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February 2019 was the last time we opened the curtains of our ark, walked a Torah around the sanctuary, scrolled it to the weekly parshah, responded to the aliyah, listened to its words chanted in Hebrew and interpreted in English, and learned how those ancient words applied to us today.  Won’t it be wonderful when we can join together and enjoy that experience once again!

Our Torahs are calling to us, but in the meantime, we can still read the sacred words in our bibles or on line (chanting included).  We can find interesting commentaries at urj.org or chabad.org, or write our own commentaries, even if they’re only in our heads.  A sentence or even just one or two words can often give us a starting point to think about how that week’s parshah relates to us as individuals.

Our Torahs are calling to us to remind us that the celebration of Shavuot, Z’mon Maton Toratenu, the time of the giving of the Torah, will be here soon.  Think about how you felt when you read from or held a Torah, or how you felt when you led a service and presented a D’var Torah.  Think about the meaning of Ruth F. Brin’s poem on the next page. Think about our Temple Beth Sholom Torahs …they are calling to us.

“Our Torah is the great symbol of Jewish life today, as it has been for more than two thousand years.

At first there was the menorah, the Ark of the Covenant,  and then the Temple.

But before the Second Temple was built, the reading of the Torah  became the great symbolic act of Jewish unity.

Medieval Jews honored the Torah with a rich cover and a crown, as they had learned to honor royalty.

Modern Jews, like our ancestors,  stand in its presence and treat it with awe, a holy object.

It is a Tree of life we say, therefore identifying it with the seven-branched menorah that stood in the tabernacle and the Temple.

It contains the Law of Moses, we say, identifying it with the Tablets of the Covenant given on Mount Sinai.

 Torah is the life and the length of our days, we say, identifying it with the Temple, the center of Jewish life in the past, and proclaiming it the center  of Jewish life today for ourselves and our people.

We stand in awe of these scrolls, for they have preserved us as we have preserved them.  They are potent and they are dangerous:

Dangerous if we treat them like icons, keep the scrolls rolled and look at the jeweled embroidery, kiss the mantle and forget the words.”

Dangerous even if we read the words and accept them as written… without understanding, without interpretation, without love.

Potent to make us seek eternal values in our temporary lives;  potent to set our minds and souls on the search for God.

It’s amazing to me that it has been almost a year since we canceled our on site temple activities beginning on Friday, March 13, 2020. The first holiday
that truly affected us was Passover. For the first time we were not together
for our Seder as a congregational family. Some families were able to be
together in person, some were together on Zoom and others read the
prayers and ate their Hillel sandwich alone or with their spouse. This year
we are still in the same situation, but hopefully we will feel more positive
about the months to come.
Recently we received a brochure from Hillel International entitled “Mah
Nishtanah” Four NEW Questions for Your Seder this Passover”. Even if you
don’t use these questions at your Seder, they are worth thinking about and
perhaps your personal answers will put this year in a different perspective.

Question 1: What does this Seder mean to you? You might recognize
this as the question from the wicked child, but its importance rings true for
us all. We often fall into the habits of ritual without conveying their
meaning. Activity: Ask those at your Seder what the meaning of the
celebration is to them.
Question 2: What are your stories? At its core, Passover is the story of
the Jewish people’s passage from slavery to freedom. While we personally
may not have been slaves, we each have a story of moving from hardship
to better times. Activity: Tell a story of resilience from your personal or
family history.
Question 3: What have these last 12 months taught you? “Mah
nishtanah” literally means “what is different”, relying on the differences of
the Seder table to draw out lessons and meaning. These last 12 months
have been very different for all of us. Activity: Share one thing that has
been different this year from previous years, and one lesson you might
draw from this difference.
Question 4: What are your “Dayenus”? At the completion of the Passover
story, we sing Dayenu, a song of gratitude: gratitude for our freedom, for
being brought out of Egypt and for the beauty of Jewish life. Activity: Tell
those you love three things you are grateful for, or write them down and go
around the table (or Zoom call) so that each participant in the Seder has a
chance to share.
Let us raise our glasses together and toast together:
Next year in Jerusalem
L’shana Haba’ah B’Yerushalayim
לְ שָׁ נָׁה הַ בָׁ אָׁ ה בִּ ירּושָׁ לַיִ

                                                                                                                                                                                               Reflections from Rabbi Klirs

This year the months of January and February correspond fairly closely with the Hebrew months of Tevet and Shevat, respectively. The Tenth of Tevet (falling on Jan. 7) is a minor fast day, commemorating the beginning of the siege of Jerusalem by the Romans in the year 70 of the Common Era.  The 15^th of Shevat (falling on Feb. 10), or “Tu Bishvat,” is known as the New Year of the Trees.  It’s a time to reconnect with the Land of Israel, especially the variety of its fruit-bearing trees and plants. Planting a tree in Israel through the Jewish National Fund is a well-established Tu Bishvat activity. Another is to participate in a Tu Bishvat Seder, at which we taste many of the fruits and nuts typical to the Land of Israel.  This year I again look forward to conducting a Tu Bishvat Seder at Temple Beth Shalom, during my visit the Shabbat of Feb. 7-8.

In January I’ll be introducing a new topic for “Nosh and Knowledge” on Shabbat mornings – Pirkei Avot, or Chapters of the Fathers, a section of the Mishnah entirely devoted to ethical teachings of the ancient rabbis. The sayings are mostly in the form of pithy and memorable maxims. Some of them are very well known, even to those otherwise not versed in the Mishnah and Talmud. Perhaps the best-known example is: “Hillel said: If I am not for myself, who will be for me? But if I am only for myself, what am I? And if not now, when?” Come and explore this and many other examples from Pirkei Avot, along with commentaries and explanations from the tradition. For our text we will use Gates of Prayer, which contains extensive selections from Pirkei Avot.

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the members of Temple Beth Sholom for the most generous and kind Chanukah gift to Elisha and myself. It helped make our holiday brighter celebration with our family more special!

This year the secular months of November and December align very closely with the Hebrew months Cheshvan and Kislev. By the time November arrives, the holidays of the Hebrew month Tishrei are usually already a few weeks behind us. But this year, owing to “leap month” added to the Hebrew calendar in early spring of 2019, the holidays from Pesach through Simchat Torah fell on later dates in the Gregorian calendar than usual, and hence Simchat Torah only concluded on Oct. 21 or 22 (needless to say, the Hebrew dates never vary).

This periodic adjustment if the Hebrew calendar prevents the Jewish holidays, many of which are based on the agricultural cycle and therefore must be observed during the specific season designated in the Torah, from becoming unmoored from the solar calendar and observed in the wrong season. The other benefit of adding an extra month to the Hebrew calendar every 2-3 years is that this sometimes results in an alignment of the Hebrew and Gregorian months, which can also make it easier both to track the Jewish holidays and to focus on each book of the Torah as we progress through the annual Torah reading cycle.

As you know, during Simchat Torah, we complete the reading of the final parashah in the Torah, V’zot Hab’rachah, and immediately read the beginning of the first parashah, B’reisheet, or Genesis, as we celebrate the renewal of the annual Torah reading cycle. Jews worldwide read B’reisheet again in the synagogue on the Shabbat immediately after Simchat Torah, which this year was the last Shabbat in October, and continue with a new parashah, Noach, or Noah, on the next Shabbat (this year, the first Shabbat in November).

There are 12 parshiyot in Genesis, and even though we don’t read from the Torah every Shabbat at Beth Sholom, I encourage you to read and study the Parashah each week, particularly those in Genesis which are read during the months of November and December. You will find in the descriptions of the Creation of the World, the personalities, adventures and struggles of the Patriarchs and Matriarchs, and the endlessly fascinating soap opera on Joseph, creative attempts to answer many of the perennial human questions about life, such as: Why must we die? Is our true nature more animal like or more god-like? Why did God create us? Or:  What is our purpose on the earth? Why is the human family divided into different nations and different languages? Why are childbirth and human labor so painful and difficult? What are our loyalties to self, family, God and neighbors, and how do we navigate conflicting loyalties or demands? What is the nature of our relationship with our family members, our neighbors, strangers, God?

November also happens to be Jewish Book Month. Why not start with our original Book – the Torah?  I encourage you to make Torah study a weekly activity. Here are two terrific on-line resources to help you: https://reformjudaism.org/learning/torah-study;

https://www.myjewishlearning.com › torah-portions

Two Months of Significant Jewish Dates

The spring months are filled with many significant Jewish events, especially in May and June. Just days after Pesach ends, Jews recall the greatest catastrophe to ever befall our people on Yom Hashoah or Holocaust Remembrance Day, which this year falls on May 2^nd.  Six days later, on the 3^rd of Iyar (May 8^th), is Israel’s Yom Hazikaron, or Memorial Day, commemorating their fallen soldiers and victims of terror.  Both Yom Hashoah and Yom Hazikaron are observed in Israel with the sounding of air raid sirens at the same moment throughout the entire country. The whole country comes to a complete halt, everyone stops what they are doing and stands silently at attention.  Even traffic stops and everyone gets out of their cars, busses, etc. and stands until the siren ends.  Somehow, miraculously, when the siren is over everyone get back in their cars and calmly wait for the vehicles in front of them to move before continuing driving.

The very next day after the sadness and solemnity of Yom Hazikaron, Israel breaks into wild jubilation for Yom Ha-atz’ma-ut – Israel’s Independence Day.  This year it falls on May 9. In Israel it’s a day of partying, fireworks displays, parades and celebration. Even when times are tough and Israel has experienced setbacks and enormous challenges, and even as it sometimes struggles to live up to the ideals of its founders, the fact of Israel’s existence deserves to be celebrated by all Jews.

