Aharei-Mot/K’doshim

The second of this week’s two parshiyot, K’doshim, begins with God’s command to Moshe: “Speak to the whole community of Israel, and say to them, ‘You shall be holy, for I YHWH your God am holy.'” This passage stands out in the Torah not only because of what is being commanded, but because of who is being commanded. The Torah goes out of its way to emphasize that this challenge is addressed to the entire community.

The S’fat Emet saw a connection between the who and the what of this commandment. True holiness, he taught, can be achieved only collectively. To bring God into the world, we must find God in relation to each other.

In a time of physical isolation, remaining a community is a special challenge. We must actively reach beyond our private space to do so. The S’fat Emet reminds us why it is so vitally important to our spiritual lives to make that effort.

Even now – or especially now – may we strive as a community to be what we cannot be alone.

• The New Shul is closed for now due to the Covid-19 crisis. In the mean time, all are welcome to join us for our on-line classes and  events. To participate in any of the events below, please use this link: 
  https://zoom.us/j/8101222054
• In lieu of daily minyanim, join us for on-line study of Pirkei Avot, on Sunday mornings at 9:30 am, and on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings at 6:30 pm.
• On Friday afternoons at 5:15 pm, join online us for some songs from Kabbalat Shabbat and a drashah on the parashah of the week. All are welcome.
• Join us for virtual havdalah on Saturday nights. This Saturday May 2, the time is 7:50 pm.
• Our on-line Talmud class meets on Mondays at 5 pm, and our on-line Parashah-of-the-Week class meets on Tuesdays at 11 am.