A Message from Our Rabbi
December 8, 2021

This week’s Torah portion gives us an unexpected hero. Judah, the brother who created the plan to do away with Joseph when they were younger, now approaches the leader of Egypt (not realizing it’s actually his brother Joseph) to protect their brother Benjamin. As Joseph threatens to hold Benjamin prisoner to test whether or not the brothers would care for Benjamin better than they did for Joseph years ago, Judah is the one who steps forward to speak up on Benjamin’s behalf, risking his own life in the process. Staying silent was no longer an option, and in choosing to speak out to save Benjamin, Judah unknowingly touches Joseph’s heart, leading to an emotional reunion. 

Judah is far from a perfect biblical figure. He wrongs people, hurts people, and faces his own share of pain and difficulty. In this week’s portion, another imperfect person has a moment of redemption. We watch Judah grow and mature and change. And we watch as that journey leads to reconciliation and healing over time. Many of the questions Torah asks us to wrestle with this week center around the issue of how we change, and if/how we allow others to change as we go through our lives and invest in relationships. Is redemption possible? What does it take for us to forgive? Can we reconcile with those who have hurt us? What do we need in those moments to move forward? What grace are we willing to give when others seek a second chance to get it right?  

Friday evening, join Cantor Harrison and me for our Kabbalat Shabbat service at 6:30 pm in the Sanctuary or on Zoom. (Shabbat siddur)

Shabbat morning, Rabbi Address will lead Torah Study beginning at 9:00 am, followed by Spice Up Your Judaism with Scott Kushner at 10:15 am. (Zoom for both sessions.)

And, next Wednesday (10:30 am) is the third and final session of the class discussion I’m leading on Dara Horn’s new book “People Love Dead Jews.” Feel free to join us, even if you haven’t been able to make the first two sessions. 

We look forward to seeing you!

L’shalom,

Rabbi Jennifer L. Frenkel