Shabbat Shalom ~ Nasso 2026

It was a real pleasure to share some “aural Torah” with our community last week at the Tikkun Leil Shavuot. Jon Yaeger and I presented two excerpts from musical works of the late 19th century that depict the Revelation (giving of the 10 commandments) at Sinai. We showed how ultimately these works evinced two different conceptions of Revelation: one, a “stand and deliver” model in which the text of the commandments is given to the people as plainly and clearly as possible, and the other, a model of wonder, astonishment and mystery that elevates the encounter and ongoing exchange over the particulars of the text itself.

The concept of continuing revelation, while rooted in traditional sources, plays a key role in non-fundamentalist Judaism in our time because it allows us to participate in the ongoing process of continuing to discern the still small voice as the conditions around us evolve and change. It was gratifying to use music as a way into that conversation.

It was also wonderful to hear insights from Steve Rabinowitz about how the process of revelation of Torah and of grieving a loss share many common attributes, as well as from Rabbi Arnowitz and Cheryl Brause on the revelation we can find within.

This shabbat we will gather for Kabbalat Shabbat at 6:30pm, in the morning at 9:15 (celebrating the bat mitzvah of Leslie Kravetz) and again for Mincha at 8pm.

Shabbat Shalom
Cantor Goldberg