A Message from Rabbi Yitzhak

(June/July 2009)

Home. It’s so fundamental. The bee’s hive, the bird’s nest and the bungalow – each one grants some measure of certainty and security to life. A place to go out from and a place to return to. How sad are the stories and images of those among us who don’t share the blessing of a home. These days, the constant threat of homelessness lurks close by for countless families. “Unemployment” and “foreclosure” are words we hear daily, undermining the security and peace of countless families. It is a time of profound loss for many...

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Sharing the Blessing of a Home

In the midst of this sorrow there are opportunities we can find to encourage hope and to provide some measure of comfort to those who have lost so greatly. A few weeks ago our city and County government along with United Way co-sponsored a “Project Homeless Connect.” I was touched to see how many TBI members were involved in that wonderful effort to reach out to homeless people and provide some basic support services. I want to particularly acknowledge the work of two of our members, Pearl Wolfe and Richie Weinman, who provided such effective leadership for the event. Our Jewish community’s recent Mitzvah Day is another example of mustering communal effort to address the challenges of our time. Kol Hakavod to Margot Helphand, Sandra Luks, and Justine Lovinger who led the effort, and to everyone who participated in the event. TBI’s recent participation in the Interfaith Homeless Shelter, coordinated by Shevach Lambert, gave us another opportunity to have a positive impact on the lives of many families who are seeking homes. It also lit a spark of hope in all who offered help. They experienced the blessing of doing something rather than feeling completely helpless during these troubled times.

What more can we do? One of the most meaningful ways of helping homeless people locally is through interfaith programs coordinated by St. Vincent DePaul. Not only does St. Vincent coordinate the Interfaith Shelter Program, but they also manage an Interfaith Project through which families can find a bit of stability by having a safe and secure place to park a trailer while St. Vincent’s staff works with them to find a stable home. A couple of months ago I asked Richie Weinman to come to a board meeting to explore additional ways our congregation could be responsive to families in need. I requested that our board consider joining the thirteen other local congregations that are currently participating in the camper hosting program. Several years ago TBI was among the first congregations to start this program. Back then we called it our “Corners of the Field” mitzvah. In Biblical times, farmers were instructed to leave the corners of their field standing so that those in need could receive sustenance from G-d even in hard times. The Book of Ruth, which was read on Shavuot, demonstrates this system of caring for the needy. Ruth was among the poor who gleaned in the fields of Boaz. Through his righteous way of following the tradition, he provided for Ruth’s well-being. We traditionally read this story on Shavuot, which is a harvest festival as well as the day that commemorates our receiving Torah at Sinai.

I am pleased that after thoughtful consideration our board agreed that we as a community will provide a place for the well-being of a family as they find their way through difficult times. I look forward to working together as a Kehilat Kodesh (holy community) as we continue our efforts to be a community dedicated to doing mitzvot and seeking to bring G-d’s compassion into this world.

Shalom U’vracha (Peace & Blessing),
Rabbi Yitzhak