Strong and Resolute

This Shabbat when we finish reading the book of Shmote/Exodus, we will offer the b'al koreh the traditional blessing that is said upon the completion of any of the 5 Books of Moses, Chazak, Chazak, V'Nitchazek which means "may we be exceedingly strong and be strengthened through each other's strength."  These words come from the words with which God blessed Joshua, Moses' attendant, after Moses died and Joshua took on the mantle of leadership. (Joshua 1:6-9)  Three times in those three verses God blesses and enjoins Joshua to be chazak v'amatz, strong and resolute. Joshua's strength came not just from his marshal power, but also from his Torah study and obedience to God. Strong refers to the might within his body, while resolute refers to the emotional courage that he needed to faithfully discharge the duties to which God set him in the conquest of The Promised Land.

Years later when King David's general Joab and his brother, Abishai, split their forces in battle against the Ammonites and Arameans Joab says, "Let us be strong and resolute for the sake of our people, and the land of our God, and the Lord will do what he deems right." (2nd Samuel 10:12)  It is always appropriate to wish someone who is called to the Torah yasher koach as is the custom in Ashkenazik congregations, which means, straight and strong.  The proper response is Baruch tehiyeh meaning, may you be blessed.  In Sephardic congregations the traditional blessing to the Oleh is hazak uvaruch which means strength and blessings. And in this case, the proper response is chazak v'amatz, be strong and resolute

It took a communal effort to read and study and teach this book of the Torah and I pray that we have the strength to keep on learning and growing as a community.

Chazak, Chazak, V'Nitchazek

Rabbi Shalom Plotkin

Chancellor Eisen

This past Monday night the chancellor of the Conservative. Movement, Dr. Arnold Eisen, visited Congregation Ohev Shalom in Richboro, PA in honor of Rabbi Eliott Perlstein's 36th year at the temple.  There was a delicious catered meal to honor donors to the Jewish Theological Seminary.  Following diner the chancellor spoke lovingly and movingly about the bright future of the Conservative Movement in North America.  As the titular head of 600 synagogues, a dozen Ramah Camps, and a slew of other organizations, he has a unique perspective on our country's quickly changing Jewish community.  One positive trend he noted is that hundreds of thousands of American Jews flock to conservative synagogues every week in order to add meaning to their lives due to our spiritually uplifting services, family focused communities, and passionate Torah educators.

Yesterday before teaching our weekly Talmud class, I was honored to be part of the Bet Din (rabbinic court) which met to convert a woman to Judaism.  I asked her why she chose a conservative synagogue over the reform and Chabad.  She replied that while the other synagogues were very eager to have her join them, she wanted to be part of a community where the observance of mitzvot is valued, but that she couldn't see herself living an orthodox lifestyle.  She is so excited to be called to the Torah this Shabbat for an Aliyah by her new Hebrew name.  She has pledged to continue to increase her Shabbat observance, her Torah studies and to increase her observance of kashrut.

Chancellor Eisen asked all of us in attendance to explore the new JTS website for dozens of opportunities per day to study Judaism  He has also been blogging and tweeting on a daily basis and just uploaded a new YouTube video click Dr. Eisen on YouTube.

Siyyum

This coming Wednesday, April 4th, our Talmud Class will be completing the study of the first chapter of tractate Shabbat Yitziot haShabbat, which means Sabbath boundaries.  The final mishna or teaching of this chapter concerns the prohibition against roasting meat on Friday unless there is sufficient time for it to be cooked before sundown.  The exception to this rule is the Passover sacrifice of the Pascal lamb.  When we conclude the study of one chapter we immediately begin the study of the next, so this is a great opportunity to join the Talmud class.  Chapter 2, Bameh Madlikin, concerns the laws of lighting Shabbos candles. 

Our Talmud class has been studying this chapter for a few years and the completion of this powerful text calls for a celebration.  We will be holding the siyyum (celebration of completion) this coming Friday morning at a special morning minyan beginning with tallis and tefilin at 7:30.  Everyone is invited to join us, especially if you are the first born in your family.  In which case, attendance at this seudat mitzvah (commanded feast) will absolve you from the requirement to fast the day before Passover.  The reason that first born Jews fast before Passover is because we recognize the suffering God inflicted upon the Egyptians during the tenth plague in order to secure our liberation.  We will also be joined by our friends from the Kol Emet minyan.

This will be your last opportunity to sell me your chometz before Passover, which begins with the First Seder at sunset. Forms are available in the office or you can download one by clicking 2012 Sale of Chometz.  If you are planning on bringing your leftover chometz to me, please place it in a paper bag (which is easy to burn) so that we don't get any crumbs in the synagogue.

End of Passover

     Hope everyone is having a happy and healthy holiday. As we prepare for the end of the hag I have the triumphant melody of the Song of the Sea, the romantic melody of the Song of Songs, and the hauntingly poignant melody of the Yizkor memorial service running through my head. Please make every effort to join us for services Friday morning, Friday night, and Shabbat morning as Chazzan Winter leads us in these beautiful yuntif and Shabbat services. 

     Moses Maimonides, perhaps our nation's greatest Jewish philosopher, emphases in his seminal work, Yad Hazaka: The Mighty Arm, that it's not enough just to sit back and enjoy the chazzan's davening; rather that the words of our inspirational liturgy are intended to move us to action.  It's not enough just to remember our loved ones at Yizkor this Passover but we're also intended to light a memorial candle, attend services, and make a donation to a worthy cause in their memories.

Heavenly Fire

In the parsha I'll be chanting tomorrow, we learn about the death of the sons of Aaron.  Nadav and Avihu have been trained to be priests in God's tabernacle by their father the High Priest. However we learn that they were burnt by a fire sent from Heaven for the sin of making a "strange offering" to God.  Was it a sin of hubris or drunkenness or misplaced enthusiasm?  Did the punishment fit the crime?

This weekend at the synagogue we will be learning and discussing what it is to be a holy people, mamlechet kohanim - a nation of priests.  The theme will continue on Sunday with the discussion following the screening of the holocaust film "Sarah's Key."

Pesach Sheni

This weekend we're given an opportunity for a "mulligan".  In golfing terms, that's a do-over. But in Jewish terms, it's a second chance to do a mitzvah.  Most of us had an opportunity to celebrate Pesach last month, however Moses asked God "What happens if someone didn't celebrate Passover due to personal or professional exigencies? Is their soul to be cut off from the Jewish People and left unredeemed?" The answer was Passover Sheni, which comes a month later, i.e. this weekend. Most congregations don't take advantage of this opportunity at a second chance to perform mitzvot, however at CBOI we have set aside this weekend for a full range of immersive Jewish educational experiences.  This Shabbat our members have an opportunity to study with our visiting scholar Shoshana Cohen about "Three Reasons to Pray", with Hazan Bob on the Ah-ME-dah, with Bert and Rabbi Plotkin on "Paradigms in Prayer", and with the rest of school faculty on the Ten Commandments, the gift of Torah, and honoring your parents.

Parashat Emor

Moses faced a challenge this week in Parshat Emor, when he was confronted with the question about what to do with the man who publicly cursed God.  How could Moshe Rabbeinu protect his spiritually young congregation from this sudden existential threat to their growing relationship with God?  Would God, who had just redeemed them from Egypt and shared his precious Torah, become alienated from them and withdraw his divine protection and sustenance?   Fires and plagues could break out, the Shechinah might depart, and the Manna might stop falling!  Moses had the man held, and then he withdrew to ask for guidance from Hashem.  He returned with a plan for radical action (they stoned the blasphemer to death) and even the rebels and scoffers were satisfied with the process and solution.  They learned that maintaining a spiritually whole community and aspiring to become a blessing to God's Holy name was of paramount importance.  The trials in the wilderness tested everyone's faith, but 40 years later, the children of those former slaves crossed the Jordan as a numerous, ably-led, God-fearing Israelite nation.
     We have inherited a valuable tradition that contains within it the keys to ultimate redemption from generations of Jews who dedicated their lives to entrust it into our loving arms; it nourishes our souls.