Torah portion:  Yitro; Exodus 18:1–20:2

We cannot do it alone.

I don’t care what “it” is—there are very few things we can accomplish in this life by ourselves.  This is especially true in Jewish life.  In order to include every prayer during worship, there must be at least 10 people.  In order to mourn and say Kaddish Yatom, the Mourner’s Kaddish, there must be the same 10 people.  When someone is born, we celebrate—again with a minyan of 10 people!  Jewish tradition does not contain stories of hermits having grand religious insight while living in a far-away cave away from others.  Instead, our religious insights come to us as a group.  At no time is this truer than with the giving of the Torah—which occurs in this week’s Torah portion, Yitro.  Moses ascends Mount Sinai to receive God’s words and instructions, God’s laws and insights.  But the entire Israelite nation huddles at the foot of the mountain, witnessing the display of God’s power, ready—if a bit anxious—to receive God’s gift of Torah. 

At Temple Sinai, we are the inheritors of this group revelation—not only in name, but also in community.  As members become ill, we join as a group to support them and, with God’s help, welcome them as they return to health.  As members mourn, we gather around them with love, food, and prayer.  When couples marry or new children or grandchildren are born, when children become B’nei Mitzvah, we come together to celebrate.  The members of Temple Sinai know—just as the ancient Israelites knew—that if we want to ascend to new heights, if we need help getting out of a tough situation, or if we want to know God—we cannot do it alone.

May this Shabbat and the coming week bring you many moments of connection.

Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Annie