Qabalath Shabbath 19.40
Shabbath Sachrit 10.00
Dear Friends.
This week’s Torah reading begins with the words “when you arrive,” giving the name to the portion “Ki Tavo.”
Parashat Ki Tavo outlines what the Israelites are to do when they arrive to the land of Israel.
When they arrive new possibilities open up and dreams and imagination of what might be begin to look more tangeable.
One of the commandments given in Ki Tavo is regarding the first fruit offers. We learn:
´´My father was a wandering Aramean. He went down to Egypt few in number and sojourned there; but there he became a great and very populous nation. The Egyptians dealt harshly with us and oppressed us; they imposed heavy labor upon us. We cried to the LORD, the God of our fathers, and the LORD heard our plea and saw our plight, our misery, and our oppression. The LORD freed us from Egypt by a mighty hand, by an outstretched arm and awesome power, and by signs and wonders. He brought us to this place and gave us this land, a land flowing with milk and honey. And I now bring the first fruits of the soil which You, O LORD, have given me.´´
Deuteronomy 26:5-10
The verse deals extensively with where we csme from and provides us with important wisdom about the importance of knowing where we came from.
Our society nowadays is a busy one. Deadlines, work and stress are a common thing.
We, however should stop at times, appreciate our blessings, and remember where we came from.
The month of Elul gives us this opportunity. The High Holidays give us this opportunity.
No matter what our differences or our specific story we can always take the time to pause and come together, share a fantastic Rosh Hashana experience and pray together on Yom Kippur.
This then will remind us that if we look beyond, we see that we are not just drifting through time, but that each of us is a piece of the puzzle in a beautiful, ever-unfolding story that becomes more and more tangeable day by day!
Shabbath Shalom
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