Standing at Sinai

Shabbat Shalom from Rabbi Eitan Weiner-Kaplow

February 2-3, 2018 / 18 Shevat 5778

Shabbat Yitro

Torah: Exodus 18:1 - 20:23     Haftarah: Isaiah 6:1 - 7:6; 9:5 - 9:6

“Standing at Sinai”

Dear Friends,

What really happened at Mount Sinai more than 3,000 years ago?  Some say that the Ten Commandments were given.  Some say that the Torah, the Five Books of Moses, was revealed.  Others say that that the whole world of Jewish learning, including the whole Hebrew Bible and the Talmud, were given to the People of Israel.

Of course, we will never know exactly what happened.  However, the experience of coming together at the foot of the mountain was so powerful that the Children of Israel became more than a people that day; they became a nation.  Something very special happened.  It had to be more than a flashy and impressive audio-visual presentation.  It had staying power.  It was transformative.  The element that made the experience was the introduction of Jewish text, learning, wisdom, law, heritage, and tradition.  That element was Torah, the center of Jewish life.

While it is easy to focus on the cultural aspects of Jewish identity in our daily life, we must remember the importance of Torah study and Jewish learning as the true glue that holds our people together.  On this Shabbat, commit yourself to studying Torah and reading Jewish literature.  Share the wisdom with family and friends.  Like our ancestors so long ago, receive the world of Torah and be transformed.

Shabbat Shalom,

Rabbi Eitan Weiner-Kaplow

Benjamin Franklin

Shabbat Shalom from Rabbi Eitan Weiner-Kaplow

January 26-27, 2018 / 11 Shevat 5778

Shabbat Beshalach

Torah - Exodus 13:17-17:16 / Haftarah - Judges 4:4-5:31

“Benjamin Franklin”

Dear Friends,

It is said that Benjamin Franklin suggested that the one dollar bill have a picture of the Israelites leaving Egypt on their way to freedom in the Promised Land. That’s how powerful our Jewish story of liberation from Egyptian bondage is to others seeking their own freedom.  For the new United States of America struggling for its independence, Moses’ story was an inspiration.  For enslaved African Americans, the momentous story of crossing the Sea of Reeds and arriving in the Land of Milk and Honey was the ultimate motivator to keep on moving from slavery to freedom here in the New World.

Our story of leaving Egypt is the ultimate Jewish story.  It is the core story of our national and spiritual identity.  It is what identifies us as Jews.  We were enslaved and were freed.  We crossed the Sea and received the Torah at Mount Sinai.  We wandered through the desert and came to the Promised Land.  We read this story on Shabbat Shirah and we recite verses from it each and every day.

The story of our liberation lifts us to a higher calling.  Our story inspires us and it rouses others throughout the world to join us on the march to freedom and justice for all.

Shabbat shalom.

Rabbi Eitan Weiner-Kaplow

Together

Shabbat Shalom from Rabbi Eitan Weiner-Kaplow

January 19-20, 2018 / 4 Shevat 5778

Shabbat Bo

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

“Together”

Dear Friends,

In this week’s Torah portion, the plagues are raging against Egypt and Pharaoh is weakening.  He offers to let the men of Israel leave to worship God out in the desert.  Moses insists that the Hebrews will go “with our young and with our old, with our sons and with our daughters, with our flocks and with our herds.”  In other words, the Children of Israel are in this together.  We have been enslaved together and we will leave together. With that, our ancestors left Egypt, traveled through the wilderness, received the Torah at Mount Sinai and entered the Promised Land - together.

This principle has guided the Jewish people from that moment until this very day.  We are one community.  We have no tradition of asceticism, of living in isolation.  On the contrary, our sages have taught us “do not separate yourself from the community (Pirkei Avot).” We go through life together.

In our families, communities, at Shir Hadash, and within the Jewish community worldwide, the same applies.  Amongst our seven core values of Shir Hadash are ‘Community’ and ‘Love for the Jewish people.’  For us the value of ‘Community’ means that we connect all Shir Hadash members together in a caring and sharing extended Jewish ‘family;’ we joyfully volunteer our time, talents and resources to supporting and leading our Shir Hadash community, its activities and projects. The lesson is clear.  We are one people and we stick together.

Shabbat Shalom,

Rabbi Eitan Weiner-Kaplow

In the Wilderness

Shabbat Shalom from Rabbi Eitan Weiner-Kaplow

January 12-13, 2018 / 26 Tevet 5778

Shabbat Va’eira

Torah: Exodus 6:2 - 9:35

Haftarah: Ezekiel 28:25 - 29:21

“In the Wilderness”

Dear Friends,

Where can we best encounter God?  The answer, of course, is anywhere.  Inside or outside - anywhere. However, in this week’s Torah portion, Moses insists that Pharaoh permit the Children of Israel to go to the wilderness to worship God.  What is it about the wilderness?  Certainly it is out in nature that we encounter the full grandeur and majesty of God’s creation.  Whether we go to mountain, forest, desert, ocean, or lake, we are easily overcome with appreciation for the beauty and power of the natural world.  It is precisely in those places, away from daily distractions and interruptions, that we can settle down and explore our spirituality. There we can encounter God’s creation and presence.

Now that it is wintertime, I encourage you to go out into nature and discover a special kind of magnificence, a unique kind of beauty.  Sitting or hiking in a winter park or forest offers a special quiet all its own.  Without leaves, the wind sounds different as it whistles through the trees.  If there is snow, a muted quiet is all around.  If there is ice, footfalls sound different.  If it is cold, dress warm and enjoy the uplifting sense of feeling safe and protected while surrounded by the winter freeze.  Notice your breath.  Feel your heart beat.  Listen for special sounds of life all around, including creatures on the ground and in the air.  Feel at peace. Feel God’s presence. Say a prayer in your own words.

Moses knew it.  Our Jewish tradition knows it.  And now you know it.  The wilderness is a very special place to encounter God.

Shabbat Shalom,

Rabbi Eitan Weiner-Kaplow

Abilities

Shabbat Shalom from Rabbi Eitan Weiner-Kaplow

January 5-6, 2018  /  19 Tevet 5778

Shabbat Shemot

Torah - Exodus 1:1-6:1  /  Haftarah - Isaiah 27:6-28:13; 29:22-23

“Abilities”

Dear Friends,

Must we be perfect in order to make a difference?  We expect our leaders to be perfect in every way – mentally, spiritually, and physically. And yet, right from the start, we learn that Moses had difficulty speaking in public.  Moses, the greatest leader of our people, had a physical disability. Even though the Torah never tells us the nature of his speech impediment, Moses of course exceled and is revered to this very day as a paragon of strength, inspiration, tenacity, and courage.

So, how did Moses cope?  He got his brother Aaron to assist him… and the rest is history.  There are two lessons here.  First, we all have strengths and weaknesses.  So, get someone to help you with the areas that are more difficult for you.  There is no shame in that.  Second, we are much, much more than our disabilities.  Look upon those with disabilities as full human beings completely capable of doing great things in the world. Like Moses, a disability should not disqualify anyone from living a full live and making a profound contribution to those around them and society in general.

In our own way, each of us can and should make a difference.

Shabbat Shalom,

Rabbi Eitan Weiner-Kaplow