Torah Readings
Numbers 28:1-15 - Daily, Sabbath and New Moon offerings
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Numbers 28:1-31 - Pilgrim festivals
Haftarah Reading
Jeremiah 6:16-7:7 - Punishment of hypocrisy
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Jeremiah 1:1-2:3 - First of three haftarot of rebuke preceding Ninth of Av
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Judaism is nothing if not a religion of routine. We have daily rituals, commemorations for the weeks and months, festivals marking the passing of the seasons and moments to account for the turning of the years. The framework for this cycle of Jewish life is laid out in this week's Torah portion.
The Torah comes from a time where Temple service through sacrifices and offerings was the main way to express Jewish identity, so it is through these offerings and through pilgrimages to the Temple that the year is structured for them. Since the destruction of the Temple, prayer and the building of holy communities based around the synagogue have been the replacement. In either case, the circle of Jewish life - the holidays and rituals - have continued to cycle uninterrupted.
Having these moments enables us to live with greater intention, mindful of the passage of time. They give us times to check in and assess where we are in our lives. They also connect us to the cycles of the world around us - the festivals are linked to the seasons and the agricultural cycles, reminding us of the world beyond our controlled environments. It is about grounding our lives in something beyond ourselves.
Yet, these markings of time also have the opposite purpose. They are constant and unchanging - every Shabbat and festival coming at its time. We can even see far into the future - knowing how the calendar will fall even centuries from now. They are a constant in a world filled with change that gives us something to hold onto.
We know from our experience this last year how important it is to have opportunities to hold onto markers of time. To many of us, it feels like March 2020 was just weeks ago! No matter what comes our way next, our calendar and the opportunities to find meaning together will be there for us.
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Make sure to check out our podcasts, including "Rabbiting On" with Rabbis Debbie Young-Somers, Miriam Berger and Robyn Ashworth-Steen discussing events in their lives, the Jewish world and the wider world, and "Progressively Jewish", our weekly podcast in conjunction with Liberal Judaism.
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This week's Torah portion also includes the story of the daughters of Zelophehad - five women who fight for their right to inherit their family's portion in the promised land. The right of women to inherit a full place as leaders in our community continues to be a point of contention. Last year we saw the 45th anniversary of the first female rabbi being ordained in the UK, Rabbi Dr Jackie Tabick, a celebration able to be marked by some of the more-than twenty female rabbis currently working at Reform synagogues in this country. However, the recent ordination of Rabba Dr Lindsey Taylor-Guthartz and the surrounding controversy, which has included her being removed from her position at one educational institution, has shown that there remains a "glass ceiling of Torah", in the words of a response from dozens of Progressive clergy. She spoke on BBC's Woman's Hour about the need for female leaders in our community. Whilst we are very lucky to benefit from our many hugely talented female clergy members, we know there is still work to be done in our communities too as we seek to give every person the same opportunities to live a full Jewish life, regardless of gender.
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Many of our communities are sharing their events and inviting you to join. Have a look at the listings on RJ Communities TV to see which events might appeal to you.
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RSY-Netzer, the youth movement of Reform Judaism, is currently accepting registration for Shemesh, their summer camps. We're sure all of our young people are even more keen than usual to have a fun adventure this summer, so please share the details with your communities.
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During July, the Samaritans are holding their annual awareness campaign - Talk To Us. They are one of the services which provides around-the-clock support by phone for people in distress and at risk of suicide. They are challenging us all to become better listeners. The value of listening is embedded in our Jewish texts and tradition. Samaritans have offered some resources on improving our ability to connect with others through listening. There are also resources available from a specifically Jewish context - such as this one, which despite being aimed at Rabbis at Thanksgiving still contains useful nuggets for us all at any time. It is probably also a good time to ensure your community is able to signpost members effectively towards the right support when they are in times of need. We can't be expected to solve everyone's problems, but we can be there to listen and to help them find the right place to turn for help.
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