Rabbi's Messages

on Monday, 29 April 2013.

RABBI'S MESSAGE FOR MAY 2013

If I am not for myself, who will be for me?
But if I am not for others, what am I?
– Hillel, Pirke Avot 1:14
 

Kol Ami has two major events coming up this month; two events unlike any we’ve ever had before. Both are integral to our identity as a congregation, but they are completely different from one another.
On the evening of May 26, we will celebrate our 25th Anniversary! With dinner and dancing, we will come together at On the Rox to acknowledge and rejoice in everything that Kol Ami has become over two and a half decades, and to look forward to our bright future.

A week later, on the morning of June 2, we will turn from celebrating ourselves to working for others. On our first congregation-wide Mitzvah Day, we will gather to engage the entire community in Tikkun Olam, in the work of repairing our broken world.

As Jews, we recognize that life is full of ups and downs. Strengths are tempered by challenges; privileges come with responsibilities. The great sage Hillel taught us (in the quote at the beginning of this article) that we must be both for ourselves and for others. When we have triumphs, we should rejoice in them. And when there is work to do, we should be the first to volunteer. 

There is a time to work, and a time to play. A time to repair what is broken, and a time to rejoice in what is good. We are fortunate to be able to share both with our wonderful congregation.
 
L’shalom,
 
Rabbi Micah Streiffer