Celebrate Life

January 15-16, 2016 / 6 Shevat 5776

Shabbat Bo

Torah - Exodus 10:1-13:16 / Haftarah - Jeremiah 46:13-28

“Celebrate Life”

Dear Friends,

I can just imagine that first Passover dinner on the eve before the Exodus as described in this week’s Torah portion.  Each Israelite family was to slaughter and roast a ram, put the blood on the doorposts to protect the house, and then feast.  Small families were to get together to share the festive meal. Coats and shoes were worn and walking sticks were at the ready.  Backpacks were set and the matzah was baked. Anticipation, excitement, unity, hopefulness, caring, and love. Change was in the air. A freedom-filled future was only a morning away.

We Jews draw great inspiration from this story because it brings together three stakes that support our lives – community, creativity, and caring.  As a community, we join together and share the miraculous gift and experience of life itself.  Our families join together in celebration and actions that bring meaning to our lives.  In creativity, we innovate new possibilities and are never stuck in the rut of the past or the present.  From slavery, we can envision and pursue freedom.  We embrace new opportunities towards making life better for all.  In caring, we are there for each other through the ups and downs of life, joys and sadness, gain and loss, together and in isolation.  We are there to help others when they require our support, receiving their help in return when we are in need.

At Shir Hadash, this central Jewish Exodus story inspires us to share wonderful moments together, creating exciting ways to add meaning to our lives.  Community, Creativity, and Caring.  It’s all about being Jewish here in America and celebrating the wonderful opportunities that we have to explore our heritage and tradition.  It’s all about traveling the road of life together and adding meaning to the experience of living.  It’s all about being mindful and aware - recognizing the praising the Eternal Source of life and love for the many gifts that have been showered upon us…

I can just imagine that first Passover dinner as I can imagine all the wonderful moments that we will share in the coming days, months, and years at Shir Hadash.  Cups raised.  All cry out, “L’chayeem – To Life.”

Celebrate Life.

Shabbat Shalom,

Rabbi Eitan Weiner-Kaplow