Shavua Tov. Making havdala tonight with Tovi, my mind floated back to last motzei Shabbat where I was asked to make havdalla for a larger crowd, at the beginning of our dear granddaughter Kayla’s batmitzva celebration. And I thought about thatbentire wonderful Shabbat.
With an ever present overarching sense of a God-centric proud and strong Jewish identity and spirit; the celebrations focused on three firm foundations of a secure Jewish future: family, community and Israel.
The Shabbat began with a family Shabbat dinner. All of Kayla’s grandparents were present and over half of her uncles and aunts. There was such a palpable feeling of family all focused together on the coming of age of yet other link in the eternal chain from Lithuania Poland and Europe through the USA South Africa Israel and Canada and into the future.
Shabbat morning was a lovely service at Shaarei Tefilla. The Rabbi was quick to point out that Maya and Lee continually referred to the community as an extended family. The celebration in the Shul added another wider concentric circle to the family. Providing inspiration, a profound injection of Jewish awareness insight and solidarity and a powerful sense of unconditional belonging.
And then that circle of community was further extended by the profound and powerful presence of Israel. Maya and Lee have shown us all in the past years what real global Jewish solidarity with each other and especially with Israel can look like. We have all been aware of their continual focus on Israel’s wellbeing; and have basked in the emotional warmth and depth of their support. It quite simply helps us to face another day…
Such a wonderful celebration of family; community and Israel. May the Shabbat energize Kayla in her Jewish trajectory as she takes her part in ensuring נצח ישראל: – the absolute eternity of the Jewish people.
Mazal tov Mazal tov!
Inner reflections, Divrei Torah and Growth in Spirituality 
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