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“My Spirit” Rabbi Zecher’s Shabbat Awakenings

December 23, 2022 | 29 Kislev 5783

Welcome again to Shabbat Awakenings, a weekly reflection as we move toward Shabbat and celebrate Chanukah. You can listen to it as a podcast here.

How might it be possible to have the Divine dwell with us and among us?

In the book of Exodus, God commanded the building of the Mishkan, the sanctuary that would travel with the Israelites as they made their way through the wilderness to the land of great promise.

Let them make Me a sanctuary that I may dwell among them. (Exodus 25:8)

We learn from this instruction that it is with the people not within the structure where the Eternal would reside.

This week, as we celebrate Shabbat and Chanukah, we turn to a special reading from the prophet, Zechariah, who lived at the time of the return from exile following the destruction of the first Temple by the Babylonians. Upon the Israelites’ return, construction would eventually begin anew. Zechariah proclaimed:

Shout for joy, Fair Zion! For lo, I come; and I will dwell in your midst—declares the Eternal. (2:14)

Once again the people who had survived devastation and deportation by the Babylonians could recreate their sanctuary with the promise of the Eternal dwelling among them. Zechariah brought them hope by exhorting patience.

The conditions to which the exiles returned were hardly ideal. Threatened by economic and political conditions, the project languished. Zechariah helped the people imagine a new sanctuary filled with the light of the Divine rather than be deterred by dark despair. It would take the perseverance of the people to rebuild.[1]

Zechariah offered the now famous words:

Not by might, not by power, but by My spirit. (4:6)

He believed then what we discover in our own days, that political and economic pressures have the ability to consume us, but we can find the sacred among us and with us.

Chanukah and Shabbat both remind us that might and power come from the strength of our spirit endowed by the Divine. We can face devastation and loss while we mine our own courage to discover the hope Zechariah offered in ancient days and in our own.

[1] Plaut Commentary, page 353

  • Join us at 6:00 p.m. for a festive Chanukah Qabbalat Shabbat. A community dinner will follow. If you’re unable to join onsite, please join on Zoom, on Facebook Live, or stream on our website. Let’s celebrate together.
  • Tot Rock Shabbat gathers online at 5:00 p.m.
  • Join us for Torah Study at 9:00 a.m. We begin with a short, informal morning service and then move into an engaging, welcoming and inclusive Torah study for everyone and anyone. To join the conversation interactively online, access Zoom. You can also watch on Temple Israel’s website or Facebook page.
  • Riverway Chanukah Cookie Decorating (and eating) in Belmont (for those in their 20s/30s) at 5:00 p.m. Bring along your menorah to join us in  lighting candles for the 7th night of Chanukah! Register here. Contact Nalani Haueter with questions.
  • Gather online for a joyful and musical celebration led by Temple Israel clergy at 6:00 p.m.  as we light up the night in the warmth of our community. We will sing, light the chanukiah, and close with Havdalah as we say goodbye to Shabbat and welcome the new week. All are welcome. Join us on Zoom.
  • Gather online at 8:00 p.m. to say goodbye to Shabbat with a lay-led Havdalah on Zoom.

Rabbi Elaine Zecher