Rodef Sholom: A Reform Jewish Congregation in Marin County, California

Doreen Stock will be teaching about Song of Songs at Torah Study:  Kiss me
March 24 & 31, 9:15 am, Inner Conference Room

Passover, as well as telling the story of the Exodus, is about the relationship of God with the Israelites and the covenant between them. In this respect, The Song of Songs can be seen, with its focus on the relationship between the man and the woman, as an allegory for the relationship between God and the Israelites. Rabbi Sheva Gold suggests that while the Book of Exodus tells of the physical story from slavery to freedom, The Song of Songs tells the story of the inner journey to that fuller relationship with God.  

Join us for inspired teaching from Doreen – no RSVP necessary.

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Come hear Anat Hoffman of the Israel Religious Action Center: February 10, 6:15 pm Shabbat services. She will be teaching on The Essence of Modern Israel in 10 Hebrew Words (you won’t learn in Hebrew School)

Anat Hoffman is a major leader for social justice in Israel. She is perhaps best known for never giving-up, even when faced with seemingly insurmountable obstacles. Anat was born and raised in Jerusalem and she served in the Jerusalem City Council for 14 years, leading the opposition to the right wing and ultra-Orthodox administration. She was a founding member of Women of the Wall, she is presently its chairwoman and she continues to be a tireless advocate for freedom of religion and women’s right. In 2002, Anat became the Executive Director of the Israel Religious Action Center (IRAC), the legal and advocacy arm of the Reform Movement in Israel.

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Shabbat T’rumah, Friday, February 24, 6:15 pm services

The Torah portion for this Shabbat is called T’rumah, which is sometimes translated as “gift”.  In this portion God tells Moses to ask the Israelites to each bring, as their hearts move them, a type of material with which to construct a sanctuary. The great Torah commentator, Rashi, points out that the true sense of the word "T’rumah" has no direct English translation. Rather, he says, it implies separating out a portion of one’s own resources and designating those resources for a higher purpose. We feel this teaching is at the core of all acts of service, all volunteerism, and all tzedakah (righteous giving). This is why, on the Shabbat when we read T’rumah, the congregation will honor those who have loved the teaching of the parasha. In the past, we have focused on our efforts to feed and care for each other as well as members of our larger community.

This year we are focusing on the work we do to take care of our earth! If you have ever volunteered to clean the beach, pull weeds, plant a garden, build a trail or re-pot a plant, through a Mitzvah Day project, a Tzedek Circle project or even a non-Rodef Sholom environmental project, come and receive a blessing at Shabbat services. Join us as we honor members of our congregation who helped to make our environment healthier!

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We are seeking people interested in publicly sharing a 2-3 minute personal story during one of our High Holy Day services—both Civic Center and Sanctuary services. 

Here are some themes/questions that we would like people to consider: 

• What does it mean to be godly? Talk about a time in this past year when you manifested godliness in your actions, and maybe about a time when you failed to do so.
• Talk about how your life might be different if you could remember there are divine sparks in you, in everyone else, and in everything. Is there something you could do differently next year to remember this more often?
• Talk about a time this past year when you received or witnessed a "random" act of kindness. If you were surprised, why do you suppose that was your reaction? If you were inspired, how might that change your behavior in the future?
• Based on the mistakes you made this past year, if your year were reduced to a headline in tomorrow's newspaper, how might it read? Based on the good you did this past year, if your year were to be reduced to a headline in tomorrow's newspaper, how might it read?
• Write a letter to someone who loves and/or supports you. Thank the person for all the kindnesses she or he did for you this past year, and request forgiveness for any pain you may have caused her or him during the past year. 

If you are interested, or even if you only think you might be interested, please contact Lisa Canin at hofmoan@aol.com. Planning for these services is in full swing and we hope to identify all of our storytellers within the next two to three weeks.  We will try our best to accommodate everyone who responds.

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A number of years ago, I planned to go on a trip to Portugal. I took some travel books out of the library and began researching. I found the most colorful cities and exquisite seaside fishing towns to explore. I learned about the local food (a must) and the best time of the year to go, found museums and hikes to go on in the countryside. I even began eating sardines in anticipation. But . . . the trip never happened. I didn’t go to Portugal that year, and still haven’t gone these many years later.

But for me, that trip was the best trip I didn’t take; I had so much fun planning the trip, dreaming about it, learning about this beautiful land and imagining myself there. I almost feel as if I’ve traveled there, met the people, walked the streets and eaten the food even though I never have.

Recently, while listening to the radio, I came to better understand why planning, yet never going, on my trip was so rewarding and enjoyable. The man who’d just performed a study explained that those who take vacations are generally happier than people who don’t. We all know that!! But, what was important, the study’s author, mentioned, is that it isn’t necessarily the being on vacation that was most influential to our happiness. The very act of planning a vacation has a major impact of our happiness as well, he concluded. And sometimes, even more so. Planning a vacation, reading books and looking on line, including friends or family in the conversations, these all make us happy, help us connect with other people and new places, and help us to dream and to hope.

This is the season of dreaming and of hope.

In the Jewish calendar, the 49 days between Passover and Shavuot, is the period we call Counting the Omer. During these days we count, we actually count each of the days, day 1, day 2, day 3, day 4, and so on, until we reach the 49th day when we arrive at Shavuot.

What does this have to do with Portugal, you ask. Shavuot is the destination. The goal. It was the day of the harvest for the ancient Israelites; the day they would learn if they’d have enough to eat throughout the dry, hot summer. It was also the day we the receiving of Torah is commemorated. But the journey toward Shavuot, these 49 days, these 7 weeks of 7 days, these are the real days of joy for us. This time of counting gives us a chance to dream, to hope, to imagine, and to connect.

The Psalmist teaches; teach us to number my days that I may grow wise of heart. Yes, vacations, holidays, birthdays, celebrations, all are wonderful. I will be happy when, I will have time, when I . . . we sometimes say. But this holy time of counting the Omer reminds us that happiness, hope, and joy all start today, even in one moment of the day.

For instructions and ideas on how to count the Omer, please go to www.myjewishlearning.com and click on Counting the Omer.

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