Shavua Tov
As we began the Book of Bamidbar this morning, we enter the wilderness together. The Hebrew word bamidbar means “in the desert,” but our sages also teach that the wilderness is not merely a place of emptiness it is a place of possibility. It is where the Israelites learned who they were, how they would journey together, and what it meant to build a sacred community rooted in responsibility, compassion, and hope.
In Parshat Bamidbar we read:
“The Israelites shall camp each with their standard, under the banners of their ancestral house; they shall camp around the Tent of Meeting at a distance.”
— Numbers 2:2
Each tribe retained its individuality, yet all gathered around a shared center. This image feels especially meaningful for us today. At the Tucson J and throughout our community, we come together from many backgrounds and experiences seeking comfort, support, friendship, belonging, and purpose. We gather not because we are identical, but because we share a common hope for connection and a shared future.
There is beauty in seeking. The wilderness reminds us that not every path is fully known, and not every answer is immediately visible. Yet in the journey itself we often discover unexpected gifts: new friendships, moments of understanding, acts of kindness, and opportunities for growth that enrich our lives in ways we never anticipated.
This spirit is beautifully captured in Sam Glaser’s song Bamidbar, which reflects the openness and possibility of the wilderness journey, and also in Stephen Schwartz’s Broadway song Beautiful City we hear:
“Out of the ruins and rubble,
Out of the smoke,
Out of our night of struggle,
Can we see a ray of hope…”
Like the Israelites in the wilderness, we continue building together creating a community grounded in compassion, learning, friendship, and love.
This Thursday evening, we will gather as a community at the J for our annual Tikkun Leil Shavuot “All You Need Is Love.” Together we will learn, sing, reflect, and celebrate the gift of community and Torah deep into the evening.
I hope you will join me for this meaningful and joyful gathering.
Wishing you Shavuah Tov and a חג שבועות שמח,
Cochenu b’Achduteynu | כחינו באחדותינו | Our strength is in our unity.
Am Yisrael Chai | עם ישראל חי
Todd Rockoff
President + CEO, Tucson J
