Rabbi's Blog

Dear Shaare Family,

I hope everyone had a safe and meaningful week. On Shabbat morning, I will be speaking about the shooting in Allen last Shabbat, and the shooting in Djerba a little later in the week on Lag Ba’Omer- a site that should be familiar to everyone as it was the Mystery Shul Of The Week two weeks ago. While these are not subjects I would have liked to speak about, I’ve been thinking about both of them a great deal- as well as the deluge of rockets Israel is now experiencing- and I have some thoughts I think are important to share. 

Hakarat HaTov

Thank you to all those who offered feedback over last week’s email about the Coronation of King Charles III, and found it interesting. Over the course of a few days, I did watch the service and must say I was deeply moved. While the ceremony itself was certainly Christian in nature (at a time when Church attendance has plummeted in the UK ), respect and honor was given to leaders of all the major faiths and denominations represented in the UK, including Judaism. Places of honor were occupied by Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis, who marched in the procession of faith leaders, and also Rabbi Joseph Dweck of the Sephardic Community of the United Kingdom, who was seated in a prominent place in Westminster Abbey. The Talmud (Berachot 19b) tells us that one should  seek opportunities to behold non-Jewish kings, so that one can tell the difference between them and Jewish kings. For more on Kings in Jewish Thought, I recommend this episode of Jewish History with Rabbi Dr. Dovid Katz, Professor of Jewish History at Johns Hopkins University and a congregation Rabbi in Baltimore (who I am fond of quoting) for an excellent overview. 

Last Week’s Mystery Shul Of The Week: