UPCOMING EVENTS:
June 27 - Pride Shabbat
June 29 - One Enchanted Evening
Weary from crying, my throat parched, my eyes fail me, as I await God's help. (Psalms 69.4) Words fail us as we confront a war that has lasted 617 days. In light of last night's attack on Iran and today's retaliation, how do we move forward? We begin by holding one another and those we know and care for. And if we are able, we dream of better days, days when our destructive nature as human beings does not predominate and we bring healing to one another.
In the words of Yehuda Amichai:
"Don't stop after beating swords into plowshares, don't stop! Go on beating and make musical instruments out of them. Whoever wants to make war again will have to turn them into plowshares first."
Pride Shabbat: June 27
Sunday, June 29
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Rabbi Linda's Weekly Message |
June 20, 2025 |
Dear Friends,
I am reminded again and again of the kindness and caring that exists in the world. At times it is hard to grab hold of, but the light is there. Our community has shown itself to be one of caring, compassion, and kindness again and again over the past year. The ability to be there for others in the midst of the chaos of this moment is a sign of strength.
Sadly, this week’s Torah portion gives us a clear example of those blinded by their own fear and assumptions and unable to make the best, albeit difficult, decision to go forward. This week’s Torah portion Sh’lach, "send" (Numbers 13:1-15:41), tells the story of the twelve chieftains sent out by Moses to spy out the land. Caleb and Joshua saw one thing; for the rest of the chieftains, it is not so much what they saw but how they reacted to what they saw.
Interestingly, the Torah portion only gives us a report of how exploring the land made them feel. Ten of the twelve felt like grasshoppers in relation to those who lived in the land. Their filter was a negative one. They saw the lush produce of the land, but responded negatively; after all, the people in the land were giants and they were but grasshoppers. They were unable to understand that the strong fortifications of the inhabitants was a sign of fear. Thirty eight years later, when Joshua sent his spies, they are told that the people have been in fear of the Israelites for the past forty years.
When we look at these twelve leaders, chosen especially to spy out the land, we see ten individuals who are taken over by groupthink. Their individuality is lost. The fear of going forward spreads among them. They do not believe in the power of the Divine, power that they have previously witnessed.
Mitzvah of the Week
In looking over my past divrei Torah on this week’s Torah portion, Emor, I quote the same passage over and over again, noting that we read almost the identical passage last week.
“When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap all the way to the edges of your field, or gather the gleanings of your harvest; you shall leave them for the poor and the stranger: I, the Eternal One, am your God (Leviticus 23:22).”
I invite you to imagine a planted field, filled with products of the farmer’s labor; yet the corners are not harvested. Those in need are not to be made feel lesser; they too have to labor to harvest. When we examine this type of giving, we discover that those being aided are able to maintain a sense of agency.
In this time with so many in need, may we remember the dignity of those whom we are aiding. When we are enjoined to do the same thing two weeks in a row, the importance of this action is emphasized.
Riverdale Y 
| Oseh shalom bimromav, hu ya'aseh shalom aleinu ve'al kol Israel, ve'imru, Amen. |
| May the One who makes peace in the heavens, make peace for us all and all the people of Israel. |
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