The forms of human communication can seem limitless. We communicate through dance and song, painting and photography, sermonizing and sitcoms. Our ancestors decorated their yokes and plows, as though to inform themselves and others of the sanctify of labor itself.
Ever since I went away to college, I have adopted a regular routine for adjusting to new environments. I’ve created a certain order and process for settling into a space that I would call my own. I first make sure I’m technically prepared, with electrical outlets where I need them so my various devices can work.
I was 19 when I first visited Egypt. I had taken a leave of absence from college to live in Israel. While at yeshivah earlier that year, I had met a Scandinavian Jew by choice, Dan Yerushalmi. We wanted to see the pyramids and I had saved enough money from my job as a waiter. After arranging for some vacation time, we were off.
It wasn’t so long ago that Portland’s Jewish community was without a Jewish Free Loan program. Last January, the Jewish Federation of Greater Portland launched this wonderful and necessary service for our community.
Our community is fortunate to have quite the variety of activities and opportunities to deepen our connections with one another, to lend a helping hand to our larger community and to challenge our hearts and our faith to grow ever more robust.
When I was growing up, my grandparents were not just congregants, but friends with our synagogue rabbis. One rabbi, Efry Spectre (z”l), was a particularly close friend. He was practically a part of our family. He was at birthday celebrations and major family simchas, and he was there for our family in times of need.
Recording from Shabbat Services, May 5-6, 2017 - Rabbi Eve Posen and Rabbi David Kosak. Recorded and edited by Ed Kraus.