Yom Hashoah, Yom Hazikaron and Yom Ha-atz’ma-ut are all modern additions to the Jewish calendar. Adding celebrations or commemorations has been a continuous process throughout our history. In the Roman period the followers of Rabbi Akiva designated the 18^th Day of the month of Iyar as a minor holiday to commemorate the sudden end of a terrible plague which had devastated many of his students. The day, known as Lag Ba’Omer, or the 33^rd day of the Counting of the Omer, eventually became an occasion for picnics and bonfires, and for a relaxation of some of the restrictions which observant Jews uphold during the Omer period (which is from the 2^nd day of Pesach until Shavuot).  This year Lag Ba’Omer coincides with May 23^rd.

The most recent addition to the Jewish calendar is Yom Yerushalayim, or Jerusalem Day, marking the day on which Jerusalem was re-captured by the Israeli army in the Six Day War of 1967. This year Yom Yerushalayim falls on June 2^nd (the 28^th of Iyar).

The only Biblical holiday which occurs during this period is Shavuot, or “weeks,” originally a harvest festival held 7 weeks after the beginning of the barley harvest during Pesach.  It has also become strongly associated with the giving of the Torah on Mt. Sinai. Shavuot is one of the three biblical “Pilgrimage Festivals” when our ancestors used to go to Jerusalem to celebrate. Hence it is the same status and level of sanctity as Sukkot and Pesach.  Shavuot is on the 6^th of Sivan, which falls on Saturday night May 8 and Sunday May 9.

I encourage you to learn more about our rich and fascinating history by exploring each of these significant dates online, and finding suitable ways to commemorate them.

Reflections from Rabbi Klirs

“Special” Shabbatot

It has been common practice for millennia to refer to most Shabbatot (plural of Shabbat) by the name of the Torah portion read that week. The Shabbat on which we read B’reisheet is called Shabbat B’reisheet, etc. But throughout the year some Shabbatot are given additional significance through a special name – for instance, the Shabbat between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur is known as Shabbat Shuvah, the Sabbath of Return or Repentance, based on the opening word of the Haftarah, or prophetic reading for that day.

It just so happens that during the months of Adar and Nisan, roughly corresponding to  March and April, there are more of these specially named Shabbatot than in the entire rest of the year.  March 2^nd is known as Shabbat Shekalim, the Sabbath of Shekels. In traditional congregations an additional Torah reading, describing the annual obligation of each Israelite to contribute a half shekel to the maintenance of the tabernacle, is added to the weekly Torah reading. The half shekel tax was collected at the beginning of the month of Adar; hence Shabbat Shekalim always falls on the 1^st of Adar or the Shabbat immediately preceding it.  In a leap year, such as this year, Shabbat Shekalim and the other specially named Shabbatot for Adar occur in Adar 2 rather than Adar 1.

Two weeks later, on March 16, comes Shabbat Zachor, or the Sabbath of Remembering. The name is taken from the additional Torah reading reminding the Israelites never to forget the treachery of the Amalekites, who attacked the weakest of the Israelites at the rear of their ranks.  Shabbat Zachor always occurs immediately before Purim, as Haman was described as a descendant of the Amalekites.

March 30^th is Shabbat Parah, the Sabbath of the Cow (no, it has nothing to do with the names of Chinese New Years).  The additional Torah reading on this Shabbat describes the ritual of the parah adumah, or red heifer, whose ashes were used to purify those in an impure state. This ritual was necessary to perform before Passover on anyone in a state of impurity, or that individual would not be able to perform the mitzvah of eating the Paschal lamb on Pesach.

The next week, April 6, is Shabbat Ha-Khodesh or the Sabbath of “This Month.”  It is read on the Shabbat coinciding with or immediately before the first of Nisan. The additional reading refers to the month of Nisan, the month in which Pesach is celebrated, and begins with “This month shall be the first of the months for you.”  This serves as a reminder that Pesach is fast approaching.

Finally, on April 13, the Shabbat immediately before Pesach begins, comes Shabbat Ha-Gadol – the Great Sabbath.  The name comes from the Haftarah read on that day in which the prophet Malachi proclaims, “I will send the Prophet Elijah to you before the great (ha-gadol), awesome day of the Lord,” foreshadowing the role of Elijah in the Pesach seder as a harbinger of the future redemption.  Historically, Shabbat Ha-Gadol was given added significance, as it was one of only two occasions when rabbis gave sermons – on Shabbat Shuvah to remind the people of the laws of Teshuvah, or repentance, in preparation for Yom Kippur; and on Shabbat Ha-Gadol to review the intricacies of the removal of chametz and the laws of Pesach.

Each of the specially named Shabbatot in the coming months serves as a signpost and reminder of the holidays of Purim and Pesach, reinforcing the importance of the Jewish calendar and the holidays in Jewish memory, identity and continuity. Elisha joins me in wishing all of you a joyous Purim and a happy and memorable Pesach.

Chag Sameach!

Rabbi Tracy G. Klirs