Hello, members and friends of Congregation Beth Sholom,

Hello members and friends of Congregation Beth Sholom. This message marks our entrance into the Jewish month of Tammuz. Our world still feels disrupted and strange. While we wait for our congregation to be safe place to gather we have decided to keep our building closed for the month of July. We will of course continue to be a supportive community that relies on live streaming, Zoom, and phone calls to stay connected. If you are in need of extra support please do not hesitate to contact me at ravavram907@gmail.com or Elizabeth Ellis-Steinzeig at sille@gci.net who chairs our Gimlut Chasadim committee.

 

Tammuz could not be a better month to help us understand how our world is ever changing and an unpredictable place. In Tammuz, Joshua stops the sun in the sky for a full 36 hours. As Alaskans we may have some inkling of what this is like, but for the Israelites God completely disrupts their world. Other difficult things in our tradition occurred in the month of Tammuz. It is believed that Moses broke the 10 commandments due to the Israelites worshipping a golden calf during Tammuz. The offering of sacrifices at the first Temple was suspended by the Greeks and the destruction of the walls around Jerusalem of the Second Temple by the Romans both supposedly occurred in Tammuz.

 

During this month the Israelite’s world was turned upside down multiple times. This may be the first Tammuz in decades where we can understand how they felt. Yet the Israelites survived it the way we are surviving it. The Israelites stayed connected as a community, they supported each other, and they found ways to thrive in this new environment. After each of these incidents the Israelites became more dynamic and resilient.

 

We will too. At CBS we believe with every crisis brings opportunity and with every problem comes a new and out of the box solution. Just like our ancestors, I know that once we are on the other side of this pandemic we will be a stronger, more dynamic, and more resilient community. I am so proud of our community, we have made some tough choices together and yet we continue to stay connected. So thank you and stay safe out there.

 

 

Rabbi Abram Goodstein

Congregation Beth Sholom

Congregation Beth Sholom is a diverse and inclusive Jewish community, welcoming people of all ages, backgrounds, family structures, and worship styles.

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