Dear Temple Sinai Members and Friends,
I remember, as if it were yesterday, when I attended my first Chanukah Delray Beach Celebration at Old School Square. It was my first Chanukah with Temple Sinai, and I was thrilled to be asked to say a few words at this event which was sponsored by Chabad of East Delray. I was thrilled to stand on the stage and address the over 1,000 attendees about the meaning of this wonderful holiday. I was honored to be able to say that I was the Rabbi of Temple Sinai. I was also overwhelmed by the size of the crowd and for the first time since Judy and I bought our home in Boynton Beach I truly felt that I was in a place in which one could truly be proud to be Jewish. Judy and I, later that week, also attended a huge Chanukah rally in Boca Raton.
Palm Beach County now has the third largest Jewish population of any county in America. There are over 300,000 Jews living here and calling this county their home. We can experience this “Jewish feeling” in many ways and certainly on Chanukah. It is a feeling I never had on Long Island although I was brought up and lived in the New York metropolitan area that had the largest Jewish population outside of Israel in the world.
I believe that this “Jewish feeling” of just being proud to be a Jew is very important especially during this time of increasing Anti-Semitism. I am not so naïve not to realize that there are some individuals here in our county who harbor Anti-Semitic feelings, but on the other hand in Palm Beach County I do not have to be wary of wearing a pin supporting Israel, a baseball cap that says Jerusalem or even riding my bike with a blue and white Jersey that has a big Jewish star on it. I just have that “Jewish feeling” all the time and wear it with pride.
This is, of course, the message of Chanukah. In 167 BCE, Judah the Maccabee and his band of fighters fought for the freedom of the Jewish people to live freely as Jews on their own land. It was their courage and fortitude that brought them victory, and it was also their pride in being Jewish. They were not going to allow any government or group to take that pride away from them. I know Judah did not have such a flag, but I can imagine him shouting his now famous words, “All who are faithful follow me” and waving the flag of the State of Israel. The beautiful blue and white flag with the Magen David, the Jewish Star, shining a strong light of faith in God, Torah, and Tradition.
I welcome all of you to join me, Cantor Shir and her all-girls choir, and the Delray Beach community this Sunday, December 14th, at 5 pm to light the Menorah at Old School Square. Your voices and presence send out a clear message: The Light of Judaism Will Never Ever Go Out!
Be sure to rsvp for the Temple’s wonderful Chanukah Celebration on Saturday night September 20th. The latkes will be delicious!
There are so many programs and events coming up here at Temple Sinai in December and into the winter months, it’s hard to keep up with them all.
I want to make sure you put on your calendars January 8 and 15, Thursdays at 3 pm, when Rabbi Marci Bloch from Trustbridge-Empath Health and a Temple Sinai member, will offer a class on: The Power of Ethical Wills in Jewish Tradition. In the first session, Rabbi Bloch will dive into the rich tradition of Jewish Ethical Wills. In the second session, she will help attendees identify their core values and beliefs as they craft their own Ethical Wills. Please rsvp by calling the Adult Education extension: 561-276-6161 Ext. 204 or email AdultEd@TempleSinaiPBC.org. There is no fee for this class.
Judy and I wish all of you and your families a very joyous Chanukah. Light the menorah each night and be sure to put one in your window. I know that at this time of the year we are surrounded by Christmas lights. Let’s show our lights as well with great pride!
Shabbat shalom,
Your Rabbi Steve