Zero Intolerance

Posted by Elaine Zecher
On June 29, 2018
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Welcome to Shabbat Awakenings, a weekly reflection as we make our way toward Shabbat. Zero Intolerance. History does not remember well a leader of his people who rallied fear against outsiders. In this week’s Torah portion, the Israelites continued their trek and had to travel through territories controlled by other peoples. In last […]

Posted by Elaine Zecher
On June 22, 2018
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Welcome to Shabbat Awakenings, a weekly reflection as we make our way toward Shabbat. Complaining is a key leitmotif, a reoccurring theme, of the Book of Numbers. As our ancestors, the Israelites, march through the wilderness on a circuitous path, they engage in magical thinking, sure that slavery in Egypt could not outshine the […]

Posted by Elaine Zecher
On June 15, 2018
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Welcome to Shabbat Awakenings. This week, the portion is out of order. Two weeks ago, I shared with the Qabbalat Shabbat congregation my reflections on my anniversary of 30 years in the rabbinate. I offer them to you, here. I have been reflecting on graduations and milestones these days. Last week, we watched as […]

Posted by Elaine Zecher
On June 8, 2018
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Welcome to Shabbat Awakenings, a weekly reflection as we move toward Shabbat. Last night, we gathered for our Annual Gathering, a wonderful celebration in the life of the congregation. I share with you an excerpt of what I said: “We can surely be uplifted! Aloh na’aleh!” is the theme for our Annual Gathering. These words […]

Posted by Elaine Zecher
On June 1, 2018
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Our minds play tricks on us. The distance of time and space deny us the reality of experience. As a result, we manufacture stories based on some of the truths of what we think we remember. The Israelites suffered a heavy dose of nostalgia in this week’s portion that led them down a grievous path […]

Adult

Youth

Zero Intolerance

Snakes

Thirty

Grasshoppers

Nostalgia