Highlights from
Religious School Siyyum Kabbalat Shabbat:
Religious School 2023 Video Here
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Highlighted Guest Speaker
Dr. Yizhar Hess, Vice-Chairman, WZO
Update on Israel
Click here for video of call with Dr. Yizhar Hess
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Events and Services
Tuesday, June 6, 7:00pm - Book Club - The Thread Collectors
Sunday, June 11, 5:30pm - Adat Shalom's 2023 Gala
Saturday, June 17, 9:30am - Graduation Shabbat
Friday, June 23, 6:30pm - Kabbalat Shabbat & Community Dinner
Saturday, June 24, 9:30am - Shabbat Services & Kiddush in honor of Rabbi Lefkowitz
Saturday, July 1, 9:30am - Shabbat Services with Rabbi Potok
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Commentary on the Parsha
Naso
This week we are blessed to celebrate Clara Stern’s Bat Mitzvah. She will be reading from Parshat Naso which contains the priestly blessing that parents and guardians use to bless their children every Shabbat. We customarily bless them that they may be like Ephraim and Menashe, or Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel, and Leah, and conclude with the words found in this week’s parsha (Numbers 6:24-26).
יְבָרֶכְךָ֥ ה' וְיִשְׁמְרֶֽךָ׃
יָאֵ֨ר ה' ׀ פָּנָ֛יו אֵלֶ֖יךָ וִֽיחֻנֶּֽךָּ׃
יִשָּׂ֨א ה' ׀ פָּנָיו֙ אֵלֶ֔יךָ וְיָשֵׂ֥ם לְךָ֖ שָׁלֽוֹם׃
May God bless you and keep you
May God deal kindly and graciously with you
May God bestow favor upon you and grant you peace
Rabbi Jared Skoff notes that this custom appears to contradict itself. We initially bless our children that they may be like the greats of our tradition, and in the next breath pray that God keeps them who they are! He uses this two-part blessing to teach that if we are to emulate the greatness of our heroes, we need to remain true to ourselves. Only if we embrace our own strengths, work on our weaknesses, and figure out our own path in life will we become like the greats who came before us.
We are so excited for Clara and are proud of the work she has put into preparing for this special day. We look forward to celebrating her as a community.
Shabbat Shalom
If you have any questions, or would like suggestions for further study, please reach out to Rabbi Lefkowitz - rabbilefkowitz@adatshalomla.org.
