B’har/B’hukotai

In the haftarah for parshat Bhukotai, Jeremiah teaches: “Blessed is the one who trusts in God. . .  for he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, that spreads out its roots by the river. . . [It] does not worry in a year of drought, nor cease bearing fruit.”

Jeremiah, who struggled a great deal in his life, knew better than to claim that trust in God will save us from bad things. He knew that drought strikes good and bad people alike. What he promised was something else: not that God will prevent good people from suffering, but that during times of trouble their trust in God will enable them to persevere, to keep bearing fruit. When our superficial sources of nourishment are cut off, faith provides a deeper source of strength.

One of the purposes of a spiritual community is to help us to discover deeper sources of nourishment in our own lives, so that during times of drought, we too can still bear fruit. May our support for one another help us to tap those hidden streams.

• Due to Covid, The New Shul’s Shabbat morning service takes place outdoors and off-site, on the grounds of the Sandpiper School, 6724 E. Hearn Rd (Please note that our service now begins at 9 am instead of 9:30). Everyone is welcome. Please use the west parking lot and come around to the back of the school. Masks and social distancing are required (for distancing purposes, you might want to bring your own chair). You might also want to bring water. Informal attire is fine.
• The kiddush this Shabbat, May 8, is sponsored by Debby and Kenn Harris.
• All other New Shul events continue online. They include: Kabbalat Shabbat on Friday afternoons (5:30 pm this Friday), Havdalah (8:00 pm this Saturday night), daily text study, and weekly classes. Please contact us for the Zoom link.
• The New Shul’s Shabbat services will soon return to our building. Please contact us for further information.