Have you ever felt lost? Not physically lost, but unsure of your place, where you should be, where you should go?

My mother used to tell me to put things away. Everything has its place, and when we put things away, then the room is neat. 

We also need our place. We need to feel settled and secure. But unlike the clothes, items and accessories in our home, that have a permanent place where they really belong, our place moves constantly, depending on our circumstances. 

Rabbi Efrem Goldberg often says – you are where you are meant to be. Stuck in traffic? Meant to be. Still stuck in the same job? Meant to be. Stuck talking to someone you don’t really like? Meant to be. 

This doesn’t mean that we don’t make efforts to change. It means that we can ask ourselves – what can I learn from this current experience now? Hashem put me here for a reason. 

This week, we will be celebrating Shavuot. The momentous day when we, the Jewish people, and Hashem, made a Covenent to be faithful to each other, forever. This is when we became Hashem’s people. We committed to keep the Torah and Hashem committed that we would be His special children. 

In that incredible day – our ancestors, refuges from Egypt, gathered around Mount Sinai.  There was thunder and lightening – the people were afraid.. they took a step back.

The Torah writes “and Moshe brought them to their place at the foot of the mountain” (Exodus:19:17).

Each person has a place. Each person has their moment. Yes, we are one people, and the Torah was given to us as a community, but we cannot get lost in the crowd. Someone else will do it. Someone else is more talented. Our tradition tells us that not only our ancestors were there, but each of our souls were there too. In their place. 

We may not like our current place. We may feel that someone else would be better suited, or we’d be better off somewhere else, but if we embrace our current reality and ask Hashem to direct us in how to fulfil our individual mission right now, right here, then we will hopefully feel more “grounded”, and accomplish great things.

You are where you are meant to be. Shabbat Shalom and Happy Shavuot.

Shuli 

P.S. Click below for the link to our Shavuot book with a few more details about this special day:

My Little Shavuot Book

We are all waiting with bated breath and praying for the people of Israel during this time of great  danger and uncertainty. As you may know, many shuls in Israel are currently closed, due to the security situation, and people are unable to gather to pray as they usually would.

The Rabbi and I would like to encourage everyone to come to shul and pray on their behalf — to be their voice in prayer, to stand together as a community, and to add our prayers to the strength and protection of the Jewish people. Our prayers can truly make a difference.

And on that note, please also join us online today at 5pm to hear from the Chief Rabbi and say special prayers for Israel together with the whole United Synagogue. The link is: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yxunVDeglZc

May Hashem watch over our brothers and sisters and bring safety and peace to all of Israel.

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New and improved! A novel idea! A refreshing look to an old question…

When looking at how products or courses are advertised, one can see a certain pattern that seems to draw people in. 

We are looking for something new, fresh, exciting and different. 

But what about those people who are faithfully doing their job, day in and day out, with the same enthusiasm and attention to detail? Their job spec hasn’t changed, they haven’t innovated or altered their methods, because what they do works. Are they noticed or celebrated?

In this week’s Parsha, Aaron is told to light the candles of the Menorah. The verse following the instructions says “and he did”. Rashi explains that this is a great accolade for Aaron as he did exactly what he was told to do. He didn’t change. 

We tend to be resistant to following instructions (or maybe that is just me). I prefer to do things my own way or try something different. (How do you feel when Waze tells you to go one way – but you think they have it all wrong and you know better?)

Sometimes, tried and tested is worth following. There are no frills and bells and singing from rooftops. It’s just following the rules. Doesn’t feel exciting. But rules protect. They guide. Boundaries and systems are the foundations of society. Stretching those boundaries and breaching them can give a person a rush of adrenaline, but in the long term, can erode society’s structure and strength.

Hashem gave us instructions for our lives and He is the Manufacturer, the Creator. 

So I would just like to give a shout out to those who are seemingly plodding along with their faithful, consistent work, with honesty and reliability. The mother who remains patient day in and day out with a struggling child, providing for  their needs no matter how they behave. The man who consistently turns up to shul to help make the minyan. The volunteer who visits the same person for years.

No one may be clapping or noticing, you may not make the papers with your actions, but you are the backbone, the stalwarts, the pillars of our society. May Hashem give you the strength to keep going! And on behalf of our whole community, thank you. 

Shabbat Shalom

Shuli

This week an incredible, momentous event took place in Israel, on Shavuot, but you may not have heard about it through the press. It didn’t involve the war, president Trump, or placards and shouting. Nevertheless, it was a special moment in the annals of Jewish history that is worth celebrating. 

Thirty years ago, I was in Jerusalem for my gap year, and experienced this myself in person. Rising early, at 2am, I stepped into the crisp spring night, to begin a two hour trek to the Western Wall with friends. 

As we walked, we were joined by thousands of other Jews, from all walks of life, making their own journey towards the holiest place on earth. The crowd grew as we reached closer. 

Different languages. Disparate cultures. Religious, non religious. Sefardi, Ashkenazi. Old, young. A multitude of people gathering together for one purpose, with one heart. 

I was swept along with the crowd, and felt a part of something greater than myself. I will never forget the moment when the sun rose above the Kotel (Western Wall) and our voices merged together in a grateful song. 

(I actually fell asleep during the prayers, and a bird dropped something on my shoulders to help me wake up.. but will leave that part of the story for another time.)

I don’t know how many people were there then, I couldn’t count. This year, there were over 100,000 people gathered together to thank Hashem for the gift of the Torah that we received as a people over 3337 years ago on Shavuot.

When we entered the land of Israel so many years ago, with Joshua as our leader, (Moshe died outside the land), we were told to travel to Jerusalem, to the Temple, three times a year – on Pesach, Shavuot and Succot. 

Ever since, when we have had access to the Kotel, thousands have tried to continue this tradition on these three festivals. 

We don’t always hear about these events. There’s no controversy here. No fighting and no sides. Maybe it’s not juicy enough for the press. So I’m sharing it with you today, so you can smile for a moment. Feel the energy and unity of our people. Yes, we often disagree. We feel passionate about our different approaches to life. But this week reminded us that beneath it all, we are one. 

Wishing you Shabbat Shalom

Shuli

P.S. In case you missed last weeks message in the Jewish News, you can find my article here.