Boker tov.  Good morning. As I begin to write this, it is Day #15 of my tenure. Don’t worry… I will soon stop counting days…

I am listening to beautiful music from the library as two amazing talents are practicing for services at B’nai Israel here in Southbury. They are Linda Goodman – B’nai’s Spiritual Music Leader and Rebekka Rosen – Member of B’nai Synagogue. What talent!  

Shabbat Shalom. These Friday emails will begin with a few words from me followed by events we are sponsoring and that are being held in the community. In a few weeks it will also take on a different look. Summertime is a quieter time here, but I have engaged with a few different groups of people.

But first a brief word of Torah. This week’s Torah reading is Parashat Balak. The words appear at the beginning of most siddurim, but often not recited in congregations, other than in summer camps!  

מַה־טֹּ֥בוּ אֹהָלֶ֖יךָ יַעֲקֹ֑ב מִשְׁכְּנֹתֶ֖יךָ יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ 

How fair are your tents, O Jacob, Your dwellings, O Israel!

One might think that this could refer to the portable tabernacle, the Mishkan, that guided our ancestors in the desert. This would be a logical thought.  But alas, it is not to the mishkan that this verse refers to. In fact it was recited by a non-Jew. 

I learned from Cantor Matt Axelrod, a cantor from New Jersey, the following.  

Or LaGoyim.  Being a light unto the nations.  

Balaam was a non-Hebrew prophet-for-hire who was enlisted by Balak, the king of the Moabites, to curse the Israelite people. From higher ground, Balaam gazes down at the encamped Israelites spread below him far into the distance and wondrously announces, “Ma tovu ohalecha Yaakov!”

Cantor Axelrod teaches us that the Torah is teaching one of the most fundamental missions of the Jewish people is to be or lagoyim, a light unto the nations. But many times, our inclination is to look inwards and only consider what we do and how we behave. Ma Tovu reminds us that it may be even more vital to look outwards and to serve as an example to those around us. Like Balak and Balaam, the outside world notices us and learns from our actions.

It is why JFED WCT supports organizations that serve the needy in communities in Connecticut.  Please watch this email and look at our website about the communities we serve because of your financial support. We focus both inwards on OUR community and understand the teaching of being a Or Lagoyim being a light unto the nations.

We hold a monthly get together called LOVE & KNISHES.  It was wonderful to meet the folks who came on Tuesday, with some of them native to the area and others who lived 50 years elsewhere and have chosen to live in our beautiful, rural community. Please CLICK here for the flier describing our August event.

I also have spent time with Rabbi Polokoff who has been an incredible resource and welcoming colleague. I had dinner with our Board and a surprise birthday cake, which was delicious too. I have met 1:1 with members of the community and with GIGLIO. 
 

Michael Shanbron who is the director of the Security Community Network - SCN - arranged the meeting. It is always good to meet with the law enforcement that protects us and our facility.  

I am beginning to meet with rabbis and other Jewish professionals in our large area that we serve. This too, is part of my LISTENING & LEARNING TOUR.

More details about my LISTENING & LEARNING TOUR. Again, in my first 100 days I want to meet with as many of YOU as possible. Here is a tentative list of communities I want to visit:

 

Bethel | Southbury-Panera | Waterbury-Starbucks on West Main Street | 

Woodbury-West Egg | Middlebury-Cafe 64 | Kent | New Milford | Salisbury | Danbury
 

My goal is to meet with at least 50 people.  More details will come out next week.

I want to hear your story, learn who you are and why you are at all connected to the Federation. By being on this list you are considered to be a member of our Federation! YOUR Federation and I need to learn who you are and learn about your Jewish connections.

Thank you and I look forward to connecting with you. 

 

What can I do to help you connect with the Federation? 

 

If you have any questions or suggestions for the Federation, please contact me by email presnick@jfed.net or by phone at (203) 267-3177 Ext. #304. 

 

Rabbi Paul F. Resnick Executive Director