Shabbat Services and & Torah Study: Terumah
Saturday, March, 1st
Emeryville, CA & online
9:30am Shabbat service // 10:30am Torah study
You can join us either in person or on Zoom for Shabbat services and/or Torah study. If you are in the Bay Area, we’d love to have you join us in person. After Torah study, we enjoy a vegetarian potluck meal together and have an opportunity to deepen our connection with one another. If you are able, please bring a vegetarian dish to share with others. For those joining us online, we invite you to also bring food to eat after the service. We will keep the room open so folks can connect with each other after the service.
A peek into Torah study with us and the parsha this week
We’ve left Egypt and continue on our liberation journey in the desert. We have received the 10 speech acts and some concrete laws to help us live together as a community. This week we read parshat Terumah. In this parsha, we are given the first instructions for building a sanctuary in which the Divine can dwell. The Divine tells Moses to speak to the Israelites and tell them to bring gifts to the Divine. Interestingly, this is not a requirement, but rather an invitation – only those whose heart is so motivated to do so. The word for “gift” is terumah. The root of that word is resh, vav, mem (רום), which means to uplift. In other words, you are invited to bring a gift to help build the sanctuary for the Divine to dwell and in so doing, you are uplifted. You give the gift to uplift yourself, to draw yourself closer to the Divine. If we participate in building a sanctuary for Divine presence to dwell, we end up being uplifted.
This Shabbat marks the first day of the month of Adar. We are taught that when Adar arrives, we are to cultivate joy. (Babylonian Talmud, Ta’anit 29a) Even in the face of struggle and difficulties, it is upon us to cultivate joy. Joy can help us navigate these challenging times and stay engaged.
As we try in our movements and in our lives to build a holy world worthy of Divine presence, a world where all life is seen and treated as a manifestation of the Divine, what is your unique gift that you want to contribute from your heart? And how might that help you cultivate joy in your life?
We hope you will join us either in person or on Zoom for spiritually meaningful prayers and a rich discussion.
- Location: Rabbi Cat’s home in Oakland, about 0.5 miles from MacArthur BART Station. Address will be provided once you register.
- Accessibility: There are 4 steps to enter the house and 4 steps to the backyard (if people choose to go there.) The bathroom is not wheelchair accessible. There are couches, chairs, and floor pillows for seating. Please try to be scent-free. A retriever/labrador dog lives in the home but will not be present. A cat has lived there previously.
- COVID: Masks are optional. Please don’t come if you have any symptoms. Air filter provided. Windows can be opened if requested.
- Please email us if you have questions or other accessibility needs.
- Austin@beyttikkun.org