From the Desk of Jennifer Lorch Selco | Sr. Director of Jewish Living + Engagement
This Shabbat in Conservative and Orthodox communities of the diaspora (outside of Israel), we read a special selection of the Torah for the second day of Shavuot. The reading comes from Deuteronomy 14:22-16:17 and outlines the laws of the three major pilgrimage festivals (Passover, Shavuot, and Sukkot), the agricultural nature of the holiday, and the commandment to share one’s harvest and rejoice with the vulnerable.
Note that in Israel and in Reform synagogues in the diaspora, the annual cycle of Torah reading continues with Parshat Nasso. Ultimately, we will be out of sync in the Torah readings until we read a double portion later in June.
After we read about the three pilgrimage festivals (Passover, Shavuot and Sukkot), we find the verse, “Bear in mind that you were slaves in Egypt and take care to obey these laws” (Deuteronomy 16:12). The text is a reminder that our historical memory of slavery in Egypt should inform our actions and behaviors. Not only did we stand at Sinai together to receive the Torah, but that moment was even more meaningful because of the years we spent as slaves.
The Torah is meaningful to us today not only because it teaches stories of the past, the Torah inspires us to think about how we want to live Jewish lives of meaning today. As we move into Shabbat, I invite you to think not only of our shared collective historical experiences but of your own lived experiences that inform who you are today.
Shabbat Shalom and Chag Sameach!
At the heart of the holiday of Shavuot is a lifelong commitment to learning—we were given the Torah at Sinai, but the responsibility to study, question, and live our values continues in every generation. In this week’s reading from Deuteronomy, we are reminded that Jewish life is not meant to be lived alone: we are called to gather together, celebrate together, and care for those in our community. At the Tucson J, we are proud to be a center for learning in all its forms: from Early Childhood Education and Camp J and in art classes to group fitness classes, we create opportunities to learn from and with one another across generations.
This week at the J, Camp J and Disability Program Services Camp staff spent time together learning everything there is to know about camp! Throughout the summer, they’ll help campers build friendships, try new activities, grow in confidence, and create lasting memories—all while learning important values like teamwork, kindness, and resilience.
On Sunday, after a whole semester of learning dance moves and mastering routines, our youth dance program ended their season with a recital performance. BBYO participants ended their school year by electing chapter boards. Join us in congratulating Abi, Carolyn, Livia, Jacqui, Emmy, Evelyn, Zena, and Phoebe on the Kadimah (girls) board; and on the Abba Godol (boys) board, Kyle, Bodhi, Razin, Aden, Zach, and Emil. These board members will be in charge of planning engaging programs, recruiting members, and representing their peers at regional and national events!
All year, kids in our JCare after school program have been learning Judaic values, getting help with their homework, making art and making friends, and so much more. As the program came to a close for the summer, they celebrated by making cupcakes in the demo kitchen!
Just last night, we hosted our annual community Tikkun Leil Shavuot Experience—an all-night Torah learning opportunity. Because Shavuot commemorates the receiving of the Torah at Mt. Sinai, which is described as a spiritual marriage between God and the Jewish people, this year’s theme was “All You Need is Love.” 130 people joined us for choose-your-own sessions, snacks, and a love-song singalong!
Through experiences like these that happen each week at the J, we continue the work that began at Sinai by creating a vibrant, connected Jewish community. Shabbat Shalom.
Reminders, Resources + Learning
Each week we share resources for more learning:
This week’s resources:
Last week’s resources:
- Be The Wilderness by Rabbi Sari Laufer (My Jewish Learning)
- Love as Law, Law as Love by Rabbi Jonathan Sacks
- Counting as a Spiritual Practice: Bemidbar and the Road to Shavuot by Rabbi Marcus Mordecai Schwartz (Jewish Theological Seminary)
Is there a topic you’d like to learn more about? Email Jenn Selco with requests.