Shabbat Bechukotai
Torah:
Leviticus 26:3 - 27:34 / Haftarah: Jeremiah 16:19 - 17:14
“Peace in the Land”
Dear Friends,
This week’s Torah portion promises that if we
follow God’s commandments, we will be showered with blessings. One of the rewards mentioned in Leviticus
26:6, is that there will be “peace in the Land.” The scholar Ibn Ezra understood this promise
to mean that there would be peace amongst the Children of Israel, that is,
peace amongst ourselves, the Jewish people.
These are difficult times. The pace of change is quick and people are
becoming impatient. Anxiety is rising and
tempers are short. Sometimes it feels as
if the ties that bind us are loosening.
Yet, every two years, we get the remarkable
reminder that all is well in the Jewish world.
Every two years, we get the remarkable opportunity to come together for
a day of community, cooperation, and celebration. I refer to the “Greater Chicago Jewish
Festival” which takes place this Sunday, June 5th in the Cook County Park
District woods in Morton Grove. From
11am to 6pm four stages will pulse with non-stop music and performance and organizations
will offer their information. Artists
will display their work and food vendors will cook up Jewish favorites. The Jewish Festival is a day of great community
solidarity and celebration. Shir Hadash
will have its table represented and our beautifully fashioned pomegranate sculpture
will be on exhibit with others like it.
Come to the Jewish Festival <<www.jewishfestival.org>>
and experience a taste of the peace and unity of which the Torah speaks in this
week’s portion. There will be “peace in
the Land.”
Shabbat Shalom,
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