Shabbat Message from Rabbi Ariel Russo - March 26, 2022

We will be celebrating Shabbat Parah tomorrow with a special Maftir Torah reading. Within this Torah reading we learn about the red heifer, parah adumah in Hebrew. It was an interesting rite, enabling people to become purified. Shabbat Parah, the Shabbat immediately following Purim, directs our attention to Passover. We can no longer deny the work ahead. I can speak for myself when I share that I have been avoiding the Passover aisle in the supermarket, speeding past it, as if that will delay the holiday cleaning from happening.

There is an opportunity to spiritually prepare for Passover in addition to cutting down on our carb bulk purchases this month (three weeks!?). We read during the seder, kol dichfin yaytay v'yechol, let all who are hungry come and eat. Even writing this now my heart is heavy with all of the people in our world who are hungry, who are persecuted against, and who are facing a devastating war. Some of my colleagues went on a mission to the Poland-Ukraine border and have brought back stories of hope as they shared about all of the relief and refugee efforts.

As part of our spiritual preparations this year, let's keep our hearts, our resources, and our prayers open to all those in crisis. May Jews, and people everywhere, have food security, peace, and freedom. The red heifer reminds us of death and also life, of purification and of hope. May we not lose our hope and continue to pray for a safe place for everyone to experience Passover. Even if, like me, you are running past the Passover aisle in denial, our spiritual preparations can and should start now.

Shabbat Shalom,

Rabbi Ariel Russo