Friday, October 28, 2022 From Cantor Joshua Diamond
One of the most memorable stories in our tradition as always been about the people of Bavel (Babel), whose story we learn at the end of Parshat Noach. What did the people want? They all spoked the same language and could communicate with each other easily. Why did they want to build a tower that would reach high into the sky?
The parsha tells us they wanted to make a name for themselves and most of all, to be close to God. On the face of it, this seems like an excellent goal. The people of Bavel seemed to have an abundance of deveykut – a yearning to be close to God. Why was the tower destroyed, and the people scattered around the world speaking different languages so they could not communicate with each other easily?
The fact is we should want to be close to God, because doing so allows us to live on a higher spiritual plane that transcends the everyday and offers more understanding of each other and ourselves. That brings us back to whether the people of Bavel were really seeking God by building a tower. Or were they seeking some kind of glory for themselves?
The next question we must ask is, why didn’t the people of Bavel realize that God was all around them? They could experience God in nature or the face of a child or the caring embrace of a friend who cares about whatever troubles anyone may be experiencing. Seeking God has nothing to do with building a tower and everything to do with looking for spirituality around us—in prayer, in friendship, in the compassion of strangers.
What have you experienced lately that has brought you closer to God? As we begin Shabbat, I hope you’ll have time to think about this question.
Shabbat Shalom, Cantor Diamond
FRIDAY Candlelighting - 5:37 PM Kabbalat Shabbat Service 8:00 PM (In Person & Live Streamed)
SATURDAY Nosh & Drosh - 9:00 AM - Parashat Noach Shabbat Service - 9:45 AM - (In Person & Live Streamed) Bat Mitzvah - Eleanor Gordon Havdalah - 6:36 PM
CELEBRATIONS & GRATITUDE Thank you to Sheryl, Craig and sister, Natalie Gordon for sponsoring Oneg Shabbat and Kidddush in honor of Eleanor's Bat Mitzvah.
Mazal Tov to Tina and Steve Baron on the engagement of their son, Matthew to Amanda Lindner.
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.
Glen Blackman Judith Feldman Roy Friedenthal Ed Hoffman Gail Kanner Joshua Kanner Donald Lindberg Steven Nachbar Arthur Seewald Shirley Siegel Warren Siegel Bradley Spitz Eddie Steinman
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Affiliated with United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism