Rabbi Debi's Message
Dear Santa Ynez Community,
It is hard to believe it is winter in our beautiful corner of the world. The last couple of days have been glorious, and I hope that you have been able to be out of doors. It’s always a toss-up whether it is time to get out the short sleeves or to keep the sweaters handy.
This week’s Torah portion focuses on clothing, specifically rules of clothing for the priests. They are commanded down to the smallest of details: breastplate, sash, ephod, and robe. Along the hem there are to be alternating pomegranates and bells, alerting people that a Priest was coming (a good heads up if you are not paying attention in the Temple).
Moses had to rally skilled artisans to make holy garments for Aaron and his sons, using the finest yarns and linen of the time, to reflect the glory of Gd whom these priests would serve. The garments were sacred and consecrated, set apart from the ordinary. The priests were holy, and so their clothing was designed to reflect this.
What does what we wear say about us? Clothing can communicate important social cues and expectations. You see someone in a fire fighter's uniform – you know what that person does. Our own life experiences can interpret what we think we know about a person’s clothing as well. If I see a police officer, I see someone who is safe for me to ask for help, while others may see a threat.
While the elaborate garments of the high priest may seem odd today, Gd used these distinctive garments to set His spiritual leaders apart from the other Israelites. Each piece of the priestly garments held significance related to the work the priests performed.
For us, the clothes and other items that we wear give clues as to our job position, spending habits, income level, personal emotions and personality. Some wear certain clothes just to fit in, not wanting to display their own feelings and emotions into what they wear.
The world may tell us to dress to impress, but the Torah tells us to clothe ourselves in the things the world does not see. In Psalms we read “Your priests are clothed in righteousness…”, in Job: “I clothed myself in righteousness and it robed me; Justice was my cloak and turban” and so…it seems that we are to clothe ourselves in justice and righteousness. In this way perhaps we can have our insides match the image we try to create for ourselves on the outside.
Have a righteous and just day,
Rabbi Debi Lewis
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Zoom Shabbat the Friday February 18th
Please check the calendar on SYVJC.org for login information
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Adult Education - February 19th
To sign up for any part/or all of this free series (on Zoom), please email Shoshanah Schwartz, susanmori2@aol.com
Check our calendar at SYVJC.ORG for the Zoom link.
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February 22-27, 2022
At Congregation B’nai B’rith in Santa Barbara
A week of Jewish music
from Yiddish songs to classical music…
LIVE and in Person (indoors) and on Zoom
and all events are free!
Use this link details
Cbbsb.org/music-festival |
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Jewish Free Loan
Jewish Free Loan has recently expanded its service area to include Santa Barbara County, offering 0%, interest, no fee personal/emergency loans to those who need assistance. Loans can be used for rent, moving expenses, medical or dental bills, car repair, childcare, debt consolidation and more. Applicants must have a steady income. Loans for up to $15,000 are available with guarantors. Visit jfla.org/santa-barbara to learn more and apply or call 323-761-8830. |
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If you would like to share something humorous, inspirational, and/or thought provoking please send it to Shoshanah Schwartz at susanmori2@aol.com by the newsletter deadline of February 27th, for the next newsletter. We are looking forward to some VERY interesting submissions.
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- February 18, 6 PM - Shabbat Services
- February 19, 10 AM - Adult Education with Rabbi Debi
- February 27 - Deadline for articles for next issue
- April 16 - Passover Seder
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