Shabbat Re’eh v’Rosh Hodesh Elul
Torah: Deuteronomy 11:26 - 16:17
Maftir: Numbers 28:9 - 28:15 | Shabbat Rosh Hodesh
Haftarah: Isaiah 66:1 - 66:24 | Shabbat Rosh Hodesh
“Brotherly Love”
Dear Friends,
A popular legend about two brothers tells how a
small mountaintop in Jerusalem was selected as the location for the Temple.
According to the legend, two brothers lived and farmed grain on that mountain.
One was married with a large family, and the other was single. When harvest
time arrived, the brothers divided the grain into two equal piles. That night
the unmarried brother felt that he had more than he needed, whereas his brother
and his large family could surely use more. So, he secretly took some of his
grain and put it in his brother’s pile. The married brother considered himself
so fortunate to have so many children who would care for him in his old age. So,
he quietly brought grain from his pile to his single brother’s. Each
morning the piles remained unchanged. So the brothers repeated their secret act
of giving for several nights, until one night the brothers met. Recognizing what they were doing, they embraced and wept. According to
the legend, God selected that site for the building of the Temple, a place of
brotherly love.
This Shabbat,
we will celebrate the beginning of the month of Elul, the month that precedes
the High Holidays. The great rabbis
suggest that the letters that spell the name of the month form a code
representing a verse from the Song of Songs – “I am my beloved’s and my beloved
is mine.”
As we prepare
for the High Holidays, let us focus on repairing and fostering relationships
amongst colleagues, friends, and family.
Like the brothers, let us be there to help and support each other.
Shabbat
Shalom,
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