As I write these words, we are in the week of the Torah reading Beha'alotecha. This parsha begins with Aaron, Moshe's brother and high priest of the Israelites, lighting the lamp of the seven-armed menorah. This menorah becomes a symbol for the Jewish people so deep that it is still used today as the emblem of the State of Israel, with a statue standing outside the halls of the Israeli parliament - the Knesset. It is a symbol for Jewish leadership.
Later in the parsha, Moshe, upon having fully admitted his inability to lead alone, has his "spirit" distributed to the 70 elders of the community. Rashi, the 11th century Torah commentator from Northern France, tells us that this is an act that actually increases Moshe's spirit - Rashi tells us to think of Moshe as a candle whose flame burns bright, and in lighting the flame of others around him, his spirit is shared without any decrease in his own.
I have learned a great deal about what is possible in leadership from Mishkan Ha'am, and, having read Rashi's comment, believe that how we do leadership is radically traditional. I believe we are a community of people, each of whom plays the role of Moshe at different moments, and each of whom is able to acknowledge when we cannot lead alone, spreading our spirit to others, and increasing our own spirit for having done so.
Thank you for what has been an educational and illuminating year as you have shared your spirit with me.
In your light, I see light,
David
• • •
Upcoming Events
Friday, May 31, Community Friday Night Potluck Dinner, 7-9 pm. Welcome Shabbat with us, all together around the
dinner table. Rabbi David will lead us as we say the blessings, share the
weekly torah portion, and sing Shabbat table songs. All ages welcome. For more
information, contact Susan at Suepa11@aol.com or Naomi at naanddan@yahoo.com.
Saturday, June 1, She'arim
Shabbat Closing Siyyum, 9:30 am-12 noon. Join us for She'arim Shabbat where we bring our entire community
together. She'arim [Hebrew for Gateways] students close their year of
learning with their teachers,Aliza, Dorit and Mark. We will sing,
appreciate our year of learning, and our wonderful teachers. Breakfast
noshand schmoozing at 9:30am, with our formal program beginning at 10am.We'll end with a potluck kiddush, so please bring a vegetariandish to share.
Sunday, June 2, Annual
Retreat, 10 am-1:30 pm., at David and Phyllis Saphras' home, Irvington. Our Annual
Retreat will be held in David and Phyllis' wonderful backyard, 9 Divney Lane,
Irvington, 10533. (If it rains, please check your email for the location.) This
is the most important meeting of the year for our members. We'll be setting
next year's goals for programming, membership outreach, and other aspects of
our operations. We'll also be selecting officers and committee chairs and
members for the next year, and approving the upcoming budget. This is your
chance to weigh in on what's important to you, to decide what has been working
well, and to consider ways to improve. We urge everyone to join us, so that we
can have your input. The Annual Retreat is a potluck brunch, so please e-mail
Phyllis at psaphra@gmail.com to let her know what you're bringing, and to get
directions if you need them. Babysitting will be provided. Contact Phyllis
(psaphra@gmail.com) or David (dsaphra@gmail.com) for more-detailed directions.
Friday, June 7, Kabbalat Shabbat
Brooklyn Field Trip! [Service is 6:30-7:45 pm. Car pool leaves First Reformed
Church in Hastings at 5:15 pm.] Join us as we attend
Congregation
Beth Elohim in Brooklyn's Park Slope neighborhood
(247 Garfield Place, 11215) for a very
special treat. Musical leaders of the prayer group Nava
Tehila will be visiting from Jerusalem and
leading Kabbalat Shabbat for the community. This was David's favorite prayer
experience in Jerusalem and uses many original chants and melodies to welcome
Shabbat. Chants usually contain no more than one easy-to-learn line in Hebrew.
RSVP to davidbasiormh@gmail.com
so we organize a carpool or know to look for you there! Service is from
6:30-7:45pm. We can grab dinner together afterwards!
Saturday, June 8, Shabbat Brunch and
Learn, 11 am-1 pm, Join us at the
church as we study the Akeida story
(Abraham's binding of Isaac). We will be reading the story together in just a
few months for Rosh HaShanah. Spend this morning learning how the Medieval
commentators (Rashi, Ramban, Rashbam etc.) bring to life these difficult verses
in Genesis. We will cover a brief introduction to Torah commentary before we
dive into the text. David has spent all semester learning these texts and will
bring them fresh off of his final exam on the topic. Lox, bagels and fruit will
be provided. Other contributions welcome (salad, dessert etc.)
Sunday, June 9, Serving at
the Sharing Community, 11:30 am-2 pm. We continue our monthly commitment to serve lunch at
the Yonkers Sharing Community, a homeless shelter and soup kitchen. On the
second Sunday of each month, 4 MH volunteers (any combination of teens and
adults as long as one adult is present) serve lunch to up to 200 hungry people.
If you are an individual, or group of 2, 3 or 4 and are interested in
participating, contact Joyce Bluestone at joyceblue@optonline.net.
If you are interested in chatting with Rabbi David, he is keeping the following virtual office hours:
Mondays 10:30-1:30pm, Wednesdays 1:30pm-3:30pm.
Looking Ahead:
Saturday, June 1st, She'arim Shabbat Closing Siyyum, 9:30-noon.
Sunday, June 2nd, Annual Meeting, 10 am-1:30 pm. Location:
David and Phyllis Saphras' wonderful backyard in Irvington. (If it
rains, please check your email for the location.) This is the most
important meeting of the year for our members. We'll be setting next
year's goals for programming, membership outreach, and other aspects of
our operations. We'll also be selecting officers and committee chairs
and members for the next year, and approving the upcoming budget. This
is your chance to weigh in on what's important to you, to decide what
has been working well, and to consider ways to improve. We urge everyone
to join us, so that we can have your input. The Annual Retreat is a
potluck brunch, so please e-mail Phyllis at psaphra@gmail.com to
let her know what you're bringing, and to get directions if you need
them. Bring a lawn chair. Babysitting will be provided.
Other Events of Jewish Interest:
Like to try to help restart dealing with "the situation," somehow, someway?
Israel Talks microgrants applications just went online recently:
http://www.theisraeltalks.org/#!microgrant/c80s
Please contact Dave Saphra if you are interested: dsaphra @ gmail.com
She'arim is Recruiting!
Know a family searching for the right Hebrew school experience for
their young ones?! She'arim/Gateways is Mishkan Ha'am's approach to
Hebrew school that acknowledges there are different entry ways for all
of us. In mixed age classrooms, our young people experience Hebrew,
community building and the Jewish calendar through interactive, hands-on
ways. If you or someone you know might be interested, please be in
touch with Amanda Ascher at amandafalick@hotmail.com.
We meet Thursday afternoons in the First Reformed Church in
Hastings-on-Hudson and we are currently looking to fill a class for
young people in grades K-1. We also have limited openings in grades 2-6.
Be in touch today!
Unless otherwise noted, all events take place at
The First Reformed Church of Hastings: