Weekly Message 05.30.2025 Parashat Bamidbar
- jccwestpasco
- 13 hours ago
- 3 min read
Parashat Bamidbar (In the Desert) Numbers 1:1 - 4:20
HafTorah Hosea 2:1 - 22
Dear friends,
Thanks to all who have pledged and/or contributed funds to enable the synagogue to meet its most urgent financial obligations and to those who volunteered this week at Metropolitan Ministries.
We are approaching the festival of Shavuot, now just a couple days away and the summer season. Having completed the learning of the multiplicity of mitzvot in Leviticus, this Shabbat we begin reading and studying the 4th book of the Torah, the Book of Bamidbar and thus continue the narrative of the journey in the wilderness. Our third triennial reading 3:14-4:20 begins with a census of and instructions for the services to be rendered by the Levites who will be led by Eleazer, the son of Aaron. The Torah reading is followed by the Haftorah containing the words of the Prophet Hosea who's own unfortunate domestic life paralleled that of the disloyalties and anguish in Israel's community. However, he predicts a glorious future reminding us of Hashem's love and concludes with the memorable and oft repeated verses 21 and 22:
וְאֵרַשְׂתִּ֥יךְ לִ֖י לְעוֹלָ֑ם וְאֵרַשְׂתִּ֥יךְ לִי֙ בְּצֶ֣דֶק וּבְמִשְׁפָּ֔ט וּבְחֶ֖סֶד וּֽבְרַחֲמִֽים׃
וְאֵרַשְׂתִּ֥יךְ לִ֖י בֶּאֱמוּנָ֑ה וְיָדַ֖עַתְּ אֶת־יְהֹוָֽה׃
I (Adonai) will betroth you unto Me forever. I will betroth you in righteousness, justice, lovingkindness, compassion, and faithfulness. Thus says Adonai! These inspirational words are recited daily as we don the Tefillin prior to the weekday morning service. They are also recited under the Chuppah as an important part of the wedding ceremony.
Shabbat services will take place as usual tonight at 7:30 pm and tomorrow (Saturday) morning at 9:30 am both in-person and virtually on Zoom.
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. Eileen will be presenting on the life and significance of King David and Chris Becker will be analyzing Leviticus 19:33-34 and how the commandment to treat strangers as we do ourselves should guide our immigration policies. I sincerely wish for us to have great participation in this important event on our calendar. As we will all be participating at home 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.
Chris and I are looking forward to being together with you throughout Shabbat and the festival of Shavuot!
Shabbat Shalom
Chag Shavuot Sameach,
Ron Becker,
Spiritual Leader, JCC of West Pasco
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ZOOM LINK FOR FRI, SAT AND MON (SHAVUOT)
JCC is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: Shabbat Services 05/30 @ 7:30 pm, 05/31 @ 9:30 am
and Monday 06/02 9:30 am
Time: This is a recurring meeting Fri, Sat and Mon
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 497 903 0958
Passcode: 5QdVaA