On the morning of July 1, 2012. our community gathered at the former Temple Sinai building on Alberta Drive to bid goodbye to that spiritual home and to begin our 3-mile journey, Torahs in hand, to the building of Temple Beth Am, known from that day forward as Congregation Shir Shalom. I remember how hot it was that day as we weaved our way over Longmeadow to Millersport to Sheridan, how glad it wasn’t raining, and how worried I was about leaving something or somebody behind.
In this week’s Torah portion, Pinchas, the people of Israel participate in yet another populational census. The rabbis wonder why counting the people at this particular moment is so important. Rabbi Bahya Ben Asher, a 13th century scholar, tells a parable about a shepherd who counts their flock both at the beginning of the day and at its end, to ensure not a single sheep is missing. This is Moses, Bahya suggests, double checking that no one has been left behind before his death at the end of Deuteronomy.
In truth, a community is always changing, growing and shrinking at the same time. Some of you were there for that initial walk, some of you have joined at different points along the way. This week, we celebrate our Shir Shalom community in its entirety. Thank you for making us the truly special congregation we are today.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Alex