Matot (Tribes) - Masei (Journeys) - Bamidbar-Numbers 30:2-36:13
Dear friends,
Having survived another week of difficult times, we come to another Shabbat whose themes could provide some insight to help us get through our own troubles. Parashat Matot-Masei, the last two portions of the Book of Bamidar (Numbers) and are read together this year, concern themselves with the Hebrew nation's final year in the wilderness as they prepare to enter the promised land. This week, we learn about the importance of making and keeping vows, the rules of war, inheritance, and many other critical needs before self-governance and occupation of the land would be possible. We too need to prepare ourselves to survive our current situation and prepare for life after the virus! Rebellion, distrust, and complaining are constant theme throughout Bamidbar and have cost the older ones the chance to reside in Israel. We must cleanse ourselves of those negative traits if we too are to enjoy the benefits of life during better times.
This is the second Shabbat during the saddest period of the Hebrew calendar, the three weeks between the 17th of Tammuz and the 9th of Ab (Tisha B'Av) and we usher in the month of Menachim Av on Tuesday evening. So we end a book of the Torah (Bamidbar) and begin a new one Deuteronomy just as we end a month and begin a new one which begins on a sad note but continues as a hopeful one as we prepare for the High Holy Days now only two months away. This is a time of reflection as we hear from the Prophet Jeremiah in our Haftorah of Rebuke and attempt to learn from past mistakes and work toward becoming a holy society among ourselves and in our larger communities.
Our Shabbat service begins tonight (Friday) at 7:30 pm either in person at the JCC or on Zoom following the instructions below:
JCC is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: Shabbat Service
Time: Jul 17, 2020 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
Shabbat Shalom!
Ron Becker,
Spiritual Leader
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