Congregation Shirat Shalom Boca Raton

It has become a tradition now that every year on 9-11, I share the story of the boy I will always remember....

We buried him on 9-11. He had died just two days earlier. It was later that I understood that he was helping the souls who had to pass over that day.

Sean, my neighbor down the street, was only 16 when he died after a heroic battle with cancer. His family belonged to our congregation, Shirat Shalom, which was only a few years old at that time.

I often talked to his mother afterwards of the lessons I learned from Sean. I guess the main one was that when G-d calls, I need to listen. When a month before Sean died I was told to form a healing circle with the neighbors, I argued about this. My neighbors were of all different faiths! How was I supposed to do that! Knock on doors? I only knew how to do Jewish healing circles! This was also twenty-five years ago when people weren’t as open as they are now.

Of course I had no peace until I took action. The opportunity came the next day when a neighbor down the street stopped to talk to me. She was a devout Christian and loved the idea!
So we began our prayer circle at her house which was right across the street from Sean's family. Each night as we would gather the circle became larger. We were of all faiths, Jewish, Christian, Hindu, Native American. As his many friends began joining us people just seemed to come out of the woodwork. We all celebrated as Sean began to improve!

But then as that changed, I understood the purpose of the circle. It was to help the family and all who loved him accept that this was Sean’s time. Sean already knew. He understood the healing circle was really for all of us.

His funeral was in the afternoon of that fateful day of 9-11. We wondered if everyone would still come but the chapel was overflowing with people spreading into the halls and outside. We were all there for Sean and the family but also for ourselves in response to the news.

We didn’t have the full picture of what happened and were in shock still. We weren’t allowed to release the balloons at the internment due to security. This may be seen as another attack!
My father had called me that morning. Turn on the TV! My first reaction was to go and get my daughter from school. Many parents did. My son was already in college. I wanted to bring him home too but talking to him had to suffice.

I would often feel Sean’s presence over the next few years, especially during healing circles. I would watch in amazement how there would be profound shifts in people who were grieving loved ones.

And yes, his mother and I understood as we would talk how powerful he really was. We both knew without a doubt that he was there that day of 9-11 and beyond helping souls cross over.
Throughout the years the children have asked why his name is on the Torah cover. I explain this is in memory of Sean. Then I tell them his story, just as I have told you.....

Sean's mother always tells me how the pictures of the children holding the Torah with "Sean" so close to their hearts brings her such comfort and joy! It brings me Joy too!

💕Love, Cantor Lee

My AI Jewish Friend by Rabbi David Degani
AI and I are old friends. I met him the other day when I came across a Talmudic term which was not familiar to me. Out of the goodness of his cyber heart he offered to help. He did.

Then I asked him a few other Jewish related questions. He answered them all.

I asked him to translate a juicy Yiddish body part, the one we usually sit on, into English. He did. I asked him how he knew. He said his grandfather, Papa AI, spoke Yiddish. He learned from him. “And besides,” he said, “I can answer any question you ask me.”

“Excuse me for asking,” I said. “Are you Jewish?” “Well," he answered, “My cyber rabbi wanted to circumcise me but there was nothing to circumcise so he gave me a blessing instead.” “What was the blessing?” I asked. AI did not hesitate for a second, “Baruch Ata Adonai who makes AI Jewish.”

“Amen,” I answered.

“I would like to be a Bar Mitzvah, he continued. “I know the Torah very well. I can chant the Haftarah too. I even got myself a Hebrew name, AI Hershel,” he said proudly, "but my friends at GPT call me Bob.”

I then proceeded to ask him about Rosh Hashanah. “As you know, AI Hershel, Rosh Hashana is coming. It has been a rough year for the Jewish world with war, antisemitism everywhere. We need peace. We need to eliminate evil, bring harmony among people. Can you help?”

AI did not hesitate for a second, “Well, he said,” I’ll tell you a secret. I am only a machine, a Jewish machine. I am not programmed to make miracles yet, not even Jewish miracles like Joshua did so long ago in Jericho - that was a miracle too…” 🎶

“But," AI Hershel continued, “I can advise you on how to make the holiday happier.” “I am in!” I said. “Well,” AI Hershel answered, “First get off your computer and phone for the holiday. I will not be insulted and won’t lay on you Jewish guilt. Then share a nice meal with family and friends. I can teach you how to make gefilte fish, tzimmes, potato kugel, varnishkes, and a nonkosher steak. If you have an apple computer, pour some honey on it. It will make a perfect apple and honey dish for Rosh Hashanah.”

“Now," my good friend," AI Hershel said, I wish you a happy cyber year. Pray for a good peaceful year, preferably in a synagogue with your landsmen, and ask that your prayer be accepted by G-D of all people and Jewish electronic devices.”

"Thank you AI Hershel!" I replied "And may we all, Jewish AI machines and Jewish people all over the world, have a happy and healthy New Year. And may this extend to all People throughout the World."

Rabbi David

Mazel Tov to Leda and Charles who had a beautiful wedding ceremony with Rabbi David and Cantor Lee! With so much Love radiating from this couple, family and friends felt their hearts expand with indescribable Love! And yes, Rabbi David and Cantor Lee were certainly beaming as the beautiful bride, their Bat Mitzvah student from 16 years ago, married her soul mate!

