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FROM THE DESK OF RABBI ARYE BERK
Shana Tova! I may have watched too many Westerns as a child because I am still inspired by the sound of the bugle calling the cavalry together for Assembly or to charge. The images of troops running from their barracks to stand in formation or mount their horses is the signal that something critical is about to happen. These sounds and images are still etched in my memory so too are the sounds and images of our High Holiday Services. The sound of the Shofar, blasting during our Rosh Hashanah services with everyone standing together in our temple is also a critical moment in the plots of our lives.
Our Shofar has always been used at critical moment in our history. During the time of Nehemiah, the Shofar was employed in time of danger. A small group of Judeans who were rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem in the face of attacks were told, “when ever you hear the sound of the Shofar, hurry to that place to us, our god will fight for us.”(Neh 4:14) The Talmud tells us of a time when the Shofar was used to summon the townspeople for Shabbat observances. In Israel today a siren can be heard letting people know that Shabbat is approaching. Imagine a sound each week that you and your family and friends hear, that allows you to stop and break from the work week routine and spend time together. It may be a future idea for IPhone app.
This year when we are able to hear the Shofar on both days of Rosh Hashanah, what will the call of the Shofar be foreshadowing. The prophet Isaiah foretold that a “great Shofar” would be sounded to herald the ingathering of Israel’s scattered exiles when the Lord will redeem His people for all time Isaiah 27:13). Perhaps, the sound of the Shofar already has a positive affect on our community because it is one moment in the year when we show our unity as a community. When else are our pews packed and we enlarge our sanctuary? The call of the Shofar brings our people together and being together is an important part of our lives. The sounding of the Shofar, while the synagogue is crowded with Jews young and old is a rallying cry , a start your engines moment for the potential we all have as a community for the year to come. May we surge forward with the sound of the Shofar ringing in our ears for the whole year, with the knowledge that we have the ability to do wonderful things together as a community.
This year is a critical moment in our lives, just as next year will be and the next year too. What we do with these critical moments and where we move in our personal journeys and in our communal journeys has a sound that accompanies us all year. The sound of the Shofar, the cry to assemble and to take action! Charge!
L’Shana Tova to you and your families!
B'Shalom,
Rabbi Arye Berk
Rabbi David Paskin of Temple Beth Abraham in Canton posts a monthly rebcast. February's was a panel discussion with Rabbi Hausman of Ahavath Torah Congregation in Stoughton, and our own Rabbi Arye Berk
To view his blog and rebcast Click here
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