\u201cJudaism,\u201d says Rav Heschel is \u201ca religion of time…aimed at the sanctification of time.\u201d\u00a0 These days, time seems a bit surreal.\u00a0 Days, nights, even weeks seem to flow into one another.\u00a0 I heard someone joke recently, \u201cI think today is the 15th\u00a0of “Maprilay\u201d.\u201d \u00a0The Jewish calendar helps us make sure that time doesn\u2019t slip away on us.\u00a0 This week, in Parshat Emor, we learn about the cycle of Jewish festivals:\u00a0Shabbat, Pesach, Sukkot, Shavuot.\u00a0The details concerning the timing of each of these chaggim teaches us the middah:\u00a0\u201cPay attention to special times.\u201d<\/p>\n
Noticing special moments and times is a key practice of Jewish consciousness.\u00a0Our calendar with its cycle of chaggim, Rosh Chodesh and Shabbat \u2014 \u00a0that start and finish at times that shift according to the seasons \u2014 reminds us always to be attentive to the uniqueness of each moment.<\/p>\n
Right now, we are in the midst of\u00a0Sefirat Ha\u2019omer\u00a0\u2014 the counting of days between Pesach \u2014 our celebration freedom and Shavuot \u2014 our celebration of receiving the Torah. Next Tuesday is\u00a0Lag Ba\u2019omer.\u00a0\u00a0Lag Ba\u2019omer one of the several Jewish holidays literally named after a date:\u00a0\u00a0Lag =\u00a0\u05dc”\u05d2, the Hebrew gematria for the number 33.\u00a0 Lag Ba\u2019omer is the 33rd day of\u00a0Sefirat Ha\u2019Omer.\u00a0 Usually, we celebrate Lag Ba\u2019Omer on Heschel field by learning through field games.\u00a0 We light a traditional bonfire and sing songs and roast potatoes.\u00a0 While we can\u2019t to that this year, we\u2019re planning a Zoom Bonfire Sing-Along for Tuesday afternoon. \u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n As we enter into Shabbat, my wish for all of us is to let the Jewish calendar be our guide in helping us become increasingly mindful, attentive, and appreciative of special moments and times. At this time, more than many, such awareness is important for our hearts, souls, and minds.<\/p>\n Shabbat Shalom,<\/p>\n Moreh Greg<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" \u201cJudaism,\u201d says Rav Heschel is \u201ca religion of time…aimed at the sanctification of time.\u201d\u00a0 These days, time seems a bit surreal.\u00a0 Days, nights, even weeks seem to flow into one …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":6202,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[40],"tags":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n