Dear CBST Community,
A story about Shavuot from Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi: when the Jews received the Torah at Mount Sinai—every utterance that God spoke, every commandment they heard, caused the Jews to die. You can imagine that it was a very overwhelming and shocking experience, hearing the voice of God. The Torah describes that Israelites saw sounds and thunder and lightning, the mountain itself began to smoke, and everyone there experienced shaking and convulsing. As the Torah was given, their souls left their bodies.
And in the teaching of this midrash, each time they would die God would then send reviving dew—magical dew that somehow awakens the dead–to revive them. The midrash asks, why would God do this? Why did God set up the receiving of the Torah like this? And the answer is that God wanted to ensure that in the future the Torah itself would have a small distillation of that reviving dew in it. So that in our lives today, each time we celebrate Torah, or study Torah, or arrange ourselves around Torah, we get a little bit of that original magical dew that revives us. The act of studying Torah is in and of itself a magical potion that causes us to wake up, physically, mentally, and spiritually.
Leading up to Shavuot, we count the omer. The omer is a special period of praying for blessing and abundance; the blessing of feeling like we have enough. At the end, we celebrate the holiday of Shavuot, commemorating receiving the Torah, and needing dew to revive us. Perhaps, the omer is meant to be a 7-week long meditation on feeling like we have enough, noticing the everyday blessings, and then on Shavuot, being reminded that so easily it could be taken from us. Every single morning we get a small piece of that reviving dew—a chance to wake up and take part in the sweetness of life, the sweetness of learning Torah—this 7-week period of the Omer, followed by Shavuot, comes to remind us that that in and of itself is a miracle.
Chag Sameach,
Rabbi Yael Werber
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Celebrate Shavuot with CBST
The CBST office will be closed in observance of Shavuot from Thursday afternoon through Monday. In case of a pastoral emergency, such as a death, please contact 917-513-0413.
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THURSDAY, MAY 25
In-person at the JCC Manhattan, 334 Amsterdam Ave. | Learn more »
8:45 p.m. Meet CBST Clergy on the Roof at the JCC
9:00 p.m. Deborah Sacks Mintz Communal Singing Gathering on the Roof at the JCC
10:00 p.m.–5:00 a.m. Tikkun Leil Shavuot (see classes below)
FRIDAY, MAY 26
6:30 p.m. Kabbalat Shabbat Services/Shavuot II
Ba’al Tefillah: Cantor Sam Rosen
Service Leader & Drashah: Rabbi Sharon Kleinbaum
Piano: Music Director Joyce Rosenzweig
SATURDAY, MAY 27
10:00 a.m. Shabbat Shavuot Day II—Yom Tov Service with Yizkor
Ba’al Tefillah: Cantor Sam Rosen
Service Leader: Rabbi Sharon Kleinbaum
D’var Torah: Rabbi Yael Werber
10:00 a.m. Limmud B’Shabbat
11:45 a.m. Alef-Bet Shabbat
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This year CBST is delighted to partner with the JCC for Tikkun Leil Shavuot, offering a dedicated CBST track with our clergy teaching throughout the night! Come together with people from across the spectrum of Jewish life for a free, revelatory night of study, film, music, dance, yoga, and more in celebration of Shavuot. Come for an hour or stay the night! Learn more »
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CBST Track
B’chol L’vav’cha: Jewish and Queer Liturgy of the Last 50 Years
10:00 p.m. | Rabbi Sharon Kleinbaum and Rabbi Yael Werber | One of the great contributions of the LGBTQ Jewish world over the last 50 years has been the impact on Jewish liturgy. In honor of CBST’s 50th anniversary this year, Rabbi Sharon Kleinbaum and Rabbi Yael Werber will explore the transformational, radical and deep impact through the changing landscape of the tefilot/liturgy of CBST. We will look at the ways that the AIDS crisis changed the Mi Sheberach, how to deal with bride and groom imagery in L’chah Dodi, and how to reflect the broad experience of trans Jewish life. How does the deepening of LGBTQ Jewish life impact our understanding of God and our relationship to God? We will look at the earliest liturgy of the community from the 70’s all the way up to the current siddur edited by Rabbi Ayelet Cohen and Rabbi Sharon Kleinbaum.
Synagogue Music of the 1970’s
11:15 p.m. | Cantor Sam Rosen and Music Director Joyce Rosenzweig | Synagogue music composed during the 1970’s was best known for sophisticated and sweeping choral textures, classical art song-like settings, experimental jazz and rock services, neo-Chassidic songs, and American folk-style participatory songs. Some of the composers who defined this rich era are Gershon Kinglsey, Charles Davidson, Max Janowski, Shlomo Carlebach, Debbie Friedman, and Jeff Klepper. Listen to live performances of gorgeous, groovy, and groundbreaking Jewish music from formal to folk. Join CBST Music Director Joyce Rosenzweig and Cantor Sam Rosen for a session exploring this pivotal decade in Jewish music history.
Commitment, Chosen Family, and the Lineage of the World to Come: Exploring the Book of Ruth
12:30 a.m. | CRRI Aliza Schwartz | “Where you go, I will go; where you lie, I will lie; your people shall be my people, and your Gd my Gd.” What does this type of commitment evoke in us today? What is its impact on the world around us? Join us as we delve into the captivating story of the book of Ruth, exploring themes of commitment, loyalty, repair (“tikkun”) over the span of generations, the journey of a Jew by Choice, and—ultimately—direct connection to the lineage of Moshiach (Messiah; the World to Come). Together, we'll celebrate the profound impact of Ruth in shaping our collective Jewish identity and its enduring contributions to Judaism in the 21st Century.
Olam Chesed Yibaneh: Building LGBTQ Institutions and the Legacy of Irving Cooperberg
1:45 a.m. | CRRI Adam Graubart | Join us for a captivating Shavuot night study class delving into the rich history of LGBTQ institutions and organizations, spotlighting the remarkable life and enduring legacy of Irving Cooperberg. Discover the pivotal role played by LGBTQ activists in forging a path towards equality and acceptance within the Jewish community. Uncover Cooperberg's profound contributions as an advocate and leader, exploring the challenges faced and victories achieved. Engage in thought-provoking discussions and explore the intersection of LGBTQ rights and Jewish identity. Together, let's honor and learn from those who paved the way for a more inclusive and diverse world.
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Further Reading: Teachings on Shavuot from Rabbi Mike Moskowitz |
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Giving to CBST is one of the most powerful things you can do. Your gifts of tzedakah keep our community Joyful. Spiritual. Proud.
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