Shalom All,

So the school year has officially ended, and with it we concluded a very busy two weeks here at Temple, with two B’nei Mitzvah, Shavuot services, the President’s BBQ, and the congregational annual meeting.

First my congratulations to both Davis Derrick and Dathan DeSotel and their families. Their Bar Mitzvah ceremonies were wonderful. It was clear that both of these young men were committed to their studies and wanted to make their families proud. Which they did. They chanted beautifully, spoke clearly, and Davis’ little dance during the speeches was just pure joy. Mazel Tov all around. If you missed it, there will be another opportunity to celebrate a Bar Mitzvah in our community next November. I have no doubt that Zachary Fournier will make us just as proud.

For now, since the celebrations with Davis and Dathan are done, and Shavuot has come and gone, the rest of our summer is going to return to its normally quiet nature. There will be Shabbat services every Friday as usual, our monthly Temple Judah Board meetings, and the Hadassah Book club will meet … but most of our time will really be spent preparing for next year.

However, quiet or not, one shouldn’t underestimate the importance of Shabbat, itself. The rabbis consider Shabbat to be the most important holiday in the calendar because it happens the most often and sets the tone for our week. The great Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel calls it a “Palace in Time.” He says, “The meaning of the Sabbath is to celebrate time rather than space. Six days a week we live under the tyranny of the things of space; on the Sabbath we try to become attuned to the holiness in time. It is a day on which we are called upon to share in what is eternal in time, to turn from the results of creation to the mystery of creation; from the world of creation to the creation of the world.”

Tonight, and the last Friday of July and August, we are even praying outside amidst that Creation. I’d love to have you join us.

Shabbat Shalom and a good summer to you all.

Rabbi Todd