Shalom from TBD Religious School

Shabbat newsletter compiled by

Gal Kessler Rohs, Education Director

I humbly ask our congregational readership what Gd asks Moses:

“Speak to Aaron and have him light the menorah so that the seven lights shall cast light.”

As in this week’s Torah portion, Beha'alotcha /  פרשת בהעלתך , I humbly ask our congregational readership what Gd asks Moses:  “Speak to Aaron and have him light the menorah so that the seven lights shall cast light.”  

Behind this analogy, what I imply really, and on behalf of our temple leadership, is that you accept our invitation to digitally meet as a congregation this coming Sunday, to communally hear about our past year, our current standing, and together decide upon our future.  

Aaron was a Priest. He had congregational privileges to create light. His seven branched candelabra served the Israelites to learn Torah. As the Priest enticed with light, the congregation was inspired with Torah. Similarly, and in our circumstances, the Rabbi of the congregation, or the president of the temple’s light facilitate so that we can teach, learn, congregate, and shape the future. Our congregational meeting will offer board and other volunteer positions that seek to create light for that future. 

The candelabra’s branches are a representation of the multitude of talents in our congregational readership. At TBD, we are committed to “ spiritual discovery, educational richness, loving kindness and personal responsibility to better ourselves, our children, and the world which we all share.”  What does that entail? Many components, but, in a nutshell, we are dedicated towards achieving educational, fiscal, and educational strength Ledor Vador. 

Part of the meeting will be dedicated towards honoring our beloved school staff. In his video , Rabbi Lachtman states “the greatest asset at Temple Beth David are our teachers. They are our role models, the transmitters, the huggers in pre COVID-19 times, and set an environment of loving, caring, and  Jewishly Warm and Relevant  existence for all of us”. As does Cantor Orly here , I would like to thank Dr. Jackie Green from TBD’s sisterhood, and Laurie Averitt who heads our ritual committee, for partaking with me in honoring our educators, and you, dear TBD, for stepping up to shape our future.  

(Image features intricate engravings of landmarks in Jerusalem, such as the Montefiore Windmill and the Tower of David. From the website : "With a Hoshen (breastplate) gleaming from the center of its stem, this masterpiece is complete with the word 'Jerusalem' written in graceful lettering on its base along with a texture of a stone wall on either side.")

Shabbat Shalom,

- Gal Kessler Rohs , Education Director