Parashat Behaalotecha (when you step up) Numbers 8:1-12:16
HafTorah Zechariah 2:14 - 4:7
Dear friends,
We close out the month of May on this Memorial Day weekend with our Shabbat services featuring the reading of the portion of Beha'alotecha in the Book of Bamidbar of the Torah.
This reading reveals how delicate the bonds between the children of Israel in the wilderness and their leader Moses and indeed between them and Hashem. Despite all that they have endured as slaves, then in the desert as "strangers in strange lands" and the miracles they have witnessed which kept them alive and nurtured, they continue to "qvetch" and rebel!
Our Torah study which begins with the description of the Menorah (this is also read on Hanukkah for obvious reasons), the commandment to observe the second Passover in the event that one is not able to observe Passover at its proper time, and the lifting of the cloud over the Tabernacle indicating that it was time to move on toward the promised land.
However, the proceedings are marred by continuous complaining by the multitude regarding the lack of meat to eat and incredibly, even by Moses's older siblings Miriam and Aaron who question his authority and murmur about his "Cushite" wife Zipporah. The complainers are duly punished, and important lessons are learned. In fact, the theme of this Sedrah could very well be "learning from our mistakes". As humans, we are prone to bad habits, complaining, and resenting those who might have more status than us. Yet, ultimately we must come together with respect, love, and honor in order to be a truly holy community.
We also have a powerful Haftorah from the Prophet Zechariah this Shabbat. In it, he offers the oft quoted message:
וַיַּ֜עַן וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֵלַי֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר זֶ֚ה דְּבַר־יְהֹוָ֔ה אֶל־זְרֻבָּבֶ֖ל לֵאמֹ֑ר לֹ֤א בְחַ֙יִל֙ וְלֹ֣א
בְכֹ֔חַ כִּ֣י אִם־בְּרוּחִ֔י אָמַ֖ר יְהֹוָ֥ה צְבָאֽוֹת׃
“This is the word of the LORD: Not by might, nor by power, but by My spirit—said the LORD of Hosts."
With this theme in mind, I'm looking forward to seeing you in-person or on zoom tonight at 7:30 pm and Saturday morning at 9:30 am and wish you a pleasant Memorial Day holiday weekend as we honor the memory of those who sacrificed for our freedom, Ron
Ronald Becker,
Spiritual Leader
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FRIDAY:
JCC is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: Shabbat Service
Time: May 28, 2021 07:30 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/4979030958?pwd=YXJPT2FGVTdzVVV2bVQ3c1ZnS1lMZz09
Meeting ID: 497 903 0958
Passcode: 5QdVaA
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SATURDAY:
JCC is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: Saturday Morning Service
Time: May 29, 2021 09:30 AM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/4979030958?pwd=YXJPT2FGVTdzVVV2bVQ3c1ZnS1lMZz09
Meeting ID: 497 903 0958
Passcode: 5QdVaA
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