Page 31 - Jewish News_January 2022

COMMENTARY January 2022 31A

Feel the miracles that surround you

though we know how our bodies work, for the wondrous miraculous works of Don’t wait too long to live, but also
we are still filled with wonder that they creation which abound. I will let the remember
From were created in the miraculous way spirit and energy of the month of She- That the seasons are here to remind
that allows it to happen.” The teach-
vat awaken my senses to the infinite
us that rest and rebirth are necessary
the er thanked me and said it was time to potential of rebirth and renewal. This for life.
Let the sap rise up in you.
is truly a miracle.
sign off. I wondered, was it something
Bimah I said? After thinking it over for some from Kohenet Naomi Azreil, who ap- Taste it.
I end with an excerpt of a Poem
time, I strongly stand by my addition.
Move with it.
I write this now as we enter Janu- plies the wisdom of Shevat to our lives. Allow it to fill you as you become
ary because just as Chanukah, with its She writes: more sweet
Rabbi Samantha Kahn story of long-burning oil, celebrates a There is strength in the faith of the And more alive now.
Blessings for Tu B’shvat and the
unfolding.
miracle as something that goes against
Temple Sinai nature, so does Tu B’shvat celebrate The magic of the new cell growth, miraculous trees that hold so much
ast month, in early December, that nature itself is miraculous. In Ju- seeds unfurl; life and power. May the magic of this
through a partnership with PJ daism today, the truly miraculous is not Angels singing them into being, month inspire you to feel the miracles
LLibrary and The Jewish Feder- something that violates our lives, but And you, you are always sheltering that surround you.
ation of Sarasota-Manatee, members rather it is something that penetrates me…
and staff of Temple Sinai helped bring our souls. Miracles aren’t simply the
the Hanukkits program to life by virtu- unnatural world surprising us, but rath- Personalized Care for Your Specialty Needs
ally joining classrooms around Saraso- er they are the times nature takes our FLORIDA UROLOGY from Board-Certified Physicians.
ta to read stories and answer questions breath away. SPE CIALISTS www.flurologyspecialists.com
about Chanukah and Judaism. In the month of Shevat, we take Appointments: (941) 309 – 7000
As part of this program, I was time to acknowledge and appreciate
speaking with a class of second grad- trees and how they may inspire awe,
ers when one student asked, “What is a feelings of tranquility, an awareness EIHAB AKARY – M.D.
miracle?” Rabbis live for moments like of beauty and the recognition of their WINSTON E. BARZELL – M.D.
this! The teacher jumped in though, life-sustaining power. Trees them- JEREMY BERGAMO – M.D.
and responded right away, saying, “It’s selves are miraculous and Shevat re- A. JOSEPH BILIK – M.D.
when God intervenes in an extraordi- minds us of their beauty and power. JOSHUA T. GREEN – M.D.
nary way to do something that other- I remember when I lived in Isra- MATTHEW J. PERRY – M.D.
wise can’t be done.” I smiled and said, el and the land lived in rhythm with WILLIAM J. TINGLE – M.D.
“Yes, that is a beautiful way to under- our holy days. As Tu B’shvat arrived,
stand the big miracles of the Bible and the almond trees outside my window THOMAS H. WILLIAMS – M.D.
our lives, but…” I continued explain- began to flower, and the hills of Je-
ing, as rabbis are known to do, “In rusalem were suddenly bursting with 1 S. School Avenue #200 997 US 41 Bypass N. #202 6310 Health Pkwy. #210
Judaism, some of our miracles fit that flowers of pink and white. Though not Sarasota, FL 34237 Venice, FL 34285 Lakewood Ranch, FL 34202
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tle and daily miracles, in nissim b’chol from the land of Israel, the almond tree
yom. We believe a miracle is some- blossoming will always be my mem-
thing that brings awe. Waking up each ory of Tu B’shvat in Jerusalem. So as
morning is a miracle. Getting out of the full moon arrives, I will picture this
bed and standing up is a miracle. Even beautiful scene and give thanks to God Learn about our growing
Just do it! Jewish community in this comprehensive

us that the Jewish people in Egypt were population study of Sarasota-Manatee
actually not very different spiritually
From from their Egyptian neighbors. As the
Midrash writes, “both (the Jews and
the Egyptians) were serving idols.”
Despite this, as the 10 and final
th
Bimah plague comes along, G-d tells Moses to
instruct the Jewish people to perform
two mitzvot: to slaughter the pascal
lamb and smear the blood on their door-
posts, and to circumcise themselves.
Rabbi Zev Steinmetz But why? The Jewish people were at
Chabad of West Bradenton such a low point spiritually at the time,
s a Jew, I am always looking why should they bother to perform just
for an opportunity to help two mitzvot? Why not wait for them to
Aa fellow Jew do a mitzvah. leave Egypt before giving them com-
Oftentimes, I hear people tell me, mandments?
“Rabbi, I am not religious. Why should The truth of the matter is that if
I bother putting on tefillin today?” or the Jewish people ever wanted to get ST
out of the physical and spiritual exile
“Why should I bother looking for a ko- at that very moment. When G-d saw 1 population study
sher symbol when buying food at the of Egypt, they needed to take action in 20 years!
store if I won’t be able resist the temp-
tation of a cheeseburger when I pass by the commitment of the Jewish people Sponsored in part by
McDonald’s?” to perform these two mitzvot despite 2019 a grant from:
To answer this, we don’t have to their lowly spiritual state, that is when Jewish Community Study
look any further than our weekly Torah He deemed them worthy to be taken Cohen Center Authors: A socio-demographic portrait of the Jewish
Matthew Boxer
portion. out of Egypt and brought to the Land Matthew A. Brookner community in Sarasota-Manatee
Eliana Chapman
The story of the Exodus in the To- of Israel. Janet Krasner Aronson
jfedsrq.org/CommunityStudy
rