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November 21, 2025 |
Dear Friends,
Just a week ago, I was blessed to be part of generational change as I completed my six year term as president of ARC (Association of Rabbis and Cantors). Although my role in my professional organization will change, my commitment to my colleagues and to the work each of us does remains unchanged. ARC is poised for deep change, which is as it should be -- change is key. But here is the thing: I have no idea what the change will look like nor how the organization will meet the challenges ahead. We cannot know outcomes ahead of time.
However, the Torah works differently; outcomes are constantly being dangled in front of the key players in our story. All too often, human beings what they are, lose patience and do all they can to make the things they were told would happen, happen.
This week’s Torah portion features Isaac and Rebecca, the one pair in our ancestral line that clearly deeply care for one another. This week’s Parshat Toldot, "generations" (Genesis 25:19 -28:9), tells the story of this pair and their twins Jacob and Esau. It is a rich story with many twists and turns. Once being told what the future will bring, a loving mother interferes to make it happen. Her impulse is one that we can recognize within ourselves. How do we make things turn out the way we want? This Torah portion reminds us that even with some degree of foreknowledge we are not completely in charge of our destiny.
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Mitzvah of the Week
The power of coming together in person cannot be underrated. We are about to celebrate Thanksgiving with those important to us, be they chosen family or blood relations. It is a time to revisit our sense of gratitude of being able to break bread together, be it gluten free or otherwise.
We remember that all too recent time when we were unable to come together. Now here we are, once more able to be present for one another.
This past Tuesday at our community Thanksgiving dinner, that feeling of gratitude was ever present. I was delighted to be on a panel organized by Rabbi Scott Kalmikoff of the Riverdale Y. It was wonderful to be on a panel with two women I respect and love, Dr. Mehnaz Afridi and Reverend Krystin Granberg. These two women are true collaborators and understand that trust and relationships are built over time while working together. These relationships take care and the ability to see past the ways in which we are different to be able to see the ways in which we share much more.
Building bridges takes time, destroying them takes no time at all if we are careless. My wish for all of you as you gather with those you care about, to recognize the ways in which you are bound together finding the acres of common ground that has brought you to the same table.
Happy Thanksgiving
| Oseh shalom bimromav, hu ya'aseh shalom aleinu ve'al kol Israel, ve'imru, Amen. |
| May the One who makes peace in the heavens, make peace for us all and all the people of Israel. |
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