“How lovely are your tents, O Jacob; your encampments, O Israel!” Our sages ask, what makes Jacob’s tents so beautiful? They don’t tell us that they are always open and that there are no borders. In fact, they give us a contrary answer. In Bava Batra 60a, the Misha teaches us: MISHNA: A person may not open an entrance opposite another entrance or a window opposite another window toward a courtyard belonging to partners, so as to ensure that the residents will enjoy a measure of privacy. The Gemara asks: where in the Torah does it teach this? In essence, how do you make this stuff up?
Rabbi Yochanan answers: That the verse states: “And Balaam lifted up his eyes, and he saw Israel dwelling tribe by tribe; What was it that Balaam saw that so inspired him? He saw that the entrances of their tents were not aligned with each other, ensuring that each family enjoyed a measure of privacy. And he said: If this is the case, these people are worthy of having the Divine Presence rest on them.
What makes Jewish homes so admirable in the eyes of Balaam? They are considerate of the privacy of their neighbors.
Case and point. While we have plenty of texts reminding us to welcome guests and visit the sick, celebrate with the bride and groom….we also need to measure that with privacy for others. For in our procedures for privacy and proper boundaries, we can create safe pods to explore and experience without the eyes of others on us.
Shabbat shalom, Rabbi Bernstein
Saturday, June 26th - Last Zoom Service 9:00 AM - Derash, 9:45 AM - Shabbat Service Click Here
Starting Friday, July 2nd All Services will be in-person Friday Kabbalat Service - 7:00 PM Saturday, July 3rd - Derash - 9:00 AM Shabbat Service - 9:45 AM Services will also be livestreamed If anyone is interested in reading Torah for the High Holidays, contact Cantor Diamond at cantor.diamond@cbohr.org.
REFUAH SHELEIMAH (A SPEEDY RECOVERY) As a community, we pray for those in need of healing. May they be granted a Refuah Sheleimah - a complete and speedy recovery.
Bill Berkowitz Gary Klinger Rowena Meman Steve Nachbar Judy Safir Elane Tarnofsky Rona Weiss Donald Dunkel Ken Weissman Arnie Hauptman
CELEBRATIONS
Lucy Safir’s youngest grandson, Anton Safir, is graduating from Smithtown HS West on June 24th. He will be attending SUNY Oswego in the fall.
Affiliated with United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism