Rabbi Diana's Weekly Message

Dear Chevre,

In this week’s Torah portion, Lech Lecha, God tells Avram to go forth from his native land and from his father's house to the land which God will show him. Avram does not know where he is going. He is leaving everything familiar behind, going on faith that the Holy One will lead him to where he needs to go.

We have all had our own moments as Avram did, as many of us shared together today during Torah study, where we follow a call away from what is known toward a place we’ve never been. We try to discern when to follow a desire, an instinct, a yearning, sometimes with faith, and sometimes only hoping that we will be supported along the way.

May each of us find courage as we continue on our own paths, boldly.  

Rabbinic intern Lesley Pearl and Andy Kaufman will be leading services this evening at 7:00 pm at KHN, both outside and on Zoom at:

Kabbalat Shabbat -

Shabbat shalom,

Rabbi Diana

             Lech Lecha: A Meditation on Going Forth in the Midst of Broken Pieces

By Devon Spier

What falls apart.

Cannot be put back together.

But when the sameness crumbles.

Creation peaks through.

Daring us.

Daring you.

To reveal your uniqueness.

To remove your shell.

And make your inside,

Out. 

No, you will never be the same. 

But becoming always does triumph holding.

Because when you let go of the old pieces, 

You fall purposefully into who you are meant to be.

FIRST STEP (LECH LECHA) by Rabbi Rachel Barenblat

It's not going to be easy.
All of your roadmaps are wrong.

That was another country:
those lakes have dried up

and new groundwater is welling
in places you won't expect.

You'll begin the journey in fog
destination unknown, impossible.

Don't be surprised by tears.
This right here is holy ground.

Take a deep breath and turn away
from cynicism and despair

listen to the voice from on high
and deep within, the one that says

I'm calling you to a place
which I will show you

and take the first small step
into the surprising sun.