Modern Sacrifices Make Life Holy

March 7-8, 2014 / 6 Adar II 5774

Shabbat Vayikra

Torah: Leviticus 1:1 - 5:26 / Haftarah: Isaiah 43:21 - 44:23

“Modern Sacrifices Make Life Holy”

Dear Friends,

I am attending the AIPAC (America-Israel Public Affairs Committee) Policy Conference in Washington DC.  The first two days offer a series large event and small workshop sessions about the Land and people of Israel and the fostering of a strong connection between Israel and the United States.  On the third day, the more than five thousand delegates will head to Capital Hill to meet with members of Congress to discuss our views on how important it is that the United States stand with Israel through both the best and the most challenging of times.

People come to AIPAC from all over the United States.  Delegates include Jews and Christians, White and African-American leaders, and even university student  leaders.  We come together from the political right and left, Democrat and Republican.  We are united in our love of Israel and our desire to see her succeed amongst the family of nations and to see the bond between the United States and Israel grow ever stronger and closer.

Each delegate comes from a unique place in life - bringing something different to the table and the convention.  Yet, what unites us is our love of Israel.

It is much like this week’s Torah portion - Vayikra, the beginning of the third book of the Torah.  As the portion opens, Moses asks all the Children of Israel to come together bringing gifts to the Temple in Jerusalem as offerings to God.  These sacrifices (meaning, gifts that elevate the ‘sacred’ and the holy) were signs of thanksgiving for the beauty and power of Jewish tradition and of connection and solidarity with the Jewish people.  While the Israelites were each unique individuals of the twelve tribes with differing backgrounds, all were united is their love of God and the Children of Israel.

Like our ancestors in ancient times, and like the delegates to the AIPAC convention, the members of Shir Hadash come to our synagogue.  We come from different backgrounds and vastly different experiences – many born Jewish, others who converted to Judaism, and even some who are not Jewish.  At Shir Hadash, we find a spiritual and community home that nourishes the soul, connects us to our heritage and tradition, and unites us with our Jewish people here and throughout the world.  Like our ancestors and the AIPAC delegates, we too bring sacrifices that elevate our Jewish experience and strengthen Shir Hadash as a whole. What are those sacrifices?  Shir Hadash needs your involvement.  We need you to participate in our various community gatherings – prayer services, adult education, community activities, social action programs, fundraisers, religious school, youth group, committee meetings, and more. Your participation not only strengthens Shir Hadash, it strengthens your Jewish neshama, your Jewish soul and identity.  Shir Hadash needs your donations of money and time.  No organization can run efficiently without the money to support its operations.  As we enter a new phase with our beautiful new building and vastly increased program offerings, you financial gifts are critical.  Shir Hadash needs the time you can invest as leaders, too.

Let us offer our participation, our money, and our time towards the strengthening of our special, creative, and caring Jewish community.  For what unites us is our love of God, our love of Israel, our love of Judaism, and our love of Shir Hadash.

Shabbat Shalom,

Rabbi Eitan Weiner-Kaplow