What an amazing month for Adas Israel the Jewish Congregation of Northern Iowa! Rosh Hashanah, followed by Yom Kippur services at the shul. Thank you to all who came and allowed us to celebrate and pray. We did things a bit differently on Rosh Hashanah by having a meal and then for our Break Fast following Yom Kippur the meal prepared by Cynthia was wonderful. Then of course we celebrated Sukkot, Shemini Atzeret (and extra day of Sukkot) and Shimkat Torah (Celebrating the receiving of the Torah.) Whew! Busy times for Jews around the world. (Some of us at the Break Fast following Yom Kippur.)
Now, we have again started reading the Torah starting at the beginning and will, over the next year, make that cycle yet again. This week we read Parsha Noach (Gen. 6:9 - 11:32) where we learn of the choice of Noah to build the Ark to save humanity from The Flood. Noah was told to build the Ark from "gopher wood" (In the Boy Scouts we would call "soft wood" that would burn quickly "gopher wood" because we always had to go for more wood!). Noah is then given some exact measurements: "This is how you should make it - three hundred cubits the length of the Ark, fifty cubits its width; and thirty cubits in height."
Now, not only is this important for the building of the Ark there is also a hidden message here. Because there are no "extra" words in the Torah we can learn something additional from the numbers. If we add 300 + 50 + 30 we get 380. So?
The number 380 is the numerical equivalent to the Hebrew word for "language" which is Loshen. What is the lesson here? Just as the Ark saved humanity and all creation so too does the language we use have the power to save or to hurt. When we use language to downgrade someone or we are careless in our speech and share gossip we are destroying. However, if we use our language to uplift and to give comfort and encouragement we are building life and, in a way, saving it.
Something to think about the next time we open our mouth with the gift G-d gave no other creature...the gift of speech.
Service Schedule
Our next community Shabbat Service will be held on Friday the 8th of November at 7:15pm with our Midrash (Study Session) on Shabbat the 9th of November starting at 10:00am. The text for next Shabbat is Parsha Lech Lecha (Gen. 12 - 17) where we will learn "Lech Lecha" or "Go for yourself from your land..." as G-d directs Abraham to leave his people and begin the journey of walking with G-d.
All are welcome.
See you in Shul!