June 5, 2025

Shalom Chaverim (Dear Friends),

This has been a difficult week. On Sunday, while many in our community were preparing for Shavuot, a holiday that honors the giving of the Torah and celebrates our religious foundation, we were confronted by a terrible act of hate. In Boulder, Colorado, a group of peaceful protestors marching in solidarity with the Israeli hostages were violently attacked by a man shouting, “Free Palestine.” Eight victims were hospitalized, among them an 88-year-old Holocaust survivor. It’s heartbreaking that on the very holiday that provides us with guidelines for living with peace and compassion, we witness an atrocity that directly opposes all that the Torah teaches.

At our Adolph & Rose Levis JCC, we continue to choose the path of the Torah, affirming our Jewish values and, above all, the strength and resilience of our community. Our Dale & Ed Filhaber Pre-Summer Mini Camp powered by Indigo Gap has been running since late May and continues through June 6, offering participants a daily dose of fun through games, sports, crafts, swim, and more. Meet & Greets for our Early Childhood campers took place last Friday, and Upper Camp, Theater Camp, and Camp Kavod will gather on Sunday, June 8 to kick off what promises to be an unforgettable summer. We are thrilled to welcome more than 700 children back to our beautiful campus on Monday for eight weeks of summer joy.

Meanwhile, at our Levis JCC Phyllis & Harvey Sandler Center, it’s been a busy week! On Wednesday, June 4, our Movie Club: Documentaries Directed by Women screened Hallelujah: Leonard Cohen, a Journey, a Song, followed by a lively discussion. This morning, the Gail Shapiro-Scott Summer Book Club gathered to explore Night Watch by Jayne Anne Phillips, a Pulitzer Prize-winning novel about a mother and daughter navigating the aftermath of the Civil War. This morning, we also continued our weekly Canasta lessons led by Diane Benjamin and pottery classes in both hand-building and wheel throwing. Later in the day, our virtual participants gathered on Zoom to enjoy Richard Knox’s musical program, Singing the Blues.

This week's Torah portion is Nasso (count) in the book of Numbers, the fourth in the Five Books of Moses. In it, the census of the Israelites in the Sinai Desert is completed, the laws of the nazir are introduced, and Aaron and his descendants are instructed on how to bless the Children of Israel. This final element of offering blessings feels particularly resonant to me as we recover from this week’s tragedy. In hard times, we cannot forget to continue to share blessings and spread positivity. Whether it’s the joy of our campers returning for another summer or the comfort of discussing a new novel amongst our community, these blessings are what strengthen us and help us continue to live by the enduring values of the Torah.

Light Shabbat candles Friday evening at 7:53 pm.
Shabbat ends Saturday evening at 8:51 pm.

Shabbat Shalom
Am Yisrael Chai!

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Marty