Posted on 02/22/2007 3:05:09 PM PST by APRPEH
The dominant theme of the Torah portion is the description of the Sanctuary and all its components. The Torah is explicit and exacting, unusually so, in all the specifications. The Sanctuary played a vital role in Jewish history, whether as the mobile Tabernacle in the Wilderness, the Temples in Jerusalem, or the contemporary Synagogue. In view of its importance, the attention it receives is fully warranted.
Many influences helped insure the perpetuation and thriving of Judaism. The school -- and Jewish schooling was never meant for children only -- produced scholars and highly literate laymen. The home transmitted skills and developed emotional attachment to Judaism. The very streets exemplified living Judaism, with Shabbat and other evidences of Judaism on every hand. The Synagogue, as house of worship, took its legitimate place in molding Israel's future.
Today however, of all these positive forces, only the Synagogue affords many communities any enlightenment or inspiration. Jewish schooling, with promising exceptions like the Day School, is generally negligible; the typical home has little, even superficially, to identify it as Jewish. In a real sense the Synagogue is a sanctuary, a last stronghold of Judaism, the only place where a Jew can be actively and comfortably Jewish. The Synagogue must fill the void left by de-Judaized homes and ineffectual schools.
If the Synagogue, the source of Judaism today, passively permits non-Jewish influences to blur its uniqueness, if the Synagogue is molded in a non-Jewish form, architecturally and ritually, then American Jewry will imperceptibly blend with its neighbors until it ceases to exist. The specifications of the Sanctuary, the standards of a Jewish house of worship, cannot be too explicit, and in fact are clear enough. The Synagogue above all, must determinedly retain its specifically Jewish characteristics, for nothing less than the very future of American Jewry hangs in the balance.
If the Synagogue, the source of Judaism today, passively permits non-Jewish influences to blur its uniqueness, if the Synagogue is molded in a non-Jewish form, architecturally and ritually, then American Jewry will imperceptibly blend with its neighbors until it ceases to exist.
Rabbi Zalman Posner is a veteran rabbi, serving in the field of rabbinics since 1949. He is rabbi emeritus of Congregation Sherith Israel of Nashville, Tennessee and the co-director of Chabad-Lubavitch of Nashville.
Ping to read and digest later
The other night I watched "Boston Legal" and a couple of the characters went to a synagogue service. The holy day was described as being the Jewish arbor day.
Anyway I was disappointed to see that they had guitar playing during the service!
I think I may have met him once.
"Jewish Arbor day" would be 'Tu B'Shevat' (the 15th day of the Hebrew month of Shevat), the new year for the purpose of calculating the age of trees for tithing.
It's celebration is informal, usually eating new fruit (anyone remember 'bukser'?) and raising money for or actually planting trees.
If it does not fall on a Sabbath, I know of no reason why guitar-playing wouldn't be OK.
It fell on Feb. 3/4 this year.
Thanks for the info. IMO guitar music is never appropriate for religious services!
And did you notice the major league sign that took place that night? (The Jewish day begins in the evening).
The moon hit full, hours later it passed 0.9 degrees north of Saturn (which is in Leo). Several hours later it passed 1.1 degrees north of Regulus (the heart of the lion).
Anything less than a 1 degree separation is considered a conjunction. Down here on earth its called conception. Noticing this I pulled out my Hebrew calendar and nine months from Tu B’Shevat falls right into Sukkot!
What will be born?
And if that’s not enough, the lunar eclipse falls out on Purim. No coincidences here!
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2007/12feb_lunareclipse.htm
Joel 2
31 The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD.
As always there’s lots more.
Shabbat Shalom!
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