Rabbi Janine's Messages

Dear Community, 

Let’s start with joy. Last Wednesday night, a group of KHN members braved the cold winter weather to gather together around two long tables and celebrate the holiday of Tu Bishvat. Our table was set with fruits of many colors and varieties, along with olives, red and white wine and juice, nuts, and a Mediterranean-style dinner. 

Tu Bishvat is the New Year of the Trees. In Israel the trees begin to bloom during this season and produce fruit. For our seder I posed a question to the group,
In what new ways can each of us produce new fruit in service to all? This was the challenge. How can we find a way to serve the world, the community, Gd, in a new and meaningful way? 

One idea that was raised at the seder was to let your voice be heard about  the issues you care about including, but not limited to, Climate Crisis (as one seder participant pointed out, for a holiday celebrating the earth, there is no Earth #2!) Calling your senators and representatives is one of the simplest yet effective ways for your voice to be heard by those whose decisions affect all of our lives.

I want to share with you all a resource I shared with the group that night. There is a free, downloadable app called 5 Calls. 5 Calls is incredibly simple to use. Using your zip code, this non-profit organization will give you the names and phone numbers of your senators and local representatives. They list issues you might want to call about and there is even a script provided if you are feeling shy about what to say in your message. There’s a lot of great information on their website and I recommend starting with Why Calling Works.
 
Our Tu Bishvat was wonderful. It was such a joy to be together, in person, sharing a meal. It was an important and timely reminder that being with one another and connecting over Jewish ritual is not only meaningful, but also life-affirming. 

We have many reasons to seclude ourselves, to hide at home with only our fear and anxiety surrounding us. There is a great deal to be angry about. This is a scary time. There are a million reasons to give up. 

This is my plea to you. Don’t give up. Fill your inner cup with community and ritual, faith and hope. Be with us. Pray with us. Eat with us. Don’t let fear rob you of the life you were given as a gift from the Divine Source of All. 

Quick announcement before I go: Shabbat services tonight will be led by our Rabbinic Intern Miriam Ginsburg. Please join us in supporting her and our community. 

May we find this year new ways for us to make life meaningful and may we continue to contribute to a world that is fruitful for all. 

Shabbat Shalom, 

​​​​​​​Rabbi Janine Jankovitz