Greetings friends
I hope you all enjoyed a wonderful Chanukah holiday. We all may have eaten too many donuts and latkes, but we need to treat ourselves and celebrate the miracle of the oil. We had a wonderful turnout for our menorah lighting service, and our winter solstice change of season ritual and memorial service is coming up next week. Please continue to send in the names of anyone you want a candle lit for. Remember, the lighting of a candle goes toward elevating the soul of the departed and lets them know you have them in your mind and heart. We will be lighting candles for all the names we are sent. Include family, friends, pets – all those in your hearts and minds.
The light of the memorial candle, like the light of the menorah, reminds us that light grows in our lives and is a perpetual celebration of victory – of the few over the many, the free against the tyrannical, the light against the dark and forever stands for and represents freedom. And we will light a candle for those killed in the barbaric terrorist raid, those whose minds are filled with darkness, and for those still in the pit of despair as this week, we read about someone elevated from the pit of their despair.
And after our service next week comes the second of the festivals of light – Christmas – peace on earth, goodwill toward man. If only!!!
Maybe that is what we should all be asking Santa for this year. We are certainly due.
This week, we celebrate the freedom of poor Joseph – the Bible’s great dream master, whom we first met at 17. This week, we read what may be the two most famous dreams in the Bible – the dreams of the pharaoh, which propel Joseph from the pits of prison to the highest position in the country.
As Hamlet said in his famous to be or not to be soliloquy - "To sleep, perchance to dream - ay, there's the rub." While he was talking of death - he hit upon one of the great mysteries of man and the mind – dreams.
We have seen the impact of dreams in the Bible already - but we do not need to have read them here to know and to marvel at their power, influence, confusion, and majesty. Their ability to enhance and stand as the focal point of life’s choices. Where do they come from? What do they mean?
From Joseph to Freud, with a quick stop at Daniel – the thought of dreams captivates us all. Just say the word - Dreams - do we ever tire of dreams, their meaning, their message, their pure power – no. We were thrown into the biblical world of dreams last week when we met Joseph – ba’al ha’holomot - the dream master.
And this week, we see him set upon a path that changes the world.
Pharoah has dreams no one can interpret, and the cupbearer remembers Joseph, who is summoned from the pit. Joseph interprets the dreams of Pharoah. He is now 30. He is elevated to the position of second most powerful man in the world’s most powerful country and he has grown. He explains it is not he who answers the meaning of the dreams – it is G0d and he is simply the conduit. This is incredible growth.
And he will see his brothers twice during this reading and while he recognizes them, they do not recognize him. Why should they? He is dead. He will play with them like a cat with mice, and we will continue to see karma take shape for the intentions and actions of the past.
Enjoy one of the great readings and give thanks, celebrate your freedom, and joy, and please feel free to share this audio and video with any you think might enjoy it, and of course, enjoy all of our past audio and video episodes, which are available on our YouTube channel. This episode will be posted on our channel - click here to watch the Rabbi David Gellman Show in the 2024 cycle.
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Thank you all for allowing me into your homes, into your electronic devices, into your hearts – as you are all with me in mine –
Be well, be happy, be healthy, be free, be kind, be forgiving, be compassionate, be independent of mind and deed, be mindful of your intentions, and be good to yourself. Continue to celebrate freedom of choice in your life, do not give in to fear, and enjoy the peace that comes from acceptance – as always - if you have any questions or suggestions or want to say “hi,” please send me an email. I love hearing from you.
And remember, anytime you do not want to receive these anymore, please send me an email so I can remove you. And know - that I truly appreciate your sharing your sacred time with me.
Enjoy and celebrate your life and the lives of others, and in doing so, be safe, my friends, be happy, and may you all sow the seeds of, and reap the rewards of, peace and love and miracles and make sure you also celebrate your unique individuality and your incredible awesomeness because you are.
And remember – your world is what you make it. Just wish upon a star and continue to be an angel and a miracle in someone’s life, always light the light of love, and be a shining beacon of forgiveness as an example to all.
Blessings
RD
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