Community Blog

This Shabbat we celebrated the confirmation of two of our students at Ner Shalom. They prepared this service, not only by reviewing the prayers they learned in their previous 6 years of Religious School, but by applying what we learned about Israel this year and using their increased wisdom of these two more years of Jewish life as they confirm the commitment to their Jewish identities displayed at their B'nai Mitzvah. These original words of Torah and Ahavat Yisrael were sprinkled throughout the service on Friday night, and were too good not to share along with their D'var Torah.

B: We the Confirmation Class have spent this year learning about Israel. Last year, we learned about Famous Jews throughout history, and this year we asked to learn more about the Jewish State. We felt that we hadn’t learned much about it in Hebrew school. We spent our first eight years of Jewish education learning about Biblical History and Hebrew, and when we did learn about Israel, it was about the ancient kingdom and the land. We wanted to know about the modern state, and what happened in the almost 2000 years in between. 

P: One of the first things we learned was that the Israeli national anthem means “Hope.” We hope for a safe place for Jews, and that Israel will be a safe place for the hopes and dreams of all people, regardless of race or religion. Please rise now as we start our service with HaTikvah.

B: David Ben-Gurion fought in the War of Independence before becoming the country’s first Prime Minister. After working hard to establish the state, he helped write the Declaration of Independence and the basic laws of the state, though the Constitution of Israel was never officially completed in writing. We are grateful to the founders of Israel for creating a Jewish nation that gives Jewish refugees a place to come to so that we don’t always have to be a scattered minority across the world, and so that there is a safe place for anyone who fears another Holocaust. 

P: In 1967, four countries plus the Palestinian Liberation Organization took up arms against Israel. In just six days, Israel won the war and captured lands to set up as defense zones. Many Jews had their doubts about the success of this war, but anything is possible. Perhaps, as God gave our ancestors the strength to settle the Holy Land after slavery in Egypt, God gave Israel the strength to defend itself in 1967 and since. Blessed are you, Adonai, who loves your people Israel. 

P: In the ancient Roman times, Jews made a final stand at the fortress at Masada. When it was clear the Romans were going to break through the siege, the soldiers committed suicide rather than be captured. 

B: There was a time when people thought this was heroic, but nowadays people are more likely to see it as extremism. Tour guides have to be careful how they talk about it so they don’t make it sound like they have a bias either way. 

P: We know that Zionism continues to be controversial for some people, and we take a stand against extremism. But we also know that there must be a safe way for Jews to live peacefully in their historic and spiritual homeland. 

B: Blessed are You, Adonai, please protect the Holy Land and all its inhabitants. 

P: I am grateful that some day I will go to Israel and know some of the history and situation around me. 

B: I feel inspired by how much Israel has gone through and has still survived, and is still here for us as Jews. 

Rabbi: I have felt the ancient stones of the Kotel and known that we are connected to our ancestors who lived in that land. I continue to pray for the peace and safety of all those who call that land home. 

P: This week’s Torah portion is Parashat Bamidbar, which means “in the wilderness.” The Israelites are in the wilderness between slavery and freedom, and sometimes were feeling like slavery was better. As a slave, at least their basic needs were cared for. As newly freed people, they often felt like they had too many responsibilities. I disagree with this outlook, though. In the BimBam video on this Torah portion, they compared the Israelite slaves to children, but I think even children deserve more freedom to choose things for themselves. 

B: This Torah portion also tells us about the census of each of the tribes, and their positions around the Tabernacle. The Levites are not counted and do not have a role in protecting the Tabernacle, since they have to carry it and serve within it. Generally, it makes sense to give people different jobs according to their skills and interests. The Levites, according to Midrash and history, were clearly the ones most dedicated to the Tabernacle and to serving God in the way that had been commanded to the Patriarchs, so even if it’s a little self-serving for the Levites, it is appropriate that they were the ones to be set apart in this way. Today, in the modern world, we see people still setting themselves apart from each other. Too often people think of themselves as the Levites and want to elevate themselves above others. We see it in different parts of society we’ve been learning about in Israel, we see it with Russia asserting itself over Ukraine, and we see it in American racism or other ways that people just think they are better than others. In the Torah, though the Levites were set apart, God dwells amongst all the Israelites, and everyone is to be treated equally. We must learn to also stop comparing ourselves to others, and realize that we are not better. No one has a right to make themselves in charge over another group of people or claim land that someone else is already living on or act violently toward others. 

P: May we be visited by an abundance of peace this Shabbat and always.