Counting the Omer: When You Think No One Is Listening

Last week Secretary of State John Kerry was taped while speaking to a meeting of the Trilateral Commission in which he was complaining about the failure to make any progress in the peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians.

During his comments, Kerry warned that Israel risks becoming “an apartheid state” if they cannot reach a two-state solution.

His remarks were widely condemned from across the political spectrum, both Democrats and Republicans, so much so that Kerry later back pedaled, saying “If I could rewind the tape, I would have chosen a different word (than “Apartheid”) to describe my beliefs…”

Donald Sterling, the owner of the LA Clippers Professional Basketball Team, was banned for life from the NBA for making deeply offensive racist remarks, which were caught on tape and released to the public last week.Continue reading

Screening and Panel about Your Jewish Genes: Important Health Info If You’re Getting Pregnant

logoBefore you have kids, learn about your genes! Thurs., May 8, 6-9pm: If you are a young adult (or know one): RS invites anyone who is considering getting pregnant in the next couple of years to come learn about and be screened for Jewish genetic diseases. Enjoy a free dinner, learn about genetic diseases from a doctor and a personal story, watch the Phillies game while you wait your turn to get screened.  Max out of pocket for screening: $99.   Register here or just show up.  Thank you to the Victor Center at Einstein and to our partners: The Collaborative/Tribe 12, Jewish Family and Children’s Services, and Interfaith Family.

 

Counting the Omer: Yom Hazikaron

On this daily count of the Omer, as Yom HaZikaron (Israel Memorial Day) begins, we honor the memories of Israel’s fallen soldiers.

Baruch Ata Adonai, Elohenu Melech ha-olam asher kidishanu b’mitzvotav vitzivanu al s’firat ha’omer.  Blessed are You, Eternal our God, Ruler of the universe, who makes us holy with sacred actions and enjoins us to count the omer.

Hayom esrim yom, shehem shnei shavuot v’shishah yamim la-omer. Today is 20 days which are two weeks and 6 days of the Omer.

Wishing you a meaningful omer– Your RS Clergy

 

Counting the Omer: Jerusalem of Gold

Counting the Omer today with inspiration from Naomi Shemer as we anticipate Yom Hazikaron (Israeli Memorial Day) Sunday evening and Yom Ha-atzme-ut (Israeli Independence Day) Monday evening.

The mountain air is clear as water 
The scent of pines around 
Is carried on the breeze of twilight, 
And tinkling bells resound. 

The trees and stones there softly slumber, 
A dream enfolds them all. 
So solitary lies the city, 
And at its heart — a wall.
Continue reading

Counting the Omer: Wake Up to Your Life

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Where is this world do you find beauty? For this week of focus on beauty, we celebrate the work of our congregant, Elise Kraemer, who is creating art for her counting of the Omer. Focusing on Chesed sh’b Tiferet – love within beauty – Elise includes the text: “wake up to your life, beauty in sorrow, pain and joy, full catastrophe.”Continue reading

Counting the Omer: Darkness to Light

These words from Rabbi Kuhn shine a light on the striving we do during the omer and every day, to bring our characters to the next level of goodness:  

One of the most beautiful ideas of Judaism is that we should strive to improve ourselves every day.  This is the purpose of the High Holy Days, during which we take the time to examine our lives and consider what we have done wrong in the past year, and what we can do to become better people in the coming year.Continue reading

Counting the Omer: Counting Our Blessings

Last week, I had the privilege of having lunch with 2 different past presidents of our congregation, one on the occasion of his 90th birthday, and the other one younger than that.  But each one told me the same thing.  They each said they feel so blessed to have had such a good and meaningful life, and that each day they get up and thank God for their blessings.  They count each day as precious.  This is the real meaning of counting the omer.  Let us treasure the time we have and resolve to use it well, counting each day as a spiritual journey toward blessing.  –Rabbi Bill KuhnContinue reading

Counting the Omer: Courage Over Fear

crossing_of_red_sea___pastels_by_pawlis-d4b3hspWe all feel fear.  The question is, do we act on it?  When, in their escape from slavery, the Israelites are stuck between the Sea of Reeds before them and the Egyptian chariots behind them, what’s Moses’ message?  Don’t be afraid. Rabbi Alan Lew, of blessed memory, notes that perhaps the Israelites didn’t really need to be afraid: The Pharaoh sent 600 chariots, while the Israelites numbered more than a million.  Why would such an enormous group be afraid of an army of so few?  His answer is that they are not responding to what was really there, nor even to what they saw.  Rather they were responding to a phantom.  They were responding to a fear-inducing product of their own imagination.  So when Moses says “Don’t be afraid” he means “don’t panic” or “move forward” or “Don’t spend your life anxious about the things that seem scary or the demons you imagine.”  Continue reading

Counting the Omer: Voice

Is it ok to be angry?  Jewish tradition says yes–anger is valuable when it drives us to stand against injustice.  For today’s omer counting and this week’s focus on might, givurah, we celebrate these girls who raise their voices for the purpose of justice.

Baruch Ata Adonai, Elohenu Melech ha-olam asher kidishanu b’mitzvotav vitzivanu al s’firat ha’omer.  Blessed are You, Eternal our God, Ruler of the universe, who makes us holy with sacred actions and enjoins us to count the omer.

Hayom achad asar yom, shehem shavuah echad v’arba-ah yamim, la-omer.  Today is 11 days which is one week and 4 days of the Omer.

Wishing you a meaningful omer– Your RS Clergy

Counting the Omer: Listening

Sometimes, the mitzvah is just to listen.  For this week’s omer counting focused on strength, in reverence for next week’s observance of Yom HaShoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day, we give thanks for the many survivors who allow us to listen to them.  This Sunday (10:15 am at RS), we’ll welcome survivor Ralph Franklin to tell us his story.

Baruch Ata Adonai, Elohenu Melech ha-olam asher kidishanu b’mitzvotav vitzivanu al s’firat ha’omer.  Blessed are You, Eternal our God, Ruler of the universe, who makes us holy with sacred actions and enjoins us to count the omer.

Hayom asarah yamim, shehem shavuah echad, ushlosha yamim la-omer.  Today is 10 days which are one week and 3 days of the Omer.

Wishing you a meaningful omer– Your RS Clergy