Friday Shabbat Shalom

These are strange and unsettling days. Days that might begin with productive equanimity, laughter, with intentional focusing in on the small joys: new recipes, new puzzles, new novels to begin. And yet, too often, these same days can slip into potholes of darkness: unexpected bouts of fear, loss, grief. With our daily rhythms so dramatically altered, it is easy to lose track of time. Days blur and lack their familiar markers.

Pesach is a time of the year when I am, once again, overwhelmed by the beauty of our tradition’s sacred texts, liturgy and rituals. They are prisms of meaning. For generations, Jews used these sacred texts and rituals to give meaning to their life experience. More frequently than not, the life experiences of our ancestors were harsh and difficult…

Small seders are only one result of the virus. There’s hardly an aspect of our lives that hasn’t been changed. We’re subject to restrictions that now govern our daily activities. This situation can bring us to an understanding of one of the critical lessons of Passover: the true nature of slavery and freedom.

As Jews and their loved ones around the world contemplate holding virtual Passover seders this year, all I can think about is -- we’ve done this before. In fact, we do this with every holiday, and we will continue to do it long after COVID-19 disappears from our world (G!D willing).

What day is today? Where am I? What will be? Will my family and friends be healthy? Will I be healthy? If you are asking these questions, and if you are human like me you certainly are, you would like some resolution, some answers some direction. If you are a planner like me, who plans months ahead, likes a schedule, and is someone who prepares, these times can be disconcerting.

I don’t remember longing for Shabbat as much as I have this week! Every single one of us is stressed out, bombarded by news, unsure of the future, afraid (don’t deny it) of the virus and its effects on us, our loved ones, our communities and the economy. For those of you who believe in a Higher Power, this is the time to keep repeating (singing!) the beautiful and necessary phrase recited at Havdallah (at the close of Shabbat Saturday night) from Isaiah Chapter 2:

I don’t remember longing for Shabbat as much as I have this week! Every single one of us is stressed out, bombarded by news, unsure of the future, afraid (don’t deny it) of the virus and its effects on us, our loved ones, our communities and the economy. For those of you who believe in a Higher Power, this is the time to keep repeating (singing!) the beautiful and necessary phrase recited at Havdallah (at the close of Shabbat Saturday night) from Isaiah Chapter 2:

Last Shabbat, we were introduced to the building of the Mishkan/ Tabernacle with all its intricate detail and purpose. It is the first community project in which participation of the entire community is needed in order to succeed. It is also the transition from a miracle-based religion, where only what G!d does for us defines us, to a religion where we confront the questions of what can we do for G!d and in partnership with G!d to make this world better. The Israelites become a society; they evolved into adulthood.