These High Holidays, we will have the opportunity to hear from many community members about this moment and how to be in it together as Jewish community.
On our way to that, this Shabbat morning we have the opportunity for learning and discussion on the topic of violence and teshuvah.
Rebecca Mather, Jewish Family Service’s Domestic Violence Outreach & Prevention Coordinator for Project DVORA will be our guest teacher this shabbat morning to delve further into the possibilities and limits of teshuvah upon having experienced and also having done violence unto another.
In this week's torah portion, the Israelites are told what to recount upon bringing their first fruits to the Temple:
“The Egyptians dealt harshly with us and oppressed us; they imposed heavy labor upon us.” (Dvarim 26:6)
As Jews, our origin story is one of violence being done to us. And in many ways Judaism is about facing, healing, and transforming the violence done to us, in the name of refusing to turn it on anyone else, ever again.
May we work this Elul to face the violence that has happened to us – collectively and individually. May we work to ensure that we as a Jewish people are no longer acting out what happened (happens!) to us onto others. May this season give us pause, reflection, and reason, to act toward a world without violence any longer. Together.
I hope to see you this Shabbat, onsite or on zoom.
Shabbat shalom,
R’ David
On our way to that, this Shabbat morning we have the opportunity for learning and discussion on the topic of violence and teshuvah.
Rebecca Mather, Jewish Family Service’s Domestic Violence Outreach & Prevention Coordinator for Project DVORA will be our guest teacher this shabbat morning to delve further into the possibilities and limits of teshuvah upon having experienced and also having done violence unto another.
In this week's torah portion, the Israelites are told what to recount upon bringing their first fruits to the Temple:
“The Egyptians dealt harshly with us and oppressed us; they imposed heavy labor upon us.” (Dvarim 26:6)
As Jews, our origin story is one of violence being done to us. And in many ways Judaism is about facing, healing, and transforming the violence done to us, in the name of refusing to turn it on anyone else, ever again.
May we work this Elul to face the violence that has happened to us – collectively and individually. May we work to ensure that we as a Jewish people are no longer acting out what happened (happens!) to us onto others. May this season give us pause, reflection, and reason, to act toward a world without violence any longer. Together.
I hope to see you this Shabbat, onsite or on zoom.
Shabbat shalom,
R’ David
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