Done!

Shabbat Shalom from Rabbi Eitan Weiner-Kaplow

 

March 4-5, 2022 / 2 Adar II 5782

Shabbat Pikudei

Torah: Exodus 38:21 - 40:38     Haftarah: I Kings 7:51 - 8:21

 

“Done!”

 

Dear Friends,

 

What does it mean to complete a task? In this week’s Torah portion, the Children of Israel completed the building of the Mishkan, the portable sanctuary.  There were ceremonies for anointing the priests and dedicating the structure for worship to God.

 

Like the passages about the creation of the world, the Torah lays out the many steps it took to get to this point.  It is important to note that there were no miracles here and no suspension of the normal.  It took dedication, focus, and talented hard work to finish the job.

 

Our tradition teaches us to work hard, do our best, and help each other out.  That way we can cross each project off our list with pride and satisfaction. Done!

 

Zye a Mentsch – Be a Good Person!

 

Shabbat Shalom,

 

Rabbi Eitan Weiner-Kaplow

Kehillah – Building Community

 Shabbat Shalom from Rabbi Eitan Weiner-Kaplow

 

February 25-26, 2022 / 25 Adar I 5782

Shabbat Vayak’hel/Shekalim

 

Torah: Exodus 35:1-38:20, 30:11-16

Haftarah: II Kings 12:1 - 12:17 | Shabbat Shekalim

 

“Kehillah – Building Community”

 

Dear Friends,

 

What does it mean to “build community?”  In last week’s Torah portion, the Children of Israel built and worshipped the Golden Calf.  In this week’s portion, they sought to correct their misdeed by enthusiastically building the Mishkan, the portable sanctuary for worshipping God.  They were so motivated to bring donations for the construction that at one point Moses had to call it off and ask them to stop.  They were donating too much!

 

Here's the point: In coming together to build the Mishkan, they were actually building a community – a kehillah. In working together, they got to know one another and created the foundation of a society that would carry them into the future.  When we work together towards a goal, we build a kehillah, we build community.”

 

Zye a mentsch – Be a Good Person!

 

Shabbat shalom.

 

Rabbi Eitan Weiner-Kaplow

Sin and Atonement

 Shabbat Shalom from Rabbi Eitan Weiner-Kaplow

 

February 18-19, 2022 / 18 Adar I 5782

Shabbat Ki Tissa

Torah: Exodus 30:11 - 34:35       Haftarah: I Kings 18:1 - 18:39

 

“Sin and Atonement”

 

Dear Friends,

 

What are sin and atonement?  In this week’s Torah portion God told Moses to instruct each Israelite to give a half-shekel towards the building of the Mishkan, the traveling sanctuary.  Regardless of wealth or status, each was to give the same amount.  Each donation would serve as a personal atonement for past sins.

 

Rabbi Mordecai Kaplan wrote that, “Sin is the failure to live up to the best that is in us.  It means that our souls are not attuned to the divine – that we have betrayed God.”  Through atonement we reset and refocus our lives and deeds so that we can once again be our best.

 

Zay a Mentsch – Be a Good Person! 

 

Shabbat shalom.

 

Rabbi Eitan Weiner-Kaplow

Eternal Light

 Shabbat Shalom from Rabbi Eitan Weiner-Kaplow

 

February 11-12, 2022 / 11 Adar I 5782

Shabbat Tetzaveh

Torah: Exodus 27:20-30:10       Haftarah: Ezekiel 43:10 - 43:27

 

“Eternal Light”

 

Dear Friends,

 

Why do we have an eternal light constantly lit in our sanctuary?  Night and day, whether we are there or not, it burns on and on.  In this week’s Torah portion, Moses was told to create a seven branched candelabrum, called the menorah, the ner tamid, that was to burn continually in the Tent of Meeting, the mishkan.  It symbolized God’s presence within the shrine and throughout all existence.

 

Likewise, our eternal light, reminds us that God is everywhere.  Moreover, the eternal light is often placed very close to the Ark containing the Torah scrolls. This teaches us that for Jews, God’s presence, worship, learning, law, and performing good deeds are all linked into one.  Rabbi Mordecai Kaplan taught:

 

God is the creative flame

That transfigures lifeless substance,

Leaping into ever higher realms of being,

Brightening into the radiant glow of feeling,

Till it runs into the white fire of thought.

 

Zye a Mentsch – Be a Good Person!

 

Shabbat Shalom,

 

Rabbi Eitan Weiner-Kaplow