Rabbi's Messages

May The Schwartz – Er, FORCE – Be With You

on Monday, 22 February 2016.

You don’t have to look to Mel Brooks to find the Jewishness in Star Wars. And you don’t even have to rely on J.J. Abrams, the self-described “most nebbishy Jewish director ever.” Star Wars has lots of Jewish content:

• Some say that the word “Jedi” is related to “Yehudi” – Hebrew for “Jewish.”
• Yoda – whose very name is Hebrew for “knowledge” – is as good a rabbi as I’ve ever met!
• Padawans are gathered together in a training academy to learn the ancient secrets and traditions of their people. Sound like Hebrew School?!
• In Star Wars, the Jedi must choose between the Dark Side and the Light Side of the Force. Judaism teaches that throughout our lives, we must make choices, and that we are led by our Yetzer HaTov and Yetzer HaRa – our good inclination and our evil inclination.
• Judaism teaches that there is good in all of us, even when we choose evil. Good thing for Darth Vader, who did teshuvah – repentance – by destroying the Empire at the end of his life.

The list goes on and on.

But don’t take my word for it – come learn about the Jewish side of Star Wars as we gather for Purim on Wednesday, March 23. We’ll have pizza starting at 5:30, our Star Wars Purim spiel at 6:00, and games and food afterward.

Purim is a whole-community celebration. Please invite your friends to come join us, as we sing, dance, eat, wear costumes, and make fools of ourselves. A good time, it will be.

L’shalom,

Rabbi Micah Streiffer