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 by Rebbetzin Malkah
"On many paths, I have walked,
To search for truth.
I did not hesitate to feast on the delicacy of sin.
We did not find ourselves, the lies have no more taste.
This culture is not for us, for there is fire in our hearts.
For I am the smallest and lowest of all, standing here trembling and amazed....
For You are holy,
And Your name is holy,
Holy ones praise You all day, Amen."
"Atah Kadosh" by Adi Ran
Countless expeditions have been made around the Sinai Wilderness,
searching for and claiming the mountain that is Sinai. But even if we
find it and we climb the rocks, rest ourselves on it and contemplate
its meaning, will it really matter? Will it stir up some special
emotion and fill us with overwhelming holiness and motivation? Will we
feel the quake under our feet as it quaked so long ago when the Torah
was imparted to our people? Probably not. And even if it did, the
sensation would only last for a while. Instead, we need to realize
that, regardless of where Mount Sinai truly is in the wilderness, we
need to hitch up the essence of the Mount Sinai experience and drive it
around daily. What is that essence? Holiness.
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 Three
matzot tucked snugly into a divided pouch are the focal point of the unfolding
mystery that is the Passover Seder. On my table I prefer the shmurah matzot,
the large, circular, burnt on the edges and smoky all around matzot made
especially for the holiday. Bound together, these three brittle cakes take on
the identities and reflect the bond of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, or as some say the Kohen, the Levite, and the
Israelite. Dependent upon which tradition you hold to, the matzah we break
towards the beginning of the seder remembers either Isaac or the priests who
once served in the temple. The commonality between the two is sacrifice.
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by
Rebbetzin Malkah
As a child, I
fondly remember flipping through the channels looking for some of my favorite
shows. Occasionally, the music for one
particular show would stream onto the television as the ever popular cartoon
train moved across the screen - yes, I mean Soul Train. I would pause
for a moment and watch the train go by and then continue my search. I can
still hear the music in my head to this day.
What was unique about this show is that for many, it was a window into African-American
culture that for some might otherwise never have been experienced. The latest fashion and dance trends were
discussed, and new or popular artists donned the set to sing the latest hits. During the 70's and 80's, it was a cultural
and spiritual tutor for many.
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(C) 2008 Beit HaShofar Synagogue
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