Shabbat Shalom ~ Parashat Pinchas 2026

Shalom WJC Family,

I’ve been thinking this week about the Daughters of Tzelafchad, who come forward with a question, but also with a clear statement: their father’s name matters. They’re not trying to make noise for its own sake – they’re trying to make sure his legacy isn’t lost. In the end, what they ask for is affirmed. Their courage and clarity becomes its own kind of legacy in real time.

That’s the thing about Jewish life: names, stories, and memory are part of how we stay connected. Here at WJC, we see it in the way we gather to say Kaddish, to honor loved ones, and to speak not only their names, but their stories out loud. And we see it every Shabbat, too – when we sit around the tables in the gym after Kiddush lunch, when we learn together, or sing, and teach one another what we value. Shabbat isn’t only about observing; it’s about transmitting. It’s how we pass down the heart of who we are.

So I want to invite you into a simple reflection this Shabbat: what legacy are you building right now: at home, as a family, with friends, or in the way you show up for others? And what have you inherited that you want to carry forward?

This July 4th weekend, I hope you’ll join us for morning and evening minyan. It’s a holiday weekend, and many people are away, but there are still those who need their community as they say Kaddish. If you can come, your presence matters more than you might realize.

If you’d like to help beyond our own community, SOJAC has shared a way to support the Venezuelan Jewish community after the recent earthquakes. Here’s the link: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-the-venezuelan-jewish-community-after-the-earthquake.

Wishing us all a safe, healthy, and happy 4^th of July.

See you in shul,

Rabbi Dalton