Women Leaders

 Shabbat Shalom From Rabbi Eitan Weiner-Kaplow

 

December 4-5, 2020 / 19 Kislev 5781

 

Shabbat Vayishlach

Torah Reading: Genesis 32:4 - 36:43 / Haftarah Reading: Obadiah 1:1-21

 

“Women Leaders”

 

Dear Friends,

 

While most of the characters in the Hebrew Bible are male, the female characters that do appear are powerful and courageous.  In this week’s portion, Jacob’s daughter Dina meets and befriends the “locals” of Canaan and falls in love with a prince named Shechem. Although a marriage is arranged, terrible violence ensues on the part of Dina’s brothers Shimon and Levi. Despite the brothers’ terrible actions, Dina comes off as a woman of strength and conviction.

 

We live in a time of increasing awareness and welcoming of women’s leadership in our society.  The change is visible in so many places.  Recently, I noticed how many female engineers and technicians were involved in the SpaceX Crew Dragon launch that brought four astronauts to the International Space Station. We all note that the Vice-President Elect is Kamala Harris, the first woman elected to this office.

 

Through the story of Dina, the Torah teaches us that women play important leadership roles in our community and make great contributions towards changing our world for the better.

 

Zay a mentsch – be a good person.

 

Shabbat Shalom.

 

Rabbi Eitan Weiner-Kaplow

God is in this Place

 Shabbat Shalom From Rabbi Eitan Weiner-Kaplow

 

November 27-28, 2020 / 12 Kislev 5781

 

Shabbat Vayetze

Torah - Genesis 28:10-32:3 / Haftarah - Hosea 12:13-14:10

 

“God is in this Place”

Dear Friends,

                                                                                                                            

So much was going wrong in Jacob’s life.  He had just deceived his father and cheated his brother out of the birthright and blessing of the first born.  His life was in danger and he needed to flee immediately.  While on the run, he made camp and fell asleep, only to dream of a ladder reaching up to heaven lined with protecting angels. Jacob awoke and said, “Indeed, God is in this place and I did not know it.”

 

Likewise, we face a very difficult time in our lives.  We have just come through a contentious election.  The COVID-19 pandemic is raging in a second wave whose warning was not heeded. The economy is weakening, our children are grappling with learning on line for hours a day, and our Thanksgiving dinners will have to be separate and apart. Nevertheless, Thanksgiving is a time to look beyond and see the blessings that abound even in these troubled times.  Check in on each other. Whether we meet in masks, on the phone, or over Zoom and Facetime, say a ‘shehecheyanu’ for the abundance of family, friends, and community.  This Thanksgiving, let us give thanks. Indeed, God is in this place.

 

I wish you all a healthy, happy, and safe Thanksgiving.

Shabbat Shalom.

 

Rabbi Eitan Weiner-Kaplow

In Good Time

 Shabbat Shalom from Rabbi Eitan Weiner-Kaplow

 

November 20-21, 2020 / 5 Kislev 5781

Shabbat Toledot

Torah: Genesis 25:19 - 28:9

Haftarah: Malachi 1:1 - 2:7

 

“In Good Time”

 

Dear Friends,

 

What does the Torah teach us about patience?  In this week’s Torah portion, Rebecca was pregnant with twins, who were constantly struggling with each other.  The Torah uses the word “vayitrotzetzu” – which means that the twins were moving so much that they seemed to be running within. What was the hurry; what was the rush? Afterall, everything happens in good time.

 

Judaism teaches us that even in a time of next-day air and Prime delivery, it is OK to wait a bit until plans and dreams are realized.  Everything happens in good time.

 

Zay a mentsch – Be a good person.

 

Shabbat shalom,

 

Rabbi Eitan Weiner-Kaplow

Life Goes On

 Shabbat Shalom from Rabbi Eitan Weiner-Kaplow

 

November 13-14, 2020 / 27 Heshvan 5781

Shabbat Chayei Sarah

Torah Portion: Genesis 23:1-25:18 / Haftarah Portion: I Kings 1:1-31

 

“Life Goes On”

 

Dear Friends,

 

In this week’s Torah portion, Abraham’s wife Sarah died. The portion tells of all that Abraham did to see that she had a proper burial place in the Cave of Machpelah, located in modern day Hebron, just south of Jerusalem. The Torah reminds us that life goes on.  Abraham sent his trusted servant Eliezer to find a wife for Isaac, who is Rebecca. Life goes on. Abraham then married again to a woman named Keturah.

 

The Torah teaches us that despite sadness, grief, loss, and setback, life goes on. There are always new opportunities for joy, family, friends, community, meaningful work, and so much more.  We are a people of life. And that’s why we continue to raise the glass and toast to life – L’chayim!

 

Shabbat shalom.

 

Rabbi Eitan Weiner-Kaplow

Pillar of Salt

 Shabbat Shalom from Rabbi Eitan Weiner-Kaplow

 

November 6-7, 2020 / 20 Heshvan 5781

Shabbat Vayera

Torah Portion: Genesis 18:1-22:24 / Haftarah Portion: II Kings 4:1-37

 

“Pillar of Salt”

 

Dear Friends,

 

As a child, I was astonished by the story of Lot’s wife being turned into a pillar of salt.  It amazed me that she would be punished for looking back as the city of Sodom was being destroyed.  Anyone would want to look back, certainly for curiosity if not for compassion on those caught in the conflagration. I wondered what this story was really about. The answer came to me in the summer of 1974 during my first trip to Israel.  We visited the Dead Sea and saw pillars of salt, a natural phenomenon arising from the mineral rich waters.  The story, it occurred to me was mythical explanation for the salt formations in the area.

 

Over the years, I have learned that the Dead Sea is itself going through tremendous change.  The inflow of waters from the Jordan River are greatly diminished and the chemical mining operations in the south are draining the sea.  The water level is dropping, the ground is becoming unstable, and the Dead Sea is disappearing. The Bible tells of the destruction of Sodom by fire.  We are witnessing the destruction of the Dead Sea by evaporation and mismanagement. We must do our best to see that the Dead Sea does not turn into a pillar of salt.

 

Zay a mentsch – Be a good person.

 

Shabbat shalom.

 

Rabbi Eitan Weiner-Kaplow