Rabbi Tilchin's Shabbat Messages

June 3, 2022 | 4 Sivan, 5782 | Parashat Bamidbar
48th Day of the Omer 

Enjoy Torah Sparks - creative commentaries on the weekly Torah and Haftarah readings written by Conservative Yeshiva faculty.

This weekend we celebrate the awe-inspiring holiday of Shavuot - the Feast of Weeks - that culminates with the observance of our anniversary of receiving of Torah on Mount Sinai. Leviticus chapter 23 reads:

"And from the day on which you bring the sheaf of elevation offering—the day after the sabbath—you shall count off seven weeks. They must be complete: 

You must count until the day after the seventh week—fifty days; then you shall bring an offering of new grain to יהוה. 

You shall bring from your settlements two loaves of bread as an elevation offering; each shall be made of two-tenths of a measure of choice flour, baked after leavening, as first fruits to יהוה...

...On that same day you shall hold a celebration; it shall be a sacred occasion for you; you shall not work at your occupations. This is a law for all time in all your settlements, throughout the ages."

If the agricultural roots of Shavuot are tied to the sacred importance of new grain in a new season, what then is the link to revelation at Sinai? A close textual reading of Torah indicates that God His presence known through "uttering" the Ten Commandments on the 50th day after the Children of Israel ate their Passover sacrifice in haste and fled Egypt.  

Without revelation at Sinai and the layers of "Instruction" that spawned from it, we would not understand our role in facilitating God's relationship to the land as partners in the never-ending cycles of re-creation.  

But consider this idea:  The name Elisheva - Eli Sheva - means "My God is Seven." In our tradition, God is manifest in the number 7 and all multiples thereof. The restful and rejuvenating seventh day of the week - Shabbat -  is God's perpetual gift to humanity. Not working on Shabbat is our way of acknowledging that God is actually manifest through time. It is a difficult concept to grasp for those of us living in a material world. 

Developing this line of thinking one step further, 7 x 7 could be understood as God x God or God squared. If Shabbat allows us to experience God as time, the period leading up to Shavuot must be calling us to experience God even more deeply, with greater intensity and clarity. Torah, and by extention revelation, is the time-tested vehicle through which we do that. 

Counting to "God Squared" by bringing a daily omer of barley as a gift of first fruits may have been the ancient way of measuring the sacred time span between first discovering God through our liberation at Passover and deciding that we want to understand God 50 days later.

Also known as Z'man Matan Torateinu- the Time of our Revelation, Shavuot  is a pivotal moment of hyper-intimacy and recognition between the Children of Israel and God. That intimacy is manifest in the earthly bounty that God provides all living creatures, day after day, month after month and year after year. Barley and wheat are grains that nourishe our physical bodies. Torah writ large is the "grain" that consistently nourishes our spiritual selves.

Shabbat Shalom and Hag Shavuot Sameah,

Rabbi Marcia Tilchin

Shavuot service options June 4-6

Friday, June 3 at 5:30pm with Temple Isaiah

Pre-Shavuot Dairy Dinner follwed by Shabbat Services led by Eric Dangott. In person at Temple Isaiah:2401 Irvine Ave, Newport Beach.  Bring yourself and an appetite. NO RSVP required. Or join us on Zoom.

Saturday, June 4 at 7:45pm at Temple Beth Emet in Anaheim
Tikkun L’eil Shavuot led by Rabbi Dany Mehlman of Temple Ner Tamid of Downey and Eric Dangott of Temple Isaiah. Join by Zoom, livestreamor in person at Temple Beth Emet: 1770 W Cerritos Ave., Anaheim. Dessert will be served.

Saturday, June 4 7:30pm - Sunday, June 5 8:30am
Beginning June 4 at 7:30pm Temple Beth El of South Orange County presents Ascending The Mountain - An All Night Shavuot Experience. Click here for the zoom link. Click here for the full schedule. Join in person at 2A Liberty, Aliso Viejo.

Sunday, June 5 - 9:30am

Day 1 morning Shavuot service at Temple Beth Emet led by Eric Dangott and Zev Brooks. Join by livestream or in person at Temple Beth Emet: 1770 W Cerritos Ave., Anaheim.

Sunday, June 5 at 6:00pm with OC Egal online

Festival minha and ma’ariv with JCoOC's OC Egal nightly minyan.

Join on Zoom. 

Monday, June 6 at 9:30am at Temple Beth Emet

Day 2 Shavuot morning services with Yizkor led by Rabbi Joe Mendelsohn and Zev Brooks. Join by livestream or in person at Temple Beth Emet: 1770 W Cerritos Ave., Anaheim.

Monday, June 6 at 9:30am at Temple Beth El of South OC

Day 2 Shavuot morning services with Yizkor led by Rabbi K’vod Wieder. Join by livestream or in person at 2A Liberty, Aliso Viejo.

Monday, June 6 at 6:00pm with OC Egal online

Festival minha and ma’ariv with JCoOC's OC Egal nightly minyan.

Join on Zoom. 

Saturday, June 4 at 2pm
TWELVE STEPS AND TORAH
Shabbat afternoon Torah study informed by the wisdom of Twelve Step recovery. Join us on  Zoom. For more information and to be added to the Twelve Steps & Torah email list, click here.

No ALI on June 6
ADVANCED LEARNING INSTITUTE
ALI returns on June 13 at 9:30am.

Please join our upcoming 3-part series with Bex Rosenblatt: Conception, Pregnancy, and Birth in the Bible. Click here for class descriptions and to register.

Sunday through Thursday at 6:00pm
OC EGAL NIGHTLY MINYAN
If you are looking for a place to say Mourner's Kaddish, observe a yahrzeit, or participate in an evening minyan, OC Egal meets online five nights a week. Click here to receive the private Zoom link. All are welcome.

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UPCOMING JCoOC EVENTS

REGISTER TODAY
Join Rabbi Marcia Tilchin and special guest Dale Schatz in
Laguna Beach for a spirited Friday night service followed by a vegetarian potluck dinner. RSVP here.

Monday-Friday July 25-29 at UCI
SHAKESPEARE AND SACRED TEXT
This multi-day midsummer retreat in partnership with the New Swan Shakespeare Theater will be an adventure in text study and the performing arts, bracketed by two festive meals and special programs. Read more and register here. 

COMMUNITY PROGRAMS

Driving Out Darkness is a one-day, immersive learning experience for leaders in Orange County’s civic, governmental, non-profit, religious, educational, media and law enforcement sectors. We will explore past and current manifestations of antisemitism and their relationship to other forms of hate, gain valuable tools and uncover strategies for countering rising levels of hate in our community, and expand our networks for greater effectiveness in our shared efforts.
Learn more and register here.

The Jewish Collaborative of Orange County is a creative, collaborative, and compassionate community mosaic dedicated to innovating and supporting local and national programming that enriches the landscape of Jewish life and encouraging individuals and families to connect their passions and purpose with Judaism.