Looking back…
It’s amazing to think that Pesach is behind us!
There is much to reflect on from the last two weeks. Our KC Jewish community came together in an incredible way following the horrid shooting at the JCC and Village Shalom, an interfaith solidarity gathering, a teen vigil on Friday afternoon, and just getting together in Shul and in our homes.
We were also visited this week by Chai Lifeline, an international Jewish organization that responds to traumatic events. They sent their top professionals to our community this week, to talk to parents and teachers at HBHA, as well as present a program for the whole community still dealing with grief.
In their session on Thursday night, Dr. David Fox and Zahava Farbman helped articulate the feelings and thoughts that many of us have not yet been ready to express. There is a process to healing from a trauma, and one major component is validating feelings and allowing people to express thoughts and feelings in a safe place.
On the first day of Pesach, I presented the idea that one of the characteristics of a slave is that he is not able to express himself. On Pesach, we express our freedom through articulating our story, giving it meaning, using the words of the Hagada and our own discussions. Matza itself is characterized as לחם עוני, construed by our Sages as לחם שעונין עליו דברים הרבה, loosely translated as “bread that inspires conversation.”
Speaking of Matza, here is a brief recap my topic from Shabbat Hagadol just before Pesach. I presented the Hedgehog Concept of Jim Collins, from his book Good to Great. You can learn more here: http://www.jimcollins.com/media_topics/hedgehog-concept.html
We then studied the concept of ושמרתם את המצות, shmura matza, whether it must be infused with a special quality of לשמה for the sake of the Mitzva, or simply refrain from having it become Chametz.
I suggested that Matza is our Hedgehog Concept. We infuse it with passion (l’shem mitzvah), and our commitment to this simple formula of flour and water has enabled us to do what we do best—endure and thrive wherever we have been throughout history.
Looking ahead…
Pirkei Avot: This week commences the study of Pirkei Avot that we complete between Pesach and Shavuot. We will meet in Brookridge Park at 5pm to study Chapter 1. Children grades 2-5 will meet then as well
Shabbat Shabang: We will be joined this weekend by advisors and teen from NCSY for this special Shabbaton.
Celebration! : And we also have the good fortune of celebrating the birth and baby naming of the new daughter of Daniel and Hillary Rosenthal this Shabbos.
Seuda Shlishit: Lisa Bernard will speak at Seuda Shlishit about the Bernard’s recent trip to Eastern Europe.
Yom Hashoa: There is a community-wide memorial for the six million Jews who died during the Holocaust, with special recognition of local survivors, on Sunday at 1:30pm at the JCC.
Jewish Genetic Disease presentation: Tuesday, April 29th, 7:30pm at the JCC. It is a not often discussed topic but one that very much impacts the Jewish community, and as with many things an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
Shabbat Shalom!