Synagogue Updates

Good morning and Happy Fourth of July! I have shared this resource before for other holidays, Freedom's Feast is an organization that, inspired by the Passover Seder, has put out some very nice materials for how to celebrate different civic holidays.  In looking at items for today, I learned that the National Museum of American Jewish History has some great online offerings for us all to check out. 

As I have written in the past, I track the covid numbers in our area daily. We have thankfully had two months of a steep decline, but the past week and a half the numbers have flattened and even started a very slight increase. As with most places, we have enjoyed the relaxing of some of our covid guidelines in recent weeks, but we are paying close attention to the numbers. Thankfully, a high percentage of our area and our congregants are vaccinated, but we are also aware that vaccines do not provide 100% immunity or 100% stop the spread between people. We continue to encourage everyone to use safety precautions. 

All of that being said, this Shabbat provided me with a glimpse of what life returning to normal looks like and what I am most looking forward to at the High Holidays. As many know, people have their self selected seats in the sanctuary that they stick to "religiously". This Shabbat saw the return of several of our Shabbat regulars. Watching them greet each other and hug for possibly the first time in over a year was beautiful. Having the opportunity at kiddush to catch up was an added bonus. We are continuing to add to our kiddush each week, so please come and join us for Shabbat!

Tisha B'Av is in two weeks, and we will be meeting in person and over zoom. The Saturday evening service is expected to be outside, weather permitting, with Sunday morning and afternoon services in the sanctuary. 

I want to make sure you know that the office will be closed tomorrow in celebration of the holiday. Rabbi Cooper often encourages people in services to look at the sidebars in prayerbook for inspiration. I did just that yesterday and it has been sitting with me. I am including it below in case it resonates with you as well.

Have a great week!

Ken
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Be Like the Students of Aaron

Hillel would teach: "Be like the students of Aaron: loving peace and pursuing peace, loving every living being and drawing them near to the Torah." What would Aaron do? When two people were fighting with each other, he would go and sit near the first and say, "My child, you should only know how disturbed and embarrassed your friend is about having offended you," and thus his anger would be quieted. Then Aaron would go to the second one, with next to him and say, "My child, I've just spoken with your friend and you should realize how disturbed and embarrassed he is about having offended you." And Aaron would sit with him until his anger had dissipated. When the two met, they would hug each other and kiss. That is why it is written that when Aaron died, the entire house of Israel mourned for thirty days (Numbers 20:20), but when Moses died it does not say the whole house of Israel mourned. 

Avot D'Rabbi Natan