Sign In Forgot Password

Dog Days

Rabbi Streiffer

In his poem “Summer Sun,” Robert Louis Stevenson writes:

Great is the sun, and wide he goes
Through empty heaven with repose;
And in the blue and glowing days
More thick than rain he showers his rays.

We are entering the time of year when all we want to do is spend time in the sunshine! As you all know (and I’ve quickly learned), summers are short here in Ontario, so we need to enjoy them while they last.

In one sense, synagogue life seems to slow down over the summer. We have fewer programs; Hebrew school takes a break. And yet, Judaism doesn’t take a vacation for July and August. In fact, this is a wonderful time of year to be Jewish, because there are fewer high-intensity holidays and more opportunities to be outside and appreciate God’s world. Our “Rock Shabbat in the Park” last month was a great example of this. More than 100 of us gathered to welcome Shabbat outdoors, to sing and pray and eat in the sunshine. It is a good time of year to be Jewish.

Many of us arrange our Jewish lives around holidays. We finish the High Holy Days and start looking to Chanukah; then we put away our latke oil and begin looking forward to hamantaschen. But believe it or not, Judaism is not a religion of holidays. It is not a religion that is dependent on special events, or once-a-year celebrations, or even on being indoors. It is a way of life that teaches us to appreciate every moment. No matter where we are or what time of year – even in the dog days of summer – Judaism can guide us toward mindfulness, and appreciation, and connection with one another.

That is our challenge for the summer, as we head off on holidays and to our cottages: to find little ways to celebrate being Jewish. If you’re travelling this summer, look up the Jewish community wherever you may be. Try to attend a service and connect with fellow Jews. Who knows – you may even get invited to somebody’s home for Shabbat dinner. If you’re going to be at the cottage, find ways to make Shabbat special: go for a walk in the great outdoors, appreciate being in nature, make Kiddush and Hamotzi under the stars.

Of course, Shabbat services and learning continue at Kol Ami over the summer. I look forward to seeing you at our “Homestyle Shabbat” services or at Sushi and Study.

Have a wonderful summer,

Rabbi Micah Streiffer

Thu, March 28 2024 18 Adar II 5784