Seeing Double

There are 54 Torah portions and, on a non leap year, only 50.5 weeks (minus at least two more for holiday special holiday readings.  This means in order to read every portion, every year, we have to double up.  This week is an example of one of the six possible Torah portions that can be doubled, the others include: Vayahkhel-Pikudei, Tazria-Metzorah, Motot-Masei, Nitzavim-Vayelech, and Ha'azinu-Vezot Habracha.

One of the interesting things about this list, in addition to none of the double portions occurring in Bereishit (Genesis), is how many of the double portions occur at the end of a book of Torah.  For me, this has the effect of speeding up the process of moving from one book to another.  How often in our own lives does the end of one phase seem to meld so quickly into another?  Double portions are a good reminder for us to pay attention, paying attention to the here and now, even as we are cognizant of what lies ahead.

B'Shalom,

Rabbi Alex

Shabbat and Economic Justice

While many of the rules from this week's Torah portion, Parashat Emor, seem antiquated, there is one that really stands out to me - Shabbat.  It is a spiritual practice that appears often in the Torah, even in the ten commandments, but this week I would like to highlight it for a different reason.

During the omer, the 49 days between Passover and Shavuot, we often study about justice.  As a people we move from slavery to freedom, from a celebration of our Exodus, to a celebration of recieving the Torah, the greatest symbol of our freedom.  And, while we do not traditionally think about the practice of Shabbat as a justice issue, it certainly is!  Having a clearly defined period of rest is what separates free people from slaves.  We were not designed to work 24/7.  We rest on Shabbat not just to honor God, but to honor our fellow human being.

On Friday, I will join a group of fellow clergy and concerned leaders outside of City Hall to lobby for raising New York State's Minimun Wage.  Bill 9148 hopes to raise the minimun any hardworking New Yorker can earn in any given hour by $1.25, from $7.25 to $8.50.  It might not seem like a lot, but it will be for the over one million New Yorkers, 11% of the population of our state.  Let us continue in the tradition handed down to us, supporting rules like Shabbat, rules that protect workers and help us make the transformation from slavery to freedom.

A good week, a week of peace.

B'Shalom,

Rabbi Alex