Dear Friends,
We just concluded a portion of the Torah which permits an early glimpse of how the Bible attempts to shape the sacred nature of our lives by setting celebrations and events along the course of a calendar year. In this Torah portion, we are presented with a very rudimentary version of the Jewish calendar we use today. This simplified calendar includes: the weekly Sabbath, Rosh HaShanah, Yom Kippur, and the three Harvest Festivals (Passover, Shavuot, Sukkot).
It is interesting to note that each sacred observance involves some kind of sacrifice. On the Sabbath, we sacrifice work. During the festivals, we sacrifice the harvest and on Yom Kippur, we sacrifice consumption of any kind. These sacrifices help make time sacred and holy. They bond us as a people and enable us to express our appreciation for all we have.
This Sunday is Mother’s Day, and while it may not be in the Bible, the day is sacred to mothers, fathers and children alike. It is a day set aside to express our gratitude for the daily sacrifices of our mothers and a way for us to elevate the sacred nature of motherhood.
Happy Mother’s Day to all moms. May this be a day filled with the blessings of love, joy and gratitude.
L’Shalom-Steve