Busy week at Sanctuary and in Am Kolel.

 

Busy week at Sanctuary and in Am Kolel. Our roof shingles at Sanctuary, after some 25 years are being replaced. It's pretty dramatic to see ten workers on the roof of this old farm house. Fortunately, insurance is paying for most of it due to wind damage.

This week has also been filled with other drama, mostly tragic with terrible flooding in Kentucky and more fires out West. There’s seemingly no end to the traumas around us.

On an up note we are welcoming new residents at Sanctuary. The Palmer family will be joining us in mid August. Michelle Palmer, a Montessori teacher, is also super excited about helping out at Sanctuary. In fact she is presently fixing up one of our workshop rooms for her music studio.

This week we also commemorate Tisha B’Av, the most tragic day in Jewish history, recalling the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temples and other tragic events. It begins Saturday night August 6. It is also the anniversary of the bombing of Hiroshima.

For the Jewish people we have tried, throughout the centuries, to use TIsha B’Av to remember, but, also, to confront our people’s trans-generational trauma. The last few hours of TIsha B’Av take us to a place of hope. Our sages teach that the Light of Mashiah is birthed on TIsha B’Av.

Join us this Saturday night to remember, but more importantly, to talk about our people’s intergenerational trauma, its symptoms, its affect on others, and how we manage it. Our own Cherie Brown, who has lead many workshops on this subject, will guide us toward a better understanding.

This Shabbat is known as Shabbat Hazon - the vision of Isaiah foretelling the consequences of sinfulness, disregard for the Covenant and injustices in society. The Torah reading, Dvarim, begins with Moses speaking to the people, warning them, but. also, reaffirming the Covenant.

May the darkness that we see around us and sometimes harbor within us give way to light and joy.

L’ Orah v’Simcha,

Reb David