Lately, I have been taking a good look at the faces of congregants coming into our sanctuary after a year and a half of being away. Even with masks, I can see the excitement on your faces. It is a reminder to me how precious the space is for our community and how very much we have missed being able to enter into it.
In this week’s Torah portion, Balak, the non-Israelite prophet Bilaam bequeaths a blessing on our ancient tribe – mah tovu ohalecha ya’akov, mishkinotecha yisrael – how beautiful are your tents o Jacob, your dwelling places o Israel. Speaking to a displaced population without a settled home, Bilaam’s statement is aspirational. In the years since, it has become a central mantra for our morning prayers. Like our ancestors, we have often found ourselves on the move. Bilaam shows us even that experience can be beautiful.
One of the ways to describe our past year is with the language of exile. As Isaiah 40 tells us – nachamu nachamu ami, be comforted my community – you have returned to your home. May you appreciate it even more so than you did before.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Alex
Last Updated on 06/23/2021 by Marc Slonim