It’s Our Story
Last week’s Torah reading was mostly the story of Noah and the Flood. One of the more curious elements of the tale is what happens when the earth dries out enough for the animals and their human tenders to exit the vessel.
Bee Juice
My recent posts...After havdala ended last week’s Galeem (“waves,” our Sunday school), the usual joyful mayhem erupted in the lobby: Kids running down halls for a water bottle, a work of art, a lollipop; parents calling after them “Remember your ________!”; brief...
Welcome to”chol”
A couple days of magnificent weather have been a welcome respite from the bounty of precipitation during Sukkot and the closing festival days. This morning, we stored away our sukkah — unscathed by the nor’easter — for next year.
Kol Nidre – All Vows
My recent posts...kol nidrei, all MY vows? Rabbi Jonathan Kremer kol nidrei, all vows. ALL vows? All my vows? How can I possibly remember them all? Those silent frustrations: I swear I could... I said what? Well, I didn't mean it that way! The thick-as-mud silent...
In Harmony
In Harmony
In some 54 of the 150 hymns in our biblical book of Psalms, the prefatory lines include the word “מְנַצֵחַ / m’natzeiach,” the conductor, the leader of the band. Music was a vital part of worship and ceremony in the ancient temple in Jerusalem: הַלְלוּהוּ בְּתֵקַע שׁוֹפָר / halleluhu b’teika shofar — praise Adonai with trumpet, harp and lyre, with drum, flute, strings and cymbals!
A conductor, a leader, guides the musicians and works to shape them into a willing and purposeful ensemble. The musicians must aid and abet those efforts with their harmonious responses to the conductor. The best ensembles, large or small, share trust and understanding between leader and members.
The Hebrew word for conductor, מְנַצֵחַ | m’natzeiach, also means victor or winner. When we all play our parts with conviction, energy and sensitivity, our new conductor can lead this Shirat Hayam orchestra to resonate and resound, winning over hearts, starting with our own.
Let’s make beautiful music together!
Shabbat shalom ! שבת שלום