A Message from Cantor Ines

Dear Congregants,

This Shabbat is framed in the symbol of renewal. Several events happen at the same time and all of them tell us about the future of life, about circularity and about hope for the future.

First of all, we find ourselves going through Shabbat Mevarchim Chodesh Sivan. Mevarchim, because we welcome a new month that is undoubtedly a historic month for the Jewish people; for during this period we received the Torah once more, imagining ourselves gathered at the foot of Mount Sinai!

Once again we celebrate Shavuot. We renew our strength and celebrate with joy the immense treasure that God bequeathed to us. That is exactly, when we begin the reading of the Sefer Devarim. This week's story teaches us how important it is to know who we are, who we can count on. We remember that it is so important to raise our hand and say "hineni", "here I am", as it is important to know that, in turn, we have brothers and sisters around us caring us, who make up this colorful and nourished house that is Temple Shaaray Tefila.

Yom Yerushalayim is celebrated today, filling the air with blue and white flags in Israel. Flags that speak of identity, dreams, memory and also longing for peace.

In addition to all this, my dear friend, our Rabbinical Interim Ashira Boxman shares her last Shabbat with us today. I wish her to begin new paths of professional developing and blessed prosperity.

All the signs indicate that a new path of growth, a new stage is taking place in our sacred Congregation.

G-d, please grant that we can count on each other, as was the census carried out in our people at this time, thousands of years ago.

That in our journey, we can get to know each other better and share gestures of solidarity and collaboration.

Adonai, give us the strength in this new month, to reconnect with ourselves and with all those around us.

Shabbat shalom!