From The Rabbi

Big Wheel Keeps on Turning — Our Souls Keep on Yearning

Rhythm and Blues aficionados may recognize the first part of my article title as a line from the hit song recorded by, among others, Ike and Tina Turner. L'havdil—at CBS it has a very different significance. But first a word about Bircat HaMazon ("a blessing of sustenance" aka Grace after meals).

Bircat HaMazon is the only prayer that we are commanded by the Torah to say. In Devarim (literally "words" the fifth book of the Torah) 8:10 we read "You shall eat, and be satisfied and bless the Lord your God..." From this verse the rabbis derived the commandment to say Bircat HaMazon.

On Shabbat and Festivals we add Shir HaMaalot (a song of ascending) before the zimun (invitation) that starts Bircat HaMazon. This song is made up of various verses from Tehilim (Psalms). In this song we find the verse hazorim b'dimah, b'rena yiktzoru ("they that sow in tears shall reap in joy") (Psalms 126:5).

In the first week of March our CBS community lived these words to the full extent. In the space of three days we went out in tears to say farewell to Geri Youngheim, and then we reaped the joy of Gary Shmorgon's Bar Mitzvah. On a personal note, these two events were also my first funeral and first Bar Mitzvah as a part of our community. Each of these two individuals, one of whom I barely got a chance to know, and one of whom I hope to know well, will have a special place in my heart.

At the end of Bircat HaMazon we add another song. Midway through that song we find the line "baruch hagever asher yivtach b'adonai v'hayah adonai mivtacho" (Blessed is the person who trusts in G-d and whose trust is G-d). (Jeremiah 17:7) This verse comes from the Haftorah that will be chanted by Eva Brotslaw (G-d willing) at her Bat Mitzvah in just a couple of months. Coincidence? I think not.

On vacation in Cabo I had a brief discussion with my cousin Richard about the purpose of religion. His idea was that religion's purpose is to "make people feel good." At times, it is, although I might have worded it as to "make people feel better"—when they need comforting.

I gravitate to the idea that there is a spark of G-d in each of us. So when we put our trust in G-d, we are putting our trust in each other. And when we connect to each other, we are connecting to G-d. We yearn to understand our place and purpose in life, and to connect to that which is greater than our own humble selves. None of us can know when we will shed tears and when we will rejoice in laughter. When we will need to be comforted, when we will need to be challenged, when we will simply rejoice and celebrate. But all of this—we do together, and that makes us a kehillah kedosha (a holy community).

Come enrich your place in our community. Cook, eat, commiserate, celebrate, teach, learn, prune roses, run errands; building the community is holy work. Offer what you have to give, and receive what you need to get. Strengthen your connection to old friends, make connections to new friends. We'll see you here.

Semi-Annual Congregational Meeting

Sunday, April 27 @ 7 p.m.

Agenda

1. Call to Order / President's Remarks
2. D'var Torah
3. Presentation of Minutes for approval
4. Presentation of Financial Report for approval
5. Executive Director's Report
6. Religious Education Director's Report
7. Program Coordinator's Report
8. Endowment Report
9. Presentation of Candidates for approval
10. Committee Reports
11. Member Comments
12. Adjournment

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