabbat, as we celebrate renewal, Pride, and community, let us walk together with strength, compassion, and love.

And let us say Amen.