A Shabbat message from Rabbi Jessica
The bright sunshine on Monday morning and the spectacular views — as far as the eye could see — were a reminder of one of the greatest gifts of life in the Valley. Along with my bags, I was carrying substantial inner joy from time spent with so many of you throughout Shabbat and at our Tu b’Shvat Seder and Celebration of the Trees.
At the airport in Kalispell, I was encouraged by the sunshine, a comfortable amount of time before my departure, and the knowledge that I would spend nearly 6 hours of my day sitting on an airplane, to take a walk. It didn’t take me long to realize how deceptive the sunshine can be on a single digit day with a substantial windchill. Nonetheless, the clear skies and the grandeur of the mountains was breathtaking. It also made for an easy takeoff and stunning views of the Rockies. The enormity of natural beauty that exists in the world buoys me in challenging times.
That natural beauty exists within us as well — in the ways in which we nurture one another and create meaningful Jewish community through shared experiences and conversations. What a great pleasure it was to be with dozens of adults and kids to welcome Shabbat at our family-centered Kabbalat Shabbat dinner, and to celebrate the trees at our Tu b’Shvat Seder on Sunday evening. It was also very uplifting to share Shabbat morning with nearly a minyan of you to learn together, celebrate Torah and cross the Sea of Reeds together!
As your rabbi and spiritual leader, it is a privilege and pleasure to serve a vibrant and collaborative community. Over 50 different individuals showed up over the course of two days of GJC programming for Shabbat Shirah and Tu b’Shvat, despite our overlapping with Winter Carnival and the Super Bowl! Holy WOW! It was truly a mid-winter joy to see so many of you and to welcome new folks drawn to the programming we offered for Tu b’Shvat (the New Year of the Trees), a PERFECT holiday for our community of Tree-loving Jews and Jewish-adjacent folks!
By showing up, you give yourselves and each other so many gifts —
the gift of Jewish community and connection in the Flathead Valley;
the gift of new or renewed curiosity about ways to “do Jewish” in your homes, outdoors, and in community;
the gift of continued learning and exploring Judaism through a variety of modalities;
the gift of growing friendships through meaningful conversations;
the gift of spiritual curiosity and intellectual stimulation;
the gift of sharing a meal and appreciating the fruits of the earth.
Gifts like this seem to flow naturally from our interactions, and there is a lot going on beneath the surface to support the flow. Please join me in appreciating the strong core of volunteers who make it possible for us to gather as a community in ways that may seem effortless when we arrive to enjoy a GJC event.
In the spirit of Tu b’Shvat, allow me a few tree metaphors. Your GJC Steering Committee members and program director are the strong trunk and hardwood of our community. Our diverse community is the sap that rises each year growing branches, flowers, leaves, and bearing fruit that attracts new participants to our orchard.
At a vibrant and committed community gathering, participants are fully present, engaged, thoughtful, kind, and curious. These qualities were particularly beautiful to witness at our Tu b’Shvat seder on Sunday evening. We listened to one another across generations and with appreciation. We opened our hearts and minds, engaging with new ideas and mystical approaches to tree fruits we may normally just eat without a second thought. We used the order/seder of blessings to celebrate these fruits, Jewish time in the cycles of the moon and the seasons, all while having a great time!
Thank you for your receptivity and delight in uplifting the annual holiday of Tu b’Shvat in the deep chill of winter. I can’t wait to come back to the Flathead for the NEXT holiday that has a seder — the one with which we are much more familiar.
Rabbi Jessica
