Food for the Hungry

Shabbat Shalom and Chag Same’ach From Rabbi Eitan Weiner-Kaplow

Shabbat Shavuot

Torah Portion: Exodus 19:1-20:23 and Numbers 28:26-31

Haftarah Portion:  Ezekiel 1:1-28, 3:12

Book of Ruth

“Food for the Hungry”

Dear Friends,

What does the Bible say about providing food for the hungry and the poor?  During the quickly approaching festival of Shavuot, we read the book of Ruth.  Ruth is a Moabite woman who marries into an Israelite family and moves to the Land of Israel.  During one section of the book, the wheat harvest begins with much celebration and fanfare.  What makes it so special is the description of how the harvest unfolds. First, the landowner and the farmworkers form a line across the field and slowly make their way forward cutting the wheat and gathering it into sheaves.  As they make forward progress, a second line forms behind them comprised of the hungry and the poor.  Anything dropped, overlooked, or forgotten by the initial line of harvesters becomes the leftover ‘gleanings.’ These gleanings are free-pickings and fully available to those following behind. By the end of the day, the field will surely be picked clean with most of it going to the farmer and the remnants going to the poor.  In addition to the gleanings, the edges and corners of the fields are to be left unharvested by the farmers. All of the produce coming from these areas goes completely to the hungry and the poor.

We still have food-insecurity today, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. I urge you to respond to the message of the book of Ruth by sharing food with the local food pantries.  This is how we gather the gleanings for the hungry.  At this time of celebration, we must do our part to see that all have food and that no one goes hungry.

Zay a mentsch - Be a good person.

Shabbat Shalom,

Rabbi Eitan Weiner-Kaplow

A Walk in the Woods

Shabbat Shalom from Rabbi Eitan Weiner-Kaplow

May 22-23, 2020 / 29 Iyar 5780

Omer Day 44

Shabbat Bamidbar

Torah: Numbers 1:1 - 4:20 / Haftarah: Hosea 2:1 - 2:22

“A Walk in the Woods”

Dear Friends,

How can I travel when we are in quarantine?  How can I hike the mountains and valleys, the deserts and forests when we are sheltering in place?  The latest answer is virtual hiking.  Yes, I have been on the treadmill in my basement lately with a TV in front of me watching Youtube.  What I found are virtual hiking videos – essentially someone straps a GoPro camera to their hat and goes for a walk. I have hiked in Hawaii, Bryce Canyon, Olympic National Forest, and all the way to Havasupai Falls in the Grand Canyon.  What a joy.  I found that walking in nature, even virtually, allows me to think, meditate, dream, and ponder – all the things I do when really on trail.

This week’s Torah portion is called BaMidbar – In the Wilderness.  It refers to the Children of Israel travelling through the desert from Egypt to the Promised Land.  The book tells of all the events that helped shape them into a people worthy of entering the Land of Israel.  It is a book of transformation from slaves to free people.  All this happens in the wilderness.

As the weather warms, find some time to get out into nature – either actually or virtually.  Experience the healing and nurturing powers that a walk in the woods can bring the heart, mind, body, and soul.

Zay a Mentsch – Be a Good Person.

Shabbat Shalom,

Rabbi Eitan Weiner-Kaplow

You Shall Be Kind

Shabbat Shalom from Rabbi Eitan Weiner-Kaplow

May 15-16, 2020 / 22 Iyar 5780

Shabbat Behar-Behukotai

Torah: Leviticus 25:1 - 27:34       Haftarah: Jeremiah 16:19 - 17:14

“You Shall Be Kind”

Dear Friends,

Times are difficult. Patience can easily be lost and tempers can flare.  At times of stress and anxiety, we can easily act rashly and improperly.  Twice in this week’s Torah portion appears the command, “You shall not wrong one another.”  The commentators suggest that each repetition refers to a different kind of wronging - one being in business and the other being the words we speak to each other.  Yet, we know that there are many, many ways in which we can wrong each other.

When I see these words, I think of the converse, i.e. “You shall be kind to one another.”  Think of all the ways that we could be kind and helpful to our family, friends, and neighbors.  Think of all the things we could do to make their lives easier, better, and more fulfilling.  Think of all the mitzvot (righteous deeds) and acts of tikkun (healing and repair) that each one of us can do to make the world a better place.  That is the essence of “You shall not wrong each other.”  It is the converse – act with integrity, justice, and love.  Be a mentsch.

Shabbat Shalom,

Rabbi Eitan Weiner-Kaplow

Why We Really Need Shabbat Now More Than Ever

Shabbat Shalom from Rabbi Eitan Weiner-Kaplow

May 8-9, 2020 / 15 Iyar 5780

Omer Day 30

Shabbat Emor

Torah: Leviticus 21:1-24:23 / Haftarah: Ezekiel 44:15-31

“Why We Really Need Shabbat Now More Than Ever”

Dear Friends,

What day is it? The shelter in place order often has me wondering what day is today.  All the days seem to be feeling pretty much the same. Without being able to travel about, do errands, go to our workplace, work out at the gym, attend a show, or eat out, it is often hard for us to tell what day it is!

And that is all the more reason why we need Shabbat. Yes, Shabbat is a day of rest and prayer.  It is also a day that is different from all other days of the week.  It helps us reset our sense of time and space.  It helps us refocus and restore our direction in life as time goes by.  So, going forward, I encourage you to make Shabbat a special day for you and your friends and family.  Yes, keep appropriate social distancing when necessary.  Wear you masks and gloves and stay safe.  Yet, make Shabbat special.  Join our Friday evening Kabbalat Shabbat Zoom gatherings.  Make a special Shabbat dinner at home with candles, wine, and home-baked challah. Go for a walk or a bicycle ride, play a game, read stories… you get the picture.

Let Shabbat be a respite in the chain of seemingly unchanging days.  Let it refresh and renew our hearts, minds, and souls.

Zay gezunt - Be well.

Shabbat Shalom,

Rabbi Eitan Weiner-Kaplow