Living a Jewish Life

What defines “living a Jewish life?” There are definitions that tell us, by Halachah, who is a Jew. One born of a Jewish mother is a Jew. One born of a Jewish father, in some congregations, may be considered a Jew. Oft times that includes participating in some Jewish Rituals and Education – Brit Milah, religious school, B/B Mitzvah. One can ‘ convert’ to Judaism, and that involves a lengthy (a year) but enjoyable course of study, going before a beit din (a group of Rabbis who ‘assess’ gently your commitment,) Brit milah for males, and ritual immersion. And, as you know, Solel is blessed with many who have joined the Jewish people. So we know who is a Jew, but what does that mean in terms of our lives? What does a Jew do, believe in, eat, wear, celebrate? How does a Jew mourn? How does a Jew acknowledge a life cycle event? Does a Jew have to affiliate with a synagogue? Do we have to support Israel no matter what? Do we have to learn Hebrew? More questions than this blog can answer, but we can talk about how, as Jews, our calendar directs our lives, the calendar that says we are in the year 5786 – dating back symbolically to the creation of the world!

Weekly, we acknowledge, celebrate, enjoy Shabbat. We are commanded in Torah to Shamor (observe) and Zachor(remember) Shabbat. A minimum of two candles is lit. We say blessings at our Shabbat table over the candles, our children, the wine and the challah. Several times during the year we celebrate the many Chagim (holidays like Purim and Chanukah) and Yom Tovim (special holidays like Pesach, Shavuot, Sukkot – the Shalosh Regalim – 3 pilgrimage festivals.) Then there are the High holidays -Rosh Hashana, Yom Kippur. Leviticus 23 teaches us a great deal about all holidays!

The biblical holidays are partly historically and partly agriculturally based. They connect us to our past and to the land of Israel.

But we also have new and very special days that, as Jews, we will honour and acknowledge. During the counting of the Omer (sheaves of grain that we count for 49 days beginning the second night of Pesach and leading us up to the 50th day – Shavuot where we stand at Sinai to receive the commandments) we honour and remember

• Yom Ha Shoah v’HaG’vurah
• Yom HaZikaron
• Yom HaAtzmaut
• Yom Yerushalyim

On the 27 of Nisan- Yom HaShoah- we remember the six million Jews murdered in the Holocaust. When we say the Kaddish on that day, we are actually, as Rabbis have said, becoming the Kaddish. When we are the kaddish, no name, no one is ever forgotten. At Solel. we will have our Yom HaShoah service on Friday April 10 at 8 pm with a guest speaker- Brad Bass- who will tell us that Toronto the good wasn’t, isn’t so good for Jews. And we will learn about G’vurah (strength, the need to stand up proudly as Jews) Then we will recognize Yom Hazikaron – Israeli Memorial Day, the day we must remember, before we celebrate Israel Independence day, that so many lives were lost and are being lost in the creation and defending our homeland(sundown Mon April 20). Tuesday April 21 at sundown, we celebrate Yom Haatzmaut, when on the fifth of Iyar once again- through a tense vote of the United Nations – we again had our homeland. Solel will celebrate Yom Haatzmaut with a community Shabbat dinner on 6pm Friday night, April 24 and a guest speaker, Avideh Motmaen-Far, the President of the Council of Iranian Jews. And on Thursday May 14 at sundown, will commemorate the reunification of Jerusalem (28 Iyar 5727- Jun 7, 1967)

How do you live your Jewish life? No one answer fits all. But whatever you do, perhaps you might want to consider doing a little more. It’s worth a try! Chag Pesach Sameach.

Filed under: Educator's Message

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