From the Cantor - June/July 2000
In celebrating Shavuot
this month, we once again receive Torah as if for the first time
on Mount Sinai. Just as we watch our Confirmation class publicly
renew the commitment to lifelong Torah study that each class
member made a few years ago, so can we all continue to renew that
commitment. One of my favorite Yiddish songs,
"Shavuos," tells of Moses' bringing the commandments
down from Sinai:
| Af dem Sinay, af dem alten, ligt an oytser lang bahaltn. Der barg in fayer un in roykh Moyshe ruft men in der hoykh |
On Sinai lies a hidden treasure The hill is in smoke and on fire, Moses is called to the heights. |
| Zet dos gantse folk tsuzammen Moyshe shtaygt in roykh un flamen "Undzer lerer, un bafrayer, zog vos gestu in dem fayer? |
See all the people together. Moses appears in fire and smoke. "Our teachers and liberator why do you go into the fire?" |
| "Kinder mayne, hot nit moyre Kh'breng fun Sinay aykh di Toyre." Un Got hot Moyshen dort gegebn undzer Toyre, eybik lebn. Toyre li, oyre li |
"My children, don't be afraid. I bring the Torah from Sinai." And there God gave Moses our Torah, eternal life. My Torah, my light. |
I enjoy answering Judaica questions on-line for AOL's Ask a Rabbi. Recently someone asked: "What does the word synagogue mean? Why is it often called house of prayer, house of worship, and house of study?" I answered: "Synagogue is a Greek word for `meeting house', and the Hebrew, beyt ha-knesset, also means `meeting house.' We call our synagogue beyt t'filah, house of prayer, because here we pray, reflect and talk to God. We say beyt avodah, house of worship, because worship is also service to repair our world. We say beyt ha-midrash, house of study, because lifelong study is one of Judaism's basic building blocks."
In June, I will be in Los Angeles for the annual American Conference of Cantors Convention. This summer, children will continue to study to become B'nai Mitzvah. While we relax, we will continue to learn.
Thanks to Congregation Albert for supporting perennial, lifetime Torah study for its members and its clergy.
B'Shalom u-v'shir,
Cantor Jacqueline Shuchat-Marx
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