Dear {{first_name}},
This Shabbat is the last day of the Omer, day forty nine, seven complete weeks. Some of us have been counting each of these days as an internal, spiritual journey from freedom to revelation, from Passover to Shavuot, which begins on Saturday night and we imagine ourselves receiving the Torah at Sinai all over again. Shavuot is the fiftieth day! The gate of Binah, wisdom and discernment. Torah is expansive, infinite, elusive and can mean something different to each one of us. The rabbis tell us that everyone who was there at that transformative, mind blowing moment received what they could according to their capacity.
So what is the Torah we can possibly receive this year after such an awful, devastating few weeks, or is it months or years? Our tradition tells us that the Torah comes down as a gift for us whether we are prepared or not! We need a Torat Hesed, a Torah of lovingkindess and compassion, a Torah of healing and strength, a Torah light and hope. Whether you are physically in a place where we celebrate in community or not, may we be renewed, refreshed, reignited, realigned, refocused, revitalized by the Torah’s blessing. If you are attending in person, there will be lots of delicious, homemade cheesecake and other seasonal delicacies!
Join us for Haver’s community wide celebration on Saturday night and services at Bonai on Sunday and Monday, including Hallel, Yizkor and a special, creative experience of the Book of Ruth conceived by Rabbi Rosalie Osian. Everything will also be live streamed.
Details of all Shavuot programs and services here
See you at Sinai!
Shabbat Shalom and chag sameach
Rabbi Marc
