With Pesach and Shavuot now concluded, we’ve completed the period of the Jewish calendar during which we count the omer.
This ancient timekeeping mechanism finds new life each year as we number the days in between these two holidays. In ancient times, we used an actual omer — a piece of barley — to track the days between these chaggim, while worshipers traveled to the Temple.
Today, the counting of the omer is a more symbolic practice. We keep a mental tally, rather than a pile of barley.
Thanks to Scott Skillman for organizing and to Ken Turetzky for emceeing such a meaningful Yom HaShoah program April 16 in our UHC sanctuary.
The theme of the program was not only remembrance of the Holocaust and other atrocities, but learning about acts of resistance, while encouraging us to continue to resist oppression in our world today.
It was so heartening to see the sanctuary filled with supportive community members coming together, actively taking a stand against antisemitism and racism.
During recent Shabbatot, we’ve been reading from the Book of Leviticus.
Leviticus is the third book of the Torah, and is told primarily through Hashem’s speech to Moses about how Moses should instruct the Israelites.
This is a break in form from the more narratively skewed books of Genesis and Exodus.
Leviticus is instead concerned with legal, ritual and moral practices. Through Hashem’s words to Moses, the Israelites are told how to interact with one another, how to make sacrifices, how to handle legal disputes and how to act in a holy manner, among many other instructions.
Spring is finally here! And spring means Pesach. I hope you’ll attend our congregational seder led by Student Rabbi Rocki Schy at 6 p.m. Saturday, April 8.
This will be our first complete, in-person seder with a full meal since 2019. You may also attend virtually via Zoom.
In other news, please follow our latest efforts to re-envision the congregation. Debra Israel is leading a task force that is exploring future possibilities for UHC.