Dear Friends,
I hope you will join us at services this Shabbat as we celebrate the bat mitzvah of Pearl Lian Kluger. Mazal Tov to Pearl and to her entire family!
We often say that we are all the descendants of Adam and Eve, but truly, we are all also the descendants of Noah! Who was this man? He was the human being who listened to God’s voice, stood apart from the evil influences of his generation, and built the arc that ultimately saved him, and his family, and all the animals that survived the flood. Thanks to Noah, we are here today. Thanks to his strength of character and thanks to his determination, the world, as we know it, continued to exist, even after the flood.
Now it is our turn to look around us and to choose our path. It is not always easy to discern how we might move forward in a way that will preserve the environment, minimize the evils of the world around us, and bring greater blessing into our lives. We do not have the direct voice of God telling us how to build the arc that will sustain life and an atmosphere of justice, of mercy and of peace on earth. But, we do have the Torah to guide us and the story of Noah to inspire us.
As the descendants of Noah, we have what it takes to work together to build a good future.
Shabbat Shalom!
