Shabbat Shalom ~ Parashat Shelach 2026

Shalom WJC Family,

Over the past few months, whenever the ark has been open to take the Torahs out on Shabbat, I’ve found myself drawn to the words of a prayer by Merle Feld found in our siddur, called “A Prayer for the Journey.”  It reads:

“Our lives are always changing, and change brings with it fear of the unknown. The journey into the unknown is fraught with danger, yet rich with possibility. It has always been so – as Abraham and Sarah went forth, as Rebecca and Jacob went forth. Our ancestors across time have looked to You for protection, from the wild beasts of the road, from the vagaries of weather. So too I, in this place, in this time, look to You. Help me to remember my strength and courage, help me to see clearly, to listen deeply, to act wisely. Help me to be my best self in this new place and time. Every journey leads into the unknown. May the unknown ahead of me offer blessing.”

That prayer feels especially poignant this week as we read Parashat Shlach –  the story of the scouts who set out to see the land. Some saw danger and spread their anxiety; others saw promise and possibility. Like their journey, our own moments of transition are shaped by how we look at the road ahead: with fear that narrows us, or with gratitude and courage that open us to blessing.  Sometimes (oftentimes) it’s a mix of the two, and sometimes we toggle between the two from day to day.

This Friday morning we celebrated our 4’s in the ECC as they stood at the threshold of a new chapter  – kindergarten and all the small big firsts that come with it. Picture parents, phones raised to capture every grin and nervous smile, bouquets, balloons, and a few tears; proud teachers; children walking down the center aisle of the WJC sanctuary. For some families this is a joyful marker of a new beginning (elementary school!); for us who have watched these children bloom over the last few years, it is also a tender goodbye. We offered words of blessing, reminded them of the strength and curiosity they carry from this community, and sent them forth with simple, encouraging words: be brave, be kind, ask questions, and know you always have a place to return to. This is not an ending but part of the ongoing journey we – and they – take together.

This Friday’s Volunteer Appreciation Dinner is a chance to thank our volunteers who have given so much to the WJC community.  This dinner is also marking my farewell to WJC, and a chance for us to celebrate what we have been building together for the past six years.  Thank you for walking this part of the journey with me.

Please come and share this meaningful Friday with us – to bless the space between us, to thank our volunteers, and to say farewell with gratitude and hope for the journey ahead.

See you in shul,

Rabbi Dalton