Dear Temple Sinai Members and Friends,
Let me begin this week’s message sharing my feelings about the new Pope, Leo XIV. From what I have been reading about him, he bears witness to the true Judeo-Christian teaching of caring for others, especially the needy, in society. His words and hopefully actions will be another spiritual weapon in our arsenal, as we fight against the movement, particularly in our nation, to turn to the self rather than the other. If humankind continues, it will only do so when we care for others. We are all on the same ship together. Together the ship will remain afloat. If not, we will go down, God forbid. My prayers are with him and as he strives to navigate what I am sure will prove to be the difficult waters upon which he will journey.
The Sisterhood Shabbat service went so very well. I want to thank all of the evening’s participants. A special thank you to Hannah Klingsberg, who wrote the readings and coordinated the entire service, and was the inspiration behind it all. As we say, Yashar Koachah, Continue the Great Work, Women of Temple Sinai. Also, I want to thank Cantor Shir and the choir for the wonderful rendition of Helen Reddy’s “I Am Woman” to “I Am a Jewish Woman”. Great!
Please be sure to attend Shabbat this coming weekend. It will be another Temple Sinai Amazing Shabbat. The evening will begin with a dairy Shabbat dinner catered by the Temple Sinai team of Joan and Stan Rieger. Dairy was chosen as Friday is Lag B’Omer, the Yahrzeit of the great Rabbi Shimon Bar Yohai. The Torah he taught was like the most delightful dairy delights.
At this dinner, the Temple will be offering a “Shalom and Thank You” to Cantor Dan for his years of service to Temple Sinai. He will continue to be on the pulpit most Shabbat services until the end of June. At this Shabbat service, which occurs at the end of National Police Week, we will be recognizing the important service to our Temple community by the Delray Beach Police Department. Chief Russ Mager will address the congregation during the service.
So, regarding Temple Sinai’s observance of Shavuot. Our evening service will be on Sunday night June 1st at 7 pm. An abbreviated Yizkor will be offered that night. On Monday June 2nd, at 10 am, there will be a brief morning holiday service with a full Yizkor service. This will be followed by what I hope will be a very interesting class on the biblical book, Shir HaShirim, Song of Songs. Shir is an erotic poem between a man and woman, which the rabbis interpreted as a love poem between God and the People of Israel. I will use selections from Midrash Rabbah on the Song of Songs to have a discussion on the subject:
“Jewish love of God as expressed in Song of Songs – Is it erotic or neurotic?” I hope you will join me on that morning.
Shabbat Shalom…. An active Temple Sinai keeps moving along!
Your Rabbi Steve