Are you planning a trip to Israel? The West Bank? Do you have an updated guidebook? Is it safe?

As we leave Pesach, I just wanted to share with you a major focus of these last one or two days. The words from Isaiah lay out a vision for Messianic time, a world of harmoniousness between peoples, animals and the earth. This future vision has also been compared to the Garden of Eden, the difference being that we, human beings, need to take the steps to make it happen. The verses from Isaiah ring very powerfully in Christianity and set the theology for the emergence of Jesus. I have enjoyed the interpretation of the Ishbitzer Rav, Mordecai Joseph Leiner, a Hassidic master of the 19th century who taught that each of us contains the light of the Mashiach within. Please note the beauty and power of Isaiah’s words below directed to each of us.

First, it was great to hear the announcement yesterday about the signing of the Respect for Marriage Act at the White House.

In this month when we read about Jacob’s and Joseph’s dreams in the Parshiot we can feel the joy when long sought for dreams are fulfilled in our own time. Of course, it took much hard work.

Jacob, with his parents’ blessings and encouragement, leaves Be’er Sheva to travel, alone, to reside with his uncle, Laban, and his family. Welcome to Parshat VaYetze.

Try to imagine his state of mind and spirit, alone, on the mountainous trails to Haran (south western Turkey today). It is in his aloneness or loneliness that he realizes who he is, experiences his relationship with the All-Oneness of the universe and contemplates the meaning of his past, present and future. He has a profound dream where he sees angels ascending and descending on a ladder. The ladder is planted in the ground. He hears the voice of the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac. God is mentioned twice because each of Jacob's ancestors had their own understanding of God, Now he hears the call, the promise of his future and the future of his descendants.

Last week’s Parsha was pretty uplifting at first. We see the emergence of Light from Darkness and the magnificent unfolding of Creation. We are also learn about the harmoniousness of the Garden of Eden and the radical and disturbing evolution of human awareness. We hear the warnings associated with the Tree of Life and the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. The author gives humans both the taste of harmoniousness and a taste of responsibility and challenges. We are reminded of the struggles between the eco-agrarian competitors, the farmer, Cain and the shepherd, Abel. That struggle lead to violence. That struggle continues today.

I wish you all a Shanah Tovah! It was so renewing to feel a special sense of community again. On the 1st day of Rosh Hashanah about 200 attendees representing Kehila, Am Kolel and friends and relatives gathered at Walter Johnson High School. An equal number of windows were open on Zoom. On the 2nd day of Yontif some 70 participants gathered outdoors at Sanctuary! While there are still concerns about Covid there was a sense of return to “our days of old.” It was wonderful for people to connect personally again.

This past Shabbat, a young man, Isaac Wallsten, celebrated his becoming a Bar Mitzvah. Held at Sanctuary, he read beautifully from the opening verses of the Parsha, Shlach L’cha. Part of his Dvar Torah is below.

In Jewish time we are in the second week of the counting of the Omer, an ancient practice and mitzvah when a measure of grain was brought to the Temple each of the 49 days after the beginning of Pesach. The focus is clearly on the land, it’s productivity and expressing gratitude to the Creator. Most of us urban and suburban folks don’t see the awesome efforts that farmers are engaged in this time of the year. We more easily witness the news about devastating fires, floods and wars and their impact on the land.

Today, members of the Exodus Alliance, a multifaith campaign to heal Earth & humankind from Carbon Pharaohs and their climate plagues, gathered in D.C. to demand freedom from fossils fuels.

This week’s Parsha, B’Shalach, coincides with Martin Luther King Jr weekend and Tu Bishvat, the Jewish New Year of the Trees, Rosh Hashanah La’Ilanot.

B’Shalach describes in wonderful detail the final stage of the Israelites exodus from Egypt. They find themselves by the shore of the Sea of Reeds; the Sea is on the east, they can’t go south, they can’t go north, and the Egyptian army is bearing down on them from the west. They are stuck. Interestingly, the place is known as Pi Hachirot, which can also be translated as “the Mouth of Freedom”. They cry out to Moses. Moses cries out to God. God says to Moses “Ma Titzak Alay,” “Why do you cry out to me?…tell the people to MOVE forth!”

Another amazing Parsha! VaYishlach recounts the story of the dramatic and emotional reunion of Jacob and Esau, the brothers who had been estranged for some twenty years. The touching scene of their embrace and reconciliation can give us hope in light of the social estrangements that we are experiencing today.

This week’s Parsha, VaYetze, “And he went out,” beautifully describes Jacob’s lone journey to Haran, located in modern day Turkey, where he has family. You may recall there was some family strife and his mother Rebecca thought it best for Jacob to live with her brother, Laban. Haran was where Avraham and Sarah were from as well. It’s interesting that he needed this diaspora where he matured, found love, and raised a family.

In Parshat Lech L’cha, Avram and Sarai are setting off on their journey to “a land that I will show you.” At various stages in our lives we also begin our journeys anew. Nothing stays the same. Where we go, where we have been, and where we are now are necessary parts of life. It is about changes in our relationships with family, with community, our work, and our hopes and dreams. It is certainly influenced by aging. It’s kind of comforting to know that Avram is 75 and Sarai is 74 when they break new ground.

In Parshat Lech L’cha, Avram and Sarai are setting off on their journey to “a land that I will show you.” At various stages in our lives we also begin our journeys anew. Nothing stays the same. Where we go, where we have been, and where we are now are necessary parts of life. It is about changes in our relationships with family, with community, our work, and our hopes and dreams. It is certainly influenced by aging. It’s kind of comforting to know that Avram is 75 and Sarai is 74 when they break new ground.

This week's Parsha, Ki Tavo, and the recent readings from the prophets, highlight themes of comfort and hope and a path to achieving blessing and happiness in life.

This week’s Parsha is at the heart of the Book of Deuteronomy. The Parsha is called Re’eh, meaning "See". It is an imperative addressed to each individual “See, I am giving you today a blessing and a curse…” as the people see before them the Land of Promise.

We’re midway through June and the June Appeal. While we are most grateful for the gifts and support that we have received so far, we are concerned about our goal, our “promised land.” In order to serve you and fulfill our mission in the larger community we need to reach $40,000.

This week's Parsha, Shlach, is about the return of the descendants of Abraham and Sarah to the Land of Canaan, the Land of Israel. The people, gathered in the Sinai, are ready to embark on the journey of Return according to the biblical narrative.

The announcement today from the CDC that those who are fully vaccinated can go maskless outside except for crowded outdoor events is welcome news!

It’s now coming up on one year since the beginning these covid restrictions on our lives. For many, the response has been to adapt how we live, to be with loved ones, and to be in community with others.

The sap is beginning to rise in the trees! We are beginning to hear once again voices of freedom and songs of redemption. There is renewed hope with vaccinations on the way and that the masks on our mouths will be removed.