Cantor Phil Baron: Avinu Shebashamayim
“Avinu Shebashamayim” by Cantor Phil Baron
“Avinu Shebashamayim” by Cantor Phil Baron
Rabbi Sacks also quotes Rashi, but he addresses the issue of Shabbat and its inclusion in the instructions for the Shalosh Regalim. Rashi explains that this is to emphasize the holiness of the festivals by comparing them to Shabbat.
The parashah contains one of the most beautiful passages in the Torah; the Priestly Blessing. Rabbi Sacks,z/l, writes that we are all God’s children; God is everyone’s parent. God turns His face to us; He cares. Faith means that we believe in God’s love for us.
Rabbi Ruditsky describes the beauty of the Biblical chag of Shavuot as a time and place for connecting the earth, Israel, and God together. The later implementation by the rabbis brings out the holiness of receiving the Torah.
Bamidbar is read on the Shabbat before Shavuot; the two events are connected by the giving of Torah. Rabbi Sacks, z/l: writes that the Torah was given in desert so that it would not be “owned” by a specific place. In addition, it would be shared in a place of silence; to hear God we must have silence in our soul.
Rabbi Ruditsky presents an interesting interpretation of the role of the Levites, described in this parashah. He cites midrash that explains their role as the priests and caretakers of the Ark as being due to their refusal to participate in the incident with the Golden Calf. This role as priests differs from the description in Exodus of Israel as a nation of priests.
Nechama Leibowitz, z/l gives an instructional explanation of the census in Parashat Bamidbar.
Rabbis Adam Kligfeld and Rebecca Schatz, Cantor Michelle Stone, Rabbi Cantor Hilary Chorny
Come celebrate Shavuot with your community friends for an evening of Jewish learning and interesting conversation as we gather to explore a variety of topics led by the members of our diverse Jewish community.