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Our Rabbi
RABBI’S MESSAGE:
New beginnings, new opportunities and
blessings
One of my esteemed
professors at the Jewish
Theological Seminary, Professor
Moshe Held, z"l, of blessed
memory, taught us the following
saying regarding the coming of a
new year, which rhymes in the
Hebrew: "Tazei Shanah Atikah im
kol tzaroteha, tikanes Shanah Tovah im
kol birchoteha" – "May the old year
go out with all its troubles, and
may the new year enter with all of
its blessings." Indeed, in life we so
often find that the most heartwrenching
struggles and pain can
pave the way for new avenues of
personal growth, understanding,
and joy. When we muster the
courage to persevere and work
through our challenges while not
forsaking our dreams, visions, and
hopes, we create the window of
possibility for
tremendous
transformation
and joy.
It is not
merely
coincidental
then, I would
assert, that
insights from various cultures can
converge upon this universal insight
into the nature of growth and
success in human life. Napoleon
Hill, the father of the modern
human potential movement, is
known for his famous statement,
that "within each disaster, setback,
tragedy, or disappointment lie the
seeds of a greater or equivalent
benefit." Our challenge is to
discern that benefit and take action
to bring it to fruition. Similarly, in
the Chinese tradition, it has been
noted that within the compound
character for "crisis," the left
radical portion conveying the root
meaning
stands for
"opportunity."
Temple
Emanuel and
the Jewish
community of
Virginia Beach
stand at the
threshold of great and wonderful
moments of opportunity,
transformation, healing, and
growth. So often it is difficult to
"discern the forest from the trees,"
and perhaps those of you who have
lived here for a long time could
possibly take some of your
uniqueness for granted. Don’t do
so. The degree of interest and
passion for Jewish life, learning,
and community that I have
perceived here amongst so many
people is truly inspiring, striking,
and noteworthy; the collective
infrastructure to support Jewish
life already developed here by
such a relatively small community
in numbers is exemplary; and the
ability and strength of the
community to come together in
the face of personal tragedy to
give love and support on a human
level which I have already seen is
truly heart-warming and
touching.
Since this is my first message
for this Megillah in my newly
appointed position of Rabbi of
Temple Emanuel, I must say that
I am truly appreciative, humbled,
and honored to be able to be
invited to serve as your Rabbi at
this juncture. To so many of you
who have welcomed me with such
sincerity and warmth and made
this transition such a special and
meaningful one, I thank you from
the bottom of my heart. I am
looking forward to getting to
know all of you whom I have not
yet had the opportunity to get to
know on a close basis, and to
create and celebrate many, many
moments of shared growth and
meaning together. May this year
bring all of you the fulfillment of
your highest dreams and desires,
and let me wish you all,
collectively, a "Shanah Tovah
U’m’varechet," a Good and Blessed
year ahead.
Sincerely,
Rabbi David Barnett |
