Hello Friends and welcome to Torah Thoughts from Adas Israel the Jewish Congregation of Northern Iowa and based in Mason City. First up we've set the dates for our next Eve Shabbat Service. It will be Friday, October 21 and then our Midrash (Torah Study) will be on Shabbat the 22nd starting at 10:00AM. Both at the shul. Hope to see you there.
High Holydays
Just a thank you to so many of you who came to both Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. I truly hope it was a meaningful time for you. The goal, as we talked about, is to take this time to get closer to G-d. How we do that differs with each person. We can learn some Torah, remember to offer blessings for a host of things, give charity, be kind...the list is long. Remember our goal is to be as much like G-d as possible. After all it is He who said, "Let us make man in our own image.." That means there is a spark of the divine is each of us. All we have to do is work a bit to let it shine.
Also we had several new people join us this past week and hope to see them again. That was such a great surprise.
Finally, the Break Fast was AMAZING. I failed to have my camera with me at the time but oh....my. Cynthia catered the food and the reviews were so positive. She has been our "go-to" for our Pesach Seders and other events and she never disappoints. We are so fortunate to have her. And the cake (blue and white) was wonderful. Thank you Debbie!
Sukkot
And on Sunday Night the 9th of October we usher in Sukkot. Candle lighting for the holiday should be about 6:30PM. All over the globe people are constructing their sukkah and they take many different shapes and sizes. Some purchase a Sukkah Kit others, our family included, attempt to put their skills to work building one. Here's a shot of ours that was made with plastic pipe and tarps.
The important thing about the sukkah is the roof. It should be made so that you can see the stars at night. We leave the comfort of our sturdy homes to "dwell" in the flimsy sukkah. If it rains, it rains. If it blows, it blows. If it's cold, it's cold. How can that bring us joy?
The answer is that on Sukkot, we leave the world of comforts and immerse ourselves instead in a world of growth. We spend these seven days with G-d, singing His praises and basking in His presence. We have festive meals with our families and friends, learning, laughing and gaining so much from each other. We shift our focus from being comfortable to being growth-oriented and we become uplifted in a world of happiness.
While there are many, many laws of Sukkot the idea is to reflect and to understand our wanderings and be grateful for what we have. Even if you don't "dwell" in your sukkah at least take your meals there. It's a blast.
The Etrog and Lulav
The Midrash says that the four species of the Lulav represent four different types of Jews:
- The Esrog has a good taste and a good fragrance. It represents a person with both wisdom (Torah learning) and good deeds.
- The Hadas (myrtle) has a good fragrance, but is inedible. It represents a person who has good deeds, but lacks wisdom.
- The Lulav (date palm) is edible, but has no smell. This represents the person with wisdom, but without good deeds.
- The Aravah (willow) has neither taste nor smell. It represents a person with neither good deeds nor Torah learning.
On Sukkot, we gather these four species, bind them, and wave them all together. It is a reminder that we are all different with different talents but, together, we are a mighty force. Invite some friends or folks you may not know well into your sukkah...enjoy.
Parsha Ha'azunu
This week we read the end of Devarim (Deuteronomy). The word "ha'azunu" means "listen". It is Moses speaking to the people for the final time. "Listen O heavens and I will speak and may the earth hear the words of my mouth." This is often called "The Song of Moses" and in it he reminds the people, heaven and earth that G-d is supreme. That everything we have comes from G-d and that if we turn away from Him...then we suffer.
Moses is then commanded to go up to Mount Nebo and there he will be allowed to gaze at Israel...but not enter it. And, there Moses will die.
Moses, our teacher, lived a good and long life. His words are words of wisdom. None of us will live forever but, if we can have an impact, a positive impact, on others then we do, truly live...forever...in the hearts and minds of those we have touched.
Thanks for reading and Shabbat Shalom!
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