Dear Kehilla,

Shavuot this year in Marourba was so uplifting and special !

We had a delicious and inspiring community dinner with learning.

And a great turn out from the children to hear the reading of the Ten Commandments and Ice cream party.

This coming Tuesday, we will celebrate the 3rd birthday of our son, Bezrat Hashem.

On this birthday, we will celebrate his Upsherinish (Chalakah). An Upshernish is a Jewish tradition to allow a boy’s hair to grow untouched for the first 3 years of life. On his third Jewish birthday, friends and community members are invited to a festive haircutting ceremony. The Peyot (side locks) are kept and not fully cut, thereby fulfilling the Mitzvah of keeping “Peyot.”

The upshernish signals the beginning of the child’s journey through life as a proud Jew. He will now begin wearing the Kippah and Tzitzit.

We hope you can join us for this special celebration B’H.

This idea of pride and joy in Jewish identity and observance is found in the week’s Parsha as well. The famous blessing of the Birkat Cohanim, is presented this week in Parshat Naso.

One of the highlights of the blessing is the part where we are not only receiving a blessing, but also taking a lesson as well in our own lives.

In the second part of the Blessnig we say:

יאר ה’ פניו אליך ויחנך-

“May He make His face shine upon you.”

When Hashem’s face doesn’t just focus on us to bless us but shines upon us, that indeed is the greatest of blessings.

The lesson for us is to do the same as well for our loved ones, friends, and people we meet. Just like we ask Hashem to “shine” his face on us, we should do the same for others. To “shine” to them, means to truly be there for them. To show a genuine interest in their life and struggles. Not to just share ideas and advice with them to but to shine to do it with care and love.

The same thing applies in our fulfilment of Mitzvot. It can be either be done by rote, to get it over with. Or it can be done in a way that we “shine.” We do the Mitzvah in the best way possible, with passion, joy and enthusiasm.

Shabbat Shalom
Rabbi Zalman and Esty