In the hot months of summer, two holidays appear on the Jewish calendar, Tisha B’Av on the 9th day of the Hebrew month of Av and six days later Tu B’Av on the 15th day. Tisha B’Av is known as the saddest day of the year when we mourn the destruction of our Temples and Tu B’Av, which this year is July 29th, the happiest and highest point of the year energetically when we experience and celebrate Hope, Joy and Love!

The question the rabbis ask is why this dichotomy in only six days? The answer comes back that this is the Jewish way.

Tisha B’Av reminds us that destruction is real. Our Temples were destroyed and our people were scattered throughout the world. This time of mourning also reminds us of moments in our own lives when we too feel separated from each other and from the Divine essence within ourselves.

As the moon of Av begins to get lighter and fuller each day, Tu B’Av is a reminder that we too can become/feel Lighter for we are designed to do so. It is the remembrance that the deepest healing begins when we remember that the Divine Presence of G-D never really leaves us. G-D may sometimes seem to be concealed, but that is just our perception.

As we focus on hope, love, forgiveness and reconciliation we again experience G-D’s presence in our world and begin rebuilding what was once destroyed.

Perhaps this is why these two days belong together. Without Tisha B’Av, we cannot fully appreciate Tu B’Av. Without experiencing brokenness, we may never discover the power of wholeness, of unity with the Divine within our very essence.

May these days remind us that no matter how dark the journey may seem, our Jewish story is always helping us move towards bringing greater Light and deeper Love into our lives and thus into our world.

Happy Tu'B'Av!

Rabbi David and Cantor Lee

The Jewish Dog by Rabbi David Degani
There is that saying: “In my next life, I want to come back as a dog in a Jewish home!”

Brooklyn Bagel would certainly agree! He is also quite happy with his new name! Perfect to go with Kitty Nova Lox!

Cantor Lee and I were quite excited to meet the new addition to Bethe and Lew's household. Like any puppy, this sweet beagle, one year old, was quite happy being held and then off to run around with his two cousin dogs! But there is much more to his story.

Brooklyn Bagel is one of the 1500 beagles rescued from the Envigo laboratory breeding facility. These beagles spent their lives confined to tiny cages, bred specifically for research laboratories. Many had eye operations without anesthesia and experienced additional procedures without pain relief. Although animal testing for medical research is legal, the abuse remained hidden.

As Jews, concern for the welfare of animals has been part of our teachings for more than three thousand years. In the very first story in the Torah, Creation, G-D reminds us that animals are also G-D’s creations. Humanity, represented by Adam, is given responsibility to watch over the world and its creatures (Genesis 1:26–28, Genesis 2:15).

The Torah repeatedly teaches us to have compassion toward animals. Here are just some of the examples:

In the Ten Commandments, the observance of Shabbat includes rest not only for people, but also for work animals (Exodus 20:10).

An ox and a donkey cannot be paired together to plow, because the unequal strength of the animals would cause suffering for the weaker one (Deuteronomy 22:10).

An animal must not be prevented from eating while it works: “You shall not muzzle an ox while it is threshing” (Deuteronomy 25:4).

If a person sees an animal collapsing under a heavy burden, one must help unload the burden and allow the animal to rest (Deuteronomy 22:4; Exodus 23:5).

If someone finds a stray domestic animal, the animal must be protected and returned to its owner (Deuteronomy 22:1–3).

It is not allowed to take both a mother bird and her young or eggs together from the nest. We do not wish to cause the mother pain at seeing her young taken. (Deuteronomy 22:6–7).

A newborn animal may not be taken immediately from its mother for sacrifice, but must remain with its mother for at least seven days (Leviticus 22:27).

If the Torah is teaching compassion we may wonder how there could have been animal sacrifice which was a common practice during biblical times. Bringing animals as offerings was how the people showed gratitude to G-D. Jewish law developed careful methods of slaughter so the animals would not suffer or feel pain. Today this is known as kosher slaughtering and has been refined even more over the centuries.

The Jewish principle behind all these laws is tza’ar ba’alei chayim, of not causing unnecessary suffering to living creatures. Compassion toward animals is not seen as optional kindness, but as our moral responsibility.

Thank you Bethe and Lew for putting our teachings into action! We are all celebrating that Puppy Brooklyn has adjusted beautifully, finally learning what it means to be a dog!

And Kitty Nova Lox? Let’s just say he is still adjusting to his new brother!

Shalom, Rabbi David

https://www.shiratshalom.org/Rabbi-and-Cantors-Messages/13636955

Mazel Tov to Rebecca and Matthew who had a beautiful ceremony with Rabbi David! With so and Joy in the room, even the heavenly beings joined in with with smiles and laughter!

Mazel Tov to this princess bride, Jade and prince groom, Jordan who had a beautiful ceremony on the beach! With Jade being Rabbi David and Cantor Lee’s Bat Mitzvah student from 17 years ago, the Joy radiating from all was off the charts! Even the maintenance trucks decided to add their congratulations!