Please see *NEW* Siddur link for Shabbat Morning Services
Friday, May 1, 7 Iyyar 6:00 PM Kabbalat Shabbat Services Please join Rabbi Plumb and Cantor Elana Rozenfeld for a virtual "From Our Home to Yours"
Saturday, May 2, 8 Iyyar 9:30 - 10:30 AM Shabbat Morning Services Please join Rabbi Plumb, Cantor Ellen Band and Rose Spitzer for a virtual "From Our Home to Yours"
The Parasha is Achrei Mot-Kedoshim Leviticus 16:1-6 The Haftarah is Amos 9:7-15
We will be trying out the new Conservative prayerbook, Siddur Lev Shalem, this Shabbat morning. It includes transliteration of the Hebrew, and interpretive readings. The link to the new siddur is here: Shabbat Shaharit Siddur Lev Shalem The prayers will be the same as in our usual blue siddur, so feel free to use that instead if you wish.
We Remember: This week's upcoming Yahrzeit and Shloshim Observances
Shloshim Bennett "Ben" Heffron William "Bill" Nathanson Harold Glazer James "Jimmy" Kurland
Saturday Paul Gilson
Sunday Bertram Swerling Jennie Clark Goldie Figler Alan H. Freedman
Monday Abraham Goldstein Maurice Perlman Ethel Benjamin Robert Diamond
Tuesday Max Feinberg Israel Kazis Dexter J. Hyman Joseph Berman Joseph Schwartz
Wednesday Irene Gross Laura Finkielsztein
Thursday Charles Blumer William Gordon Rubin Lom Morton Gondelman
Rabbi Plumb is teaching! LimmudBoston’s May 3rd eFestival 10:00 AM - 1:30 PM
While practicing social distancing, you can still be an important part of your LimmudBoston community! Join us on Sunday, May 3rd for an eFestival bringing you some of the most interesting and significant Jewish ideas today. The program features rabbis and rabbinical students who are members of the LimmudBoston Board of Directors addressing “Jewish Responses to Life in Unsettling Times.”
There is no cost for registering but everyone needs to click here to sign up, whether you're interested in one, two, or all three sessions.
eFestival Schedule: 10:00 AM: Naomi Gurt Lind “Blessing Hard Times: What Mishnah Berachot teaches about patience, endurance and gratitude”
11:10 AM: Rabbi Marcia Plumb “Finding Order in a Pick-Up-Sticks World with Mussar”
This Shabbat in the Torah we read a double parasha—Acharei Mot and Kedoshim. Acharei Mot means ‘After Death’ and Kedoshim mean ‘Holiness.’
The first parasha begins with what Aaron is meant to do after his sons die tragically. The second parasha outlines the many ways we are meant to treat each other with compassion, fairness and openheartedness toward the vulnerable. I am struck this week by this double meaning for us in our time. In this time of sudden, tragic deaths of so many loved ones that we have to mourn from afar, including our beloved congregant Jimmy Kurland, we are also asking, ‘what are we meant to do acharei mot, after deaths?’ The second parasha gives us guidance.
Grief does not fade quickly, nor should it, and at the same time, we have a unique opportunity to use the passion of our grief to help those in need. Acharei Mot-Kedoshim tells us to act with holiness, compassion and care for others at the same time as we feel our own sadnesses.
Feeling our grief is also part of holiness. Being apart from loved ones at times of illness and loss adds isolation to our suffering. Below is a prayer written by two colleagues that speaks to my heart and perhaps to yours during this time.
This Shabbat I invite you to join the community at services, tonight at 6.00 pm and tomorrow at 9.30 am, to hold each other, laugh and cry with each other, and bring comfort and joy in community together.
I look forward to being with you, Shabbat Shalom, Rabbi Marcia Plumb
T’filat HaDerech – A Prayer for an Uncharted Journey While Being Separated from Loved Ones in Need of Care
What is the meaning of that which is written: “You shall walk after Adonai your God?” Is it possible for people to walk in God’s ways?…Rather, the meaning is that we should imitate God’s attributes: Just as God clothes the naked…so too you should clothe the naked. Just as God visits the sick…so too you should visit the sick. Just as God comforts mourners…so too you should comfort mourners…. –Jerusalem Talmud, Sotah 14a:3–4
But what if we cannot, in the way that we would want to? טֶרֶם אֶקְרָא אֵלֶיךָ אַתָּה תַּעֲנֶה … Terem ekra eilecha Atah taaneh, Hear our cry Adonai, that You might answer us even before we cry out to You. May we know that God hears our cry.
.וַיִּשְׁמַע אֱלֹהִים אֶת נַאֲקָתָם וַיִּזְכֹּר אֱלֹהִים אֶת בְּרִיתוֹ אֶת־אַבְרָהָם אֶת־יִצְחָק וְאֶת־יַעֲקֹב .וַיַּרְא אֱלֹהִים אֶת בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וַיֵּדַע אֱלֹהִים God heard their moaning, and God remembered the covenant with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob. God looked upon the Israelites, and God took notice of them. –Exodus 2:24–25 .יְהִי רָצוֹן מִלְפָנֶיךָ יְיְ אֱלֹהֵינוּ וֵאלֹהֵי אֲבוֹתֵינוּ וְאִמּוֹתֵינוּ Y’hi ratzon milfanecha, Adonai, Eloheinu v’Elohei avoteinu v’imoteinu.
May it be Your will, Eternal One, our God and God of our ancestors, that You will support our footsteps on this uncharted journey.
Guide us and our loved ones toward peace and wholeness and help us reach our destination committed to life, joy, and peace, and unbroken by our new reality.
Help us to know that our loved ones, whether near or far, are with us. Their love for us will sustain us wherever our journey might lead. As circumstances arise that had been previously unimaginable, help us to know that their love for us, and ours for them, is an unbreakable bond.
May those caring for them in our absence be blessed and held in this holiest of work. Though separated from them, we affirm that we are present with them through You, wherever our journey might lead. Like the Pillar of Cloud dwelling upon the Israelites as they wandered in the desert (Exodus 13:21–22), You are ever-present. We shall not fear.
May You hear the sound of our prayers, because You are the God who hears prayers and supplications. Blessed are You, Eternal One, who ever hears our prayers.
By Rabbi Sara Rich and Rabbi Ilene Harkavy Haigh, 2020
Congregation Mishkan Tefila 384 Harvard St. Brookline, MA 02446
