 | Happy June, which this year also means Happy Shavuot! Rabbi David offers coming attractions about the Shavuot festival of love this weekend, and some personal thoughts about what this festival means to him amidst family challenges. |
By Rabbi David
Happy summer, Shir Ami! This greeting may seem a few weeks early, even if meteorologists chart "climatological summer" from June 1 (whether or not the actual weather cooperates).
Jewishly speaking, a summer greeting is exactly on time. June 1 at sunset begins the Jewish festival of Shavuot, spiritual marker for summer's launch.
Read on for coming attractions about Shavuot this weekend, and personal thoughts about what this festival means to me as I navigate family challenges and personal uncertainty.
Coming Attractions: Shavuot 5785 – Festival of Love
We say on Shavuot that "we were all there." We all were at Sinai together to receive Torah and our Covenant, and "all" means all – everyone who ever was, and everyone who ever would be.
On Shavuot we stand together, we celebrate together, and together we renew.
In ancient agricultural days, we "did" Shavuot as a pilgrimage festival:. Our ancestors came from far and wide to Jerusalem with first fruits of the year's harvest. In gratitude and celebration, our ancestors partied.
In time, agricultural offerings took a backseat to Shavuot's anniversary of receiving the Ten Commandments at Sinai. Shavuot became a collective celebration of Torah and covenant.
This year our Shavuot gathering (Sunday, June 1, 7:00pm), at the home of Joan & David Green (register now), will be a fun social gathering with Shavuot desserts (cheesecake, white wine, etc.), song, and mystical learning about Jewish spiritual love. Deep thanks to Joan and David for hosting a fun and sweet evening.
Befitting a pilgrimage festival, Shavuot also will include a brief Yizkor for our loved ones: after all, we all were there. I'll hold a brief online festival evening/Yizkor service starting 7:00pm Monday, June 2. Have onhand a Yizkor candle, photos of loved ones, some wine or grape juice, and maybe a sweet dessert.
Immediately after Shavuot, we shift into summer mode – a beach Shabbat, a slow season, and then the long slow countdown to Rosh Hashanah at the turn of autumn. Stay tuned!
Some Personal Thoughts
I write these words from my mom's bedside as she moves through covid complications. I'm grateful to everyone who checked in, reached out, and sent blessings. I'm here every day when not at court; I've been teaching our classes and hosting programs online from here.
Being here reminds me, as I wrote in this week's Dvar Torah, how important it is to our shared covenant that everyone counts. Many of you reading these words understand intuitively from your own experience.
A community stands for more than the people who show up. A community stands for those who cannot stand up. Spiritually, we dare to stand on behalf of others, and bring them in – whoever they are, even beyond this life.
Amidst the joy of being together, sweetened with cheesecake and perhaps lubricated with a few cups of l'hayyim, together we summon the audacity to do more than just those physically present can achieve. The more the merrier, of course: we are more whole together.
This year I'll be standing at Sinai for my mom, and for everyone where she is, and all of us not physically present. For whom will you stand?
Happy summer, Shir Ami! This greeting may seem a few weeks early, even if meteorologists chart "climatological summer" from June 1 (whether or not the actual weather cooperates).
Jewishly speaking, a summer greeting is exactly on time. June 1 at sunset begins the Jewish festival of Shavuot, spiritual marker for summer's launch.
Read on for coming attractions about Shavuot this weekend, and personal thoughts about what this festival means to me as I navigate family challenges and personal uncertainty.
Coming Attractions: Shavuot 5785 – Festival of Love
We say on Shavuot that "we were all there." We all were at Sinai together to receive Torah and our Covenant, and "all" means all – everyone who ever was, and everyone who ever would be.
On Shavuot we stand together, we celebrate together, and together we renew.
In ancient agricultural days, we "did" Shavuot as a pilgrimage festival:. Our ancestors came from far and wide to Jerusalem with first fruits of the year's harvest. In gratitude and celebration, our ancestors partied.
In time, agricultural offerings took a backseat to Shavuot's anniversary of receiving the Ten Commandments at Sinai. Shavuot became a collective celebration of Torah and covenant.
This year our Shavuot gathering (Sunday, June 1, 7:00pm), at the home of Joan & David Green (register now), will be a fun social gathering with Shavuot desserts (cheesecake, white wine, etc.), song, and mystical learning about Jewish spiritual love. Deep thanks to Joan and David for hosting a fun and sweet evening.
Befitting a pilgrimage festival, Shavuot also will include a brief Yizkor for our loved ones: after all, we all were there. I'll hold a brief online festival evening/Yizkor service starting 7:00pm Monday, June 2. Have onhand a Yizkor candle, photos of loved ones, some wine or grape juice, and maybe a sweet dessert.
Immediately after Shavuot, we shift into summer mode – a beach Shabbat, a slow season, and then the long slow countdown to Rosh Hashanah at the turn of autumn. Stay tuned!
Some Personal Thoughts
I write these words from my mom's bedside as she moves through covid complications. I'm grateful to everyone who checked in, reached out, and sent blessings. I'm here every day when not at court; I've been teaching our classes and hosting programs online from here.
Being here reminds me, as I wrote in this week's Dvar Torah, how important it is to our shared covenant that everyone counts. Many of you reading these words understand intuitively from your own experience.
A community stands for more than the people who show up. A community stands for those who cannot stand up. Spiritually, we dare to stand on behalf of others, and bring them in – whoever they are, even beyond this life.
Amidst the joy of being together, sweetened with cheesecake and perhaps lubricated with a few cups of l'hayyim, together we summon the audacity to do more than just those physically present can achieve. The more the merrier, of course: we are more whole together.
This year I'll be standing at Sinai for my mom, and for everyone where she is, and all of us not physically present. For whom will you stand?
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