This Shabbat is Juneteenth , the anniversary of the emancipation of enslaved African Americans, signed by the President today to be the eleventh federal holiday on the American calendar. As Texans, we should be especially proud as this holiday was first celebrated in Galveston and spread through church-affiliated communities throughout the state.
The Jewish community in the United States, and the clergy in particular, had a mixed record in speaking out against slavery; on the one hand, some Rabbis refused to condemn it wholeheartedly lest they cast aspersions on biblical precedent, whereas other Rabbis were among the most vocal abolitionists among the clergy of any faith tradition. For more on this important and fascinating chapter of Jewish and American history, read this article by Richard Kreitner- The Powerful Example of The Jewish Abolitionists We Forgot. Rabbi’s Recommendations
I highly recommend Daniel Klein’s translation of Shmuel David Luzatto (Shadal)’s commentary on the Torah . The third volume, Vayikra, recently came out. Shadal was a fascinating commentator and person, whose work had never been translated from its original Italian before. Read a review here by Rabbi Dr. Martin Lockshin, formerly of York University in Toronto and now of Jerusalem (Full disclosure- Daniel Klein lives in Rochester and is something of an honorary uncle to me).
Hakarat HaTov Corner
A thank you in advance to Eli Burstein who will be speaking this Shabbat morning as a representative of this year’s graduates!
I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to attend, in person, the wedding this past Sunday of Julie and Rabbi Howard Wolk, and for all those who celebrated virtually. Initially, it was difficult to secure tickets, and certainly at non-prohibitive prices, so I am thankful to Jessica for her ingenuity and perseverance in finding tickets on relatively short notice. The wedding was beautiful and it was a privilege to share the simcha with so many wonderful former and current Dallasites! And while the early morning flight and late night return on Sunday were exhausting, it felt like another return to normal to be flying for the first time in 15 months. It was also a special treat to be able to spend a few hours after the wedding with both my brothers, one of whom I hadn’t seen, in person, in more than two years (!).
Shabbat Shalom!
Rabbi Ariel Rackovsky
Congregation Shaare Tefilla 6131 Churchill Way Dallas, TX 75230
