Does God Still Speak to Us?

Dear Friends,

The festival of Shavuot, which begins one week from this Saturday evening, celebrates the moment when our people stood at Mt. Sinai and, according to tradition, heard God speak the eternal words of the Ten Commandments.  It is considered the greatest moment in our people’s history, the moment when we as a people entered into a covenant with God.  Since that time Jewish thinkers have grappled with the question:  Was that moment of revelation a one-time experience?  Or does God still speak to us?  If so, how?  This is more than merely an academic question to be pondered by theologians.  It goes to the very heart of our spiritual lives, our sense of God’s presence, of connection and purpose. 

On Saturday evening May 26^th I will lead a discussion on this topic together with our rabbinic intern, Jonah Zinn, a student at the Reform Movement seminary, Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion.  We will do so as part of what is called a, “Tikkun Leil Shavuot,” a late night (traditionally, all night) study session held on the evening of Shavuot.  This observance was created by the Kabbalists, our ancestors who practiced Jewish mysticism back in the 16^th and 17^th centuries.  They developed the “Tikkun Leil Shavuot” (literally:  the repairing that takes place on the eve of Shavuot) as a way to spiritually prepare themselves to receive God’s revelation, the Torah, as our ancestors did so many centuries ago.  In recent years this practice has gained in popularity in the Reform Movement as our members have recognized the value and personal meaning of engaging in Torah study.  Jonah and I will be bringing a distinctly modern twist to this ancient practice by focusing on the work of modern and contemporary Jewish thinkers who have addressed this issue.  As part of this discussion we look forward to hearing your thoughts and experiences.

The evening will begin at 7:00 p.m. with a dairy dinner, as is traditional on Shavuot and include Havdalah, a brief evening service, and our discussion.  Please RSVP by Monday to Sally Collins at scollins@templesinaibc.org or 201-568-3035 x214 to let us know that you will be attending.  We hope it will be a memorable part of your Memorial Day Weekend. 

For those who are in town we will also be having a Festival Morning/Yizkor service at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday, May 27^th.  I also hope you can join us on Monday morning, May 28^th at 10:30 a.m. when we will confirm 15 young people who have spent their 9^th grade year studying with me and Jonah.  They are certainly worthy of all of our support and appreciation.  Hope you can be there.

Shabbat Shalom,

Jordan