Seven weeks after Passover, after commemorating our ancestor’s freedom from slavery and exodus from Egypt, we celebrate Shavuot. Translated often as the ‘Feast of Weeks,’ it, like many of our festivals, was tied to the agricultural cycle as an ancient grain harvest festival. For most of us, however, Shavuot is far better known as זמן מתן תורתינו z’man matan Torateinu, (arguably) the single most important event in Jewish history: when we received the Torah at Mount Sinai, transforming and uniting us, for the first time ever, into a people.

Our sacred text and the commentaries that follow note that everyone who is a Jew today stood at the mountain together with the children of Israel along with the “strangers in the camp.” (Deut. 29:9-14). Painting a vivid picture of the exact moment, Exodus 18 reads, “There was thunder and lightning, a thick cloud, the sound of a shofar (ram’s horn) and smoke. The earth itself quaked!”  -- it was so powerful that people saw the thunder as our senses became interchangeable. Perhaps difficult to imagine today, but abundantly worthwhile to try to understand, the impact of all of us standing together experiencing that extraordinary moment, each in our own way, but in a collective moment of awe and radical change, undoubtedly leaves us with many questions close behind.

The many pages of the Passover Haggadah remind and encourage us to deepen our understanding and expand our compassion by seeing ourselves as having been in Egypt, and Shavuot encourages us to deepen and expand our Jewish identity by envisioning ourselves as part of the immense crowd standing at the foot of Mount Sinai.  As we head toward summer and a time of change, focusing on developing our understanding, compassion, and Jewish identity — especially during such a fraught and worrisome time ­­­­­— ought to be a priority, informing and elevating the weeks ahead.

Traditionally, Shavuot is known as a celebration of the covenantal relationship between God and the Jewish people, focused on what it means to be committed to one another. This season offers us the opportunity to pause, to examine this quintessential sacred relationship and all our important relationships. At the heart of Mount Sinai was a commitment to a relationship with God. At the heart of Temple Sinai lies an unmistakable commitment to relationships with one another, with our wider community, with Judaism and with God.   The depth of care for one another, for all that is holy, was evident from the first day I joined you and remains remarkable today.

Reflecting on this sacred season and as I prepare to depart from Rochester after 20 years and Temple Sinai after 8 years, I am profoundly aware and appreciative of the richness of Torah I have received – both ancient and modern. Together, we have studied and debated; we have met, planned, and rallied, we have laughed and we have cried; we have welcomed newcomers and said goodbye to many; we have celebrated and commemorated; and we have worked unwaveringly to address the needs of many. In this my last month at Temple Sinai, I am abundantly grateful to you for the living Torah I encounter each day. 

The original Sinai experience was a seminal moment, a clarion call to reflect on the past, pay attention to the present, and look ahead to the future. Dotted with fear and uncertainty, punctuated by awe, and propelled by hope. Standing together at Temple Sinai now, as standing together at Mount Sinai did then, beckons us to consider who and how we, as a people, are meant to be.

May this season bring you warmth, meaning, and joy.  Wishing you a chag Shavuot sameach!

Dear Friends,

This past Saturday morning I awoke looking forward to celebrating the peace and joy that come when Shabbat and Simchat Torah coincide, but like so many of you, I was instead shocked and heartbroken to learn that Israel had been attacked.   Like you, I am struggling to process all the news as it comes with horrifying pictures and stories of people enduring the unimaginable.  Some are our family and friends, some are connected to others we know and love, but all are struggling – because whether they are known to us or not, whether our beliefs and practices are similar or different, we all belong to one Jewish people, klal Yisrael, and we are family.  When a family member is struggling, is in danger, we struggle too.  Perhaps like I am, you are also flooded with emotions as they come unbidden:  fear, sadness, horror, anger, and profound worry.  But so too do I hope you can glean some measure of comfort in knowing that you are not alone.  You are part of the Temple Sinai community that cares deeply and is here for you. 

While the news is indeed bleak, allow me to share some extraordinary words of resilience and encouragement from a friend living in Tel Aviv who in between running to the shelter with her family responded to my message saying, “Please tell your community this:

My social media feeds are brimming with personal stories and groups mobilizing to help the people in the south. There are volunteers who are collecting food and clothing to help the people who lost their homes. And volunteers who are offering free board at their places in the center of the country. There are volunteers who are driving care packages to the south and to people in hospital. And volunteers who are offering to visit people in the hospital if families can’t make it. There are the blood drives – open again today (we will try to go). We will also organize a care package of sheets and clothing.

We made snack packages for soldiers with little notes that say, “Thank you for your service. Please come home safely.” We put instant soup, pasta, cans of soda, chips, sweets, Bamba, granola bars and good vibes into our bags. When we dropped them off at the pickup point, we were happy to see others dropping off their bags, too. Share that Israeli hospitals put out a call for blood donations and asked people to stop coming after an hour. Because 650 people showed up and waited 5 hours for their turn.  At the blood drive yesterday Arab owners of the landmark Abulafia bakery came loaded with food for the people donating blood. It was their way of helping this impossible situation.”

This impossible situation, the already staggering number of people who have been kidnapped, killed, and wounded is unfathomable.  How we as a community, as a loving, active Temple Sinai community respond -- is what is possible, is within our control.  Let us also be resilient and supportive during this terrible time by helping in at least four ways:  We can register here and join together tonight (Monday) at 7:00 pm for the community vigil at Temple B’rith Kodesh to show our unity and solidarity and to be together with one another.

We can donate to our community emergency campaign.  We can check in with family and friends in Israel and here, ensuring that no one is alone during this frightening time.  Last, as always, please feel free to reach out to me or Cantor Braun to talk, pray or sing - we are here are for you.

My broken heart is with all who are hurting and grieving as I pray for safer, just, and more peaceful days ahead. 

Rabbi Debbi Till