Parashat Behaalotecha (when you step up) - Numbers 8:1 - 12:16
HafTorah Zechariah - 2:14 - 4:7
Excavated in Magdala Israel on the shores of the Sea Of Galilee, where a 1st
Century Synagogue was found
Dear friends,
I hope you had a good week and as we approach another Shabbat, we begin our Torah reading from the 3rd triennial portion of Baha'alotcha in the Book of Bamidbar (Numbers) with the familiar words which we chant prior to taking out the Torah:
וַיְהִ֛י בִּנְסֹ֥עַ הָאָרֹ֖ן וַיֹּ֣אמֶר מֹשֶׁ֑ה קוּמָ֣ה ׀ יְהֹוָ֗ה וְיָפֻ֙צוּ֙ אֹֽיְבֶ֔יךָ וְיָנֻ֥סוּ
מְשַׂנְאֶ֖יךָ מִפָּנֶֽיךָ׃
and which we chant just prior to returning the Torah to the Ark:
וּבְנֻחֹ֖ה יֹאמַ֑ר שׁוּבָ֣ה יְהֹוָ֔ה רִֽבְב֖וֹת אַלְפֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃
The part that we will read takes us back "on the road" towards the promised land and introduces stumbling blocks. The children of Israel who still held what can be termed a "slave mentality", began to "kvetch" once again and complain that they were sick and tired of the manna which was so graciously provided to them. They spoke of having eaten meat in Egypt, so meat is what they got--so much of it that a great plague befell them. We learn how important it is to appreciate what we have and to work towards being able to care for ourselves, learn to determine our own future and thus become a free people worthy of our own nation.
Then, in the end of our reading, jealously by Miriam and Aaron lead to more unfortunate times. Two lessons come to mind. The first is that jealousy is a dangerous trait that can destroy individuals and a society. The second is that we are all human beings and subject to human frailties. We have no godlike matriarchs and patriarchs and as great as they have contributed to our people, they are all human and so are we. We can all strive to be better and to forgive ourselves and others when we fall short.
I'm looking forward to sharing Shabbat davening and study with you tonight at 7:30 pm and tomorrow morning at 9:30 am in-person and on zoom. And please save the date---Shabbat evening July 1st to celebrate Danielle Merkle's birthday with desserts after services and the next morning, July 2nd to celebrate the uhfruf of Rebecca Price and Alex Baxter prior to their wedding with a Kiddush luncheon. Mazel Tov to the families on these wonderful occasions.
Shabbat Shalom!
Ron Becker,
Spiritual Leader
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FRIDAY:
JCC is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: Shabbat Services
Join Zoom Meeting Friday 7:30 pm
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Meeting ID: 497 903 0958
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SATURDAY:
JCC is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: Saturday Services
Join Zoom Meeting Saturday 9:30 am
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Meeting ID: 497 903 0958
Passcode: 5QdVaA
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