Shabbat Shalom GRJC

Weekly Emails to the Congregation

Parshat Bemidbar 2007

Shabbat Shalom to the GRJC family,

Tonight we light candles at 7:52 PM. Evening services begin at 8 PM, and we begin celebrating Billy Epstein’s Bar Mitzvah as he leads us in the Shabbat evening service. The Shabbat morning service will begin at 9 AM. We wish an early Mazel Tov to Billy and all family and friends who will be celebrating this Shabbat.

This week we read parshat Bamidbar, the first parasha in the book of the same name. This fourth book of the Torah is called “Numbers” in English based on the census that takes place toward the beginning of the parasha. 

My father had a funny cap with two brims, each pointing in a different direction. The words on the cap were, “I am their leader. Which way did they go?” In this week’s parasha, we have a first-hand look at how the Israelites were organized for wandering in the desert. The camp was organized into units and then those units marched in a certain order so that everyone would know whom to follow and where to go. 

It is a striking image at the beginning of this Book of a highly organized group of people, many of whom have specific jobs in the Mishkan, the Temple that the Israelites carried through the wilderness. The Torah as well as God’s direct instructions governed the Israelites. Then we juxtapose this organized multitude against the unpredictable life and conditions of the desert. 

Here we have organization and disorganization all in one scenario. Does this sound familiar from everyday life? Can you think of situations from day to day where life exists between order and disorder, organization and what seems like chaos?

SHAVUOT IS ALMOST HERE…

The Aleph class consecration service will take place Tuesday, May 22, at 7 PM. There will be a special Shavuot Kiddush.

There will also be a later evening service at 8:30 PM followed by our Tikkun Le’eyl Shavuot, Shavuot evening learning session. Three guest teachers will be presenting lessons on diverse topics of Jewish thinking and tradition. Join us for a meaningful program and for a Shavuot dairy nosh.

Wednesday morning May 23rd will be a 7 AM morning service for the first day of Shavuot. Wednesday evening May 23rd will be an evening service at 8:30 PM including Yizkor, and then there will be a morning service and Yizkor Thursday morning May 24th at 7 AM. I want to encourage everyone to join us for our holiday evening and morning services. The morning service lasts 90 minutes. It is a meaningful way to start the day during the holiday.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

1. GARAGE SALE, Sunday May 20th 9am-3pm - Come to the GRJC for a garage sale to benefit the GRJC nursery school. Lots of great items will be available, especially infant and children’s items.

2. SPECIAL MOVIE NIGHT – Monday evening May 21st and 7:30 PM, St. Catherine’s Church in Glen Rock. The Religious Communities of Glen Rock is sponsoring a movie showing and discussion of “Waging a Living,” the PBS documentary looking at America’s working poor as they strive for their piece of the American Dream. Discussion led by Deacon Diane Riley of All Saints’ Episcopal Church.

3. Adult Education – There will not be a Sunday evening class this weekend. The Rhythms of Jewish Life class will conclude with the Tuesday evening Shavuot study session beginning with the evening service at 8:30 PM. At the end of the study session, we will celebrate the siyum/completion of a year of studies.

MAZEL TOV to all our college students who are finishing up a year of studies.

With wishes for a peaceful Shabbat,

Rabbi Tow
 

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