Dear Congregation Beth Ohr,
We know that there’s a Haftarah (prophetic) reading for each Torah portion, chosen because the themes of the Torah and Haftarah portions speak to each other. However, sometimes we chant a different Haftarah instead, because of how the Jewish holiday calendar interacts with the Torah reading cycle. This Shabbat is one of those times!
We’ll have to wait until next year to hear the Haftarah for Parashat Toldot, because this Shabbat we’ll hear the Haftarah for Mahar HaHodesh. This is a special Haftarah that we read whenever Rosh Hodesh, the start of the new month, falls on a Sunday. We’re all looking forward to hearing our Bar Mitzvah, JT Berger, chant the Mahar HaHodesh Haftarah tomorrow, which tells part of the story of the great friendship between David and Jonathan.
You’ll have to come on Shabbat to hear the full story, but I want to highlight the blessing Jonathan gives his friend David, "Go in peace. May God be between you and me, and between your offspring and mine, forever." (I Samuel 20:40-42)
CLICK HERE to listen to Go in Peace
Composed and recorded by Cantor Sarah Myerson (voice)
Lyrics based on Exodus 4:18, I Samuel 20:40-42, and I Samuel 1:13, 17
Lekh leshalom
Moses said to Yeter, "Let me go back to my kin in Egypt, to see if they're alive."
"Go in peace," said Yitro to Moshe.
Lekh leshalom
David bowed low before Jonathan. They kissed each other, and wept together.
"Go in peace. May God be between you and me, and between your offspring and mine, forever."
Lekh leshalom
Hannah prayed in her heart. Her lips moved, though her voice could not be heard.
"Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant you what you have asked."
Lekh Leshalom, Lekhi Leshalom
This phrase, “go in peace,” comes up several times in the Tanakh, as you can see from the lyrics above. But when I looked online to see if someone had already written a Go in Peace/ Lekh LeShalom song, all I could find were Christian hymns called Go in Peace. On the Jewish side, I found a lot of online arguments dating back to the Babylonian Talmud (and continuing today) about whether or not we should use the phrase “lekh beshalom,” but no songs. If you’re interested in the conversation about leshalom vs beshalom, come see me at Kiddush!
By the way, with the month of Kislev starting this Sunday, that means it’s time to start thinking about Hannukah! We have so many opportunities to celebrate together, starting with the Hazak pre-Thanksgiving Hannukah party this Sunday.
Wishing you a Shabbat Shalom,
Cantor Sarah Myerson
Affiliated with United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism