Weekly Message 05.23.2025 Parashat Behar - Bechukotai
- jccwestpasco
- 15 hours ago
- 5 min read
Parashat Behar (on mount Sinai) Bechukotai (in My statutes) Leviticus 25:1 - 27:34
HafTorah Jeremiah 16:19 - 17:14
Dear friends,
I need to begin this week's message on a sad note but with continued hope and prayers for the future. As you know, there was a horriific shooting that took place outside the Jewish Museum in Washington, DC on Wednesday night. Ironically, it came as the those who attended the annual Young Diplomats reception sponsored by ACCESS (the American Jewish Committee's Young Professional Division) were leaving the museum. They were attending an event aimed to bring together young professionals of both Jewish and non Jewish faiths to talk about bridge building in the Middle East and North Africa in order to counter the "us versus them" mentality that has been responsible for such death and destruction. The stated theme was "turning pain into purpose". The victims were employees of the Israeli Embassy and were about to become engaged to be married. Sarah Milgrim was a native of Kansas, and Yaron Lischinsky a native of Israel. We hope that the shock of the violent attack on those who were searching for peace will inspire governments and all of us to continue this sacred cause. So let us all "turn pain into purpose"!
This Shabbat, we complete the reading and study of the Book of Leviticus (Vayikra). As
we are in the 3rd triennial cycle, we will read chapter 27 in its entirety. This chapter deals with laws concerning vows and the consecration of people and property thus culminating the receipt of many of the mitzvot that we live by to this day. Following the reading, we all chant חֲזַק חֲזַק וְנִתְחַזֵּק "be strong, hold fast, and let us strengthen one another" to celebrate the completion of the 3rd book of the Torah. This is followed by our Haftorah with the words of Jeremiah (16:19-17:14) who witnessed the destruction of the Temple and banishment from the land of Israel chronicled in his Book of Lamentations (Eicha). Just as the Torah enunciates the goodness of life on earth if people and nations follow the mitzvot and lead a kind and caring existence to one another and to the land, and the opposite if they don't, Jeremiah foretells a return to the land when there is a return to morality. He ends with verse 14, which we repeat in the weekday morning and afternoon Amidah every day: רְפָאֵנִי יְהֹוָה וְאֵרָפֵא "Heal me oh Lord and I shall be healed." After the Haftorah, we will chant the blessing for the new month of Sivan which occurs this coming Tuesday night and Wednesday.
יְהִי רָצוֹן שֶׁיִּתְחַדֵּשׁ עָלֵינוּ חֹדֶשׁ לְטוֹבָה וְלִבְרָכָה, לְשָׂשׂוֹן וּלְשִׂמְחָה, לְשָׁלוֹם וְאחֲוָה, רֵעוּת וְאַהֲבָה, לַעֲבוֹדָה וִיצִירָה, פַּרְנָסָה וְכַלְכָּלָה, לְשַׁלְוַת הַנֶּפֶש, וּבְרִיאוּת הַגּוּף, לַחַיִּים שֶׁל
דֶּרֶךְ אֶרֶץ, וְאַהֲבַת תּוֹרָה, לְחַיִּים שֶׁיִּמָלוּ בָּם, מִשְׁאֲלוֹת לִבְּנוּ לִבֵּנוּ לְטוֹבָה, כֵּן יְהִי רָצוֹן
"May the month of Sivan be a month of blessings, blessings of goodness, blessings of joy, peace and kindness,
friendship and love, creativity, strength, and serenity, fulfilling work and dignity, satisfaction, success,
and sustenance, physical health and radiance. May truth and justice guide our acts and compassion temper our life that we may blossom as we age and become our sweetest selves. May it be so."
Join me this evening at 7:30 pm and tomorrow morning at 9:30 am for our Shabbat services. Unfortunately, we were unable to read the Torah last Shabbat morning as we lacked a minyan for the first time in a long time. Please don't let that happen again!
On Sunday evening and all-day Monday (May 25/26), we observe Yom Yerushalayim (Jerusalem Day) which commemorates the reunification of Jerusalem in 1967. I vividly recall that precarious time in Israel's history and of watching the televised United Nations hearings and Ambassador Abba Eban's speeches. Now 58 years later, we are still condemning violence and searching for peace. This year, Yom Yerushalayim coincides with Memorial Day in the U.S. Thus, as we remember those who fell in service to our country, we think about our connection to Israel and how important peace is for all humanity regardless of land of origin.
There is still time to sign up for our monthly volunteer session at Metropolitan Ministries on Thursday, May 29th from 11 am until 2 pm. The registration link is
Jewish Community Center Group Link: https://vhub.at/1L1BLIK
I hope to see many of you there!
Shavuot is just a little over a week away! On erev Shavuot, Sunday, June 1st at 7 pm, we will be joining our friends at Temple Beth David in a Tikkun Leil Shavuot , a centuries old tradition of studying together as part of our preparation for the holiday of Shavuot which among other things, celebrates our receipt of the Torah. Members of both synagogues will be delivering short talks on religious, historical, and cultural themes as we learn together from our own homes as we will all participate on Zoom. Last year, Eileen Hochstadt and I both presented, and we encourage all to tune in again this year for what promises to be a great opportunity to learn from each other. I will be speaking on the significance of the Puglia region in the boot of Italy to the Jewish people from the expulsion from the Holy Land by the Romans after the destruction of the Second Temple to the establishment of displaced person camps after the Holocaust which served as a springboard to emigration (both legal and illegal) back to the land Israel. I sincerely wish for us to have great participation in this important event on our calendar. As we will all be on Zoom, here is the link:
Topic: Tikkun Leil Shavuot
Time: Jun 1, 2025 07:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 824 5087 2429
Passcode: 955823
Then on Monday, June 2nd at 9:30 am which will include the Yizkor Memorial Service (last chance for Yizkor until Yom Kippur), the inspirational Book of Ruth, and the beautiful poem Akdamut.
Finally, I need to reiterate that your synagogue is having very serious financial problems. With declining and aging membership and lower bingo income, we are simply no longer able to pay our substantial utility and repair invoices for our physical facility. The synagogue's budget has been cut to the bone and nearly all of the work of the shul is being done by volunteers. Whether you are a member or attendee at services and other events, please reach down deep and make a generous contribution of whatever you can afford so that we can keep the doors open and continue to serve you and the Jewish community. Your attention to this plea is very much appreciated and will result in our continuing to be a presence here in Pasco County. Many thanks to those who have already contributed!
Shabbat Shalom!
Ron Becker,
Spiritual Leader
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ZOOM LINK FOR FRIDAY AND SATURDAY
JCC is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: Shabbat Services 05/23 @ 7:30 pm & 05/24 @ 9:30 am
Time: This is a recurring meeting Meet Fri & Sat
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 497 903 0958
Passcode: 5QdVaA