Idan Raichel brings us Beresheet – a new song which he wrote during his travels, inspired by several unexpected encounters with people from Africa and India.
The song is accompanied by a beautiful video created by the sand artist Ilana Yahav, who brings her visual interpretation of the song in a sensitive and heartwarming way.
My thanks to Adam Wishkovsky for sharing this piece with me.
Shabbat Shalom!
“As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter the words, but to live by them”.- President John F. Kennedy
The Priestly Blessing
The Priestly Blessing, Birkat HaKohanim, or Dukhanen, Found in this week’s Parsha Naso it is the benediction bestowed by the Priests and still offered today.
‘May God bless you and keep you.
‘May God shine His countenance upon you and be gracious to you.
‘May God bestow His favor upon you and grant you peace.’” (Numbers 6:24-26)
יְבָרֶכְךָ֥ יְהוָ֖ה וְיִשְׁמְרֶֽךָ׃
יָאֵ֨ר יְהוָ֧ה ׀ פָּנָ֛יו אֵלֶ֖יךָ וִֽיחֻנֶּֽךָּ׃
יִשָּׂ֨א יְהוָ֤ה ׀ פָּנָיו֙ אֵלֶ֔יךָ וְיָשֵׂ֥ם לְךָ֖ שָׁלֽוֹם
Shabbat Shalom!
An extraordinary week. Welcome Shabbat with this lovely medley of Hatikvah and Avinu Shebashamayim performed by Rabbotai on the occasion of Israel’s 70th anniversary.
Hatikvah Lyrics in English:
As long as within our hearts
The Jewish soul sings,
As long as forward to the East
To Zion, looks the eye –
Our hope is not yet lost,
It is two thousand years old,
To be a free people in our land
The land of Zion and Jerusalem.
In reaction to Ms. Portman’s decision to reject the Genesis Prize the Jewish world has been a blaze. She has been vilified and pilloried. It seems just a matter of time before someone calls for her head. Ms. Portman was initially vague in her reasons for her action except to say that she did not want to appear to support Netanyahu or policies with which she has serious objections. As a citizen of Israel, a democratic country, she has the right to express her opinions regardless of who may agree.
Israel is ostensibly a Democracy and Ms. Portman is an Israeli citizen. So she is arguably demonstrating a loyalty to her country by exercising her right to an opinion and speaking out. Whether you agree or disagree with her position, her rights as a citizen should be respected and so should she. Ms. Portman is an accomplished, intelligent person.
As such, her opinions are likely thoughtful and deliberate, all the more so given the ramifications of this public stand.
The personal attacks on her and calls for charges of treason and revocation of her Israeli Citizenship are at best extreme and unwarranted. Whether you agree with her position, one can respectfully and even vehemently disagree without resorting to the calumny bandied about. The fact that she is an Israeli citizen and an active supporter of her homeland gives her voice a particular gravitas, something she undoubtedly considered in her decision and public statements. It is inappropriate and shameful that so many rush to judgement, seeking her head.
Our community needs to do better. We argue and disagree all the time. That is part of Jewish and Israeli cultural DNA. But if we forget that we are Am Yisrael we do so at our own peril. Anti-Semitism is alive and well. Those seeking a world without Jews or Israel are plentiful. It would be tragic if we did their work for them through the baseless hatred or Sinat Chinam, our tradition warns us against.
Natalie Portman was awarded the Genesis Prize, the highest achievement of her country Israel. She has decided to take a stand and reject this award. To spurn this national recognition is not done cavalierly, but with forethought. This was not some grade-school essay competition. The Prize signals a deep respect for her and her extraordinary achievements. We might do well to remember that before labeling her with disdain and contempt. Perhaps we might learn from the stand that she has taken and learn something about her, our people, and ourselves.
This week we welcome Shabbat with Nava Tehila’s soulful Zamru L’Adonai, taken from Psalm 98 that is part of our Kabbalat Shabbat service. “Sing to God with a Lyre, sing with the harp and the voice of song.”
Shabbat Shalom
A beautiful tribute to Leonard Cohen on the first Yahrzeit sung by the incomparable Chazan Azi Schwartz. The Hebrew is Psalm 150.
Shabbat Shalom
