Welcome Guests鈥擵isible and . . .
Sep 16, 2013 By Samuel Barth | Commentary | Sukkot
The sukkah is fragile and temporary, yet stands as a symbol of joy and celebration. Rabbi Reuven Hammer, in his commentary Or Hadash (Siddur Sim Shalom, 331), reminds us of a debate about the meaning of Leviticus 23:43 (鈥淵ou shall live in Sukkot for seven days . . . in order that future generations will recall that I made the Israelite People dwell in Sukkot when I brought them out of Egypt鈥�): 鈥淩abbi Eliezer said that [these sukkot] were clouds of glory and Rabbi Akiba said they were actual huts (B. Sukkah 11b).鈥�
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Ne鈥榠lah: Final Closing, or Not Quite?
Sep 11, 2013 By Samuel Barth | Commentary | Yom Kippur
鈥�P鈥檛ach lanu sha鈥檃r鈥� (Keep open the gate for us) are the words of a fragment of a piyyut attributed to Elazar Kallir (6th century, Land of Israel) [see the Rabbinical Assembly鈥檚 Mahzor Lev Shalem, 414].
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Zichronot (Memories)
Sep 3, 2013 By Samuel Barth | Commentary | Rosh Hashanah
In the three great themes of Rosh Hashanah, the encounter with memories (zichronot) is nestled between the power of sovereignty (malchuyot) and the triumphant, enigmatic sound of the shofar (shofarot). Zichronot reminds us that each of us is remembered, that our acts are significant, that we come, each of us individually, into the divine presence. In spite of the massive processing power of our machines, there are problems that cannot be solved鈥攅ven if every computer on earth were to be harnessed in parallel.
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Selichot: Body, Soul . . . 鈥淲ill You Hear My Voice?鈥�
Aug 28, 2013 By Samuel Barth | Commentary
This coming Saturday night in (Ashkenazi) synagogues around the world, congregations gather for the beginning of Selichot, the prayers and poems that inspire and guide us to seek forgiveness. Many of us will spend hours in the coming weeks turning through pages of ancient (and modern) words, hearing melodies and chants that have served so well as the pathway for the journey of the soul.
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鈥淣o鈥檃m Adonai鈥� (the Beauty of Adonai): Psalm 27 and Elul
Aug 14, 2013 By Samuel Barth | Commentary
鈥�[L]ahazot beno鈥檃m Adonai ul鈥檝aker b鈥檋eychalo鈥� (To gaze upon the beauty of Adonai, and to visit in God鈥檚 sanctuary) [Ps. 27:4]d
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Healing of Body and Soul (Part 2)
Aug 7, 2013 By Samuel Barth | Commentary
If an anthropology student from the University of Mars were to attend a Shabbat morning service in an American Jewish synagogue, what kind of understanding about our real synagogue lives might emerge in the student鈥檚 term paper on the topic? The essay might suggest that announcements and kiddush are the most important parts of the experience because that is when the most people are present. The Martian professor (whose appearance we will not explore here) might urge the student to be more subtle and to observe closely the body language of the human participants to discern which parts of the service are most engaging and important to those present.
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Healing of Body and Soul (Part 1)
Jul 31, 2013 By Samuel Barth | Commentary
In addition to the well-known mi sheberakh prayer for healing recited (or sung, in modern versions) during the Shabbat Torah Service, our liturgy engages with the theme of healing in the weekday 鈥楢尘颈诲补丑, in the blessing that begins, 鈥�Refa鈥檈inu Adonai veneraf鈥檈i, hoshi鈥檈inu venivashe鈥檃鈥� (Heal us, Adonai, and we shall be healed, save us and we shall be saved). The blessing continues, asking for complete healing (refu鈥檃h sh鈥檒eymah) for all among the People of Israel who are unwell.
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Jerusalem
Jul 17, 2013 By Samuel Barth | Commentary | Tishah Be'av
As we emerge from our encounter with destruction and desolation on Tish鈥檃h Be鈥橝v, we approach Shabbat Nahamu, named for the opening words of the haftarah 鈥�Nahamu nahamu ami鈥� (Be comforted, oh be comforted My people; Isa. 40:1). This becomes the week when we allow ourselves to encounter all the images of Jerusalem that are presented to us as signs and symbols of hope in our liturgy.
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