Turning to Harvest

 Shabbat Shalom from Rabbi Eitan Weiner-Kaplow

 

September 17-18, 2021 / 12 Tishrei 5782

Shabbat Ha’azinu

Torah: Deuteronomy 32:1 - 32:52

Haftarah: II Samuel 22:1-51

 

“Turning to Harvest”

 

Dear Friends,

 

As the High Holidays come to a conclusion, we turn our eyes to the harvest. For the Jewish people, harvest comes in many ways.  From Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur, we both finish a year of growth and maturation and begin a new year with knowledge learned and goals set for the future.  This is a harvest of the spirit. With the end of the summer and approaching fall, next week we will celebrate Sukkot when we gather in the richness of the fields, orchards, and vineyards.  This is a harvest of God’s abundance. In two weeks, on Simchat Torah, we will conclude the reading of the Torah and begin again.  This is a harvest of wisdom.

 

“Hodu L’Adonai ki tov, ki l’olam chasdo -

Give thanks to the Eternal who is good; God’s compassion is everlasting.”

(Psalm 118)

 

 

Zay a mentsch – Be a Good Person.

 

Rabbi Eitan Weiner-Kaplow

Live Life to the Fullest

 Shabbat Shalom from Rabbi Eitan Weiner-Kaplow

 

September 10-11, 2021 / 5 Tishrei 57781

Shabbat Vayelech - Shuvah

Torah: Deuteronomy 31:1 - 31:30

Haftarah: Hosea 14:2-10; Micah 7:18-20; Joel 2:15-27 | Shabbat Shuva

 

“Live Life to the Fullest”

 

Dear Friends,

 

As we approach the final chapters of the Torah, we find Moses telling the Children of Israel that soon he will die.  A new leader, Joshua, will guide them out of the desert and into the Promised Land. This focus on Moses’ death contains a special lesson for us.  Next week, we will celebrate Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, and the day of forgiveness.  One of the traditions is to wear white clothing, which represents our quest for spiritual purity.  The white clothing is also symbolic of our burial shrouds.  Thus, on Yom Kippur, we contemplate our mortality and figuratively prepare for our death.

 

Why all this talk about death if Yom Kippur is actually a joyous holiday celebrating forgiveness and cleansing?  We confront our mortality on this day in order to become inspired to live more fully and more joyously in the time we have left. Thus, from the knowledge of eventual death, we find the drive to live life to the fullest.  Afterall, we Jews are a people devoted to Life.  L’chaim.

 

Shabbat Shalom and Shanah Tova – a Good, Healthy and Happy New Year to all!

 

Zay a mentsch – Be a Good Person.

 

Shabbat Shalom,

 

Rabbi Eitan Weiner-Kaplow