On the holiday of Shavuot this past week, it is traditional to read the Book of Ruth.  If you have never read it or have not read it in a long time, it is a quick read (Google it and many English versions will appear in your browser).  Ruth’s husband dies and when her mother in law, Naomi, urges  Ruth to return to her people (she was not Jewish), Ruth responds that “your people will be my people, your God will be my God”.   Ruth does not only accept the philosophical and religious aspects of Judaism alone by saying that “your God will be my God”, she first announces that she is becoming part of the Jewish people – the Jewish community. 

Our Tikkun Leil Shavuot will not happen for another year.  Despite that, we must strive to continue to build a strong, cohesive Jewish community by providing opportunities for the “33 flavors” to be together, to learn together and to work together as often as possible.  By doing so, we create a beautiful Jewish community, one that will draw more Jews into deeper engagement and lead more members of our Jewish community to feel that “their people are their people”. 

Shabbat Shalom.

Jeff Finkelstein
President/CEO