Bylined opinion and news columns published by United Hebrew Congregation Terre Haute.
With Pesach and Shavuot now concluded, we’ve completed the period of the Jewish calendar during which we count the omer.
This ancient timekeeping mechanism finds new life each year as we number the days in between these two holidays. In ancient times, we used an actual omer — a piece of barley — to track the days between these chaggim, while worshipers traveled to the Temple.
Today, the counting of the omer is a more symbolic practice. We keep a mental tally, rather than a pile of barley.
During recent Shabbatot, we’ve been reading from the Book of Leviticus.
Leviticus is the third book of the Torah, and is told primarily through Hashem’s speech to Moses about how Moses should instruct the Israelites.
This is a break in form from the more narratively skewed books of Genesis and Exodus.
Leviticus is instead concerned with legal, ritual and moral practices. Through Hashem’s words to Moses, the Israelites are told how to interact with one another, how to make sacrifices, how to handle legal disputes and how to act in a holy manner, among many other instructions.
Spring is finally here! And spring means Pesach. I hope you’ll attend our congregational seder led by Student Rabbi Rocki Schy at 6 p.m. Saturday, April 8.
This will be our first complete, in-person seder with a full meal since 2019. You may also attend virtually via Zoom.
In other news, please follow our latest efforts to re-envision the congregation. Debra Israel is leading a task force that is exploring future possibilities for UHC.
Our Jewish calendar expects a lot from us during the course of the year.
Every week, we must make time for rest, relaxation and refreshment as we approach Shabbat.
We are expected to evaluate our lives and our souls in the lead-up to Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.
We are expected to be devastatingly sad and melancholy on dates like Tisha B’Av.
And, of course, we are expected to be euphorically happy as we approach Purim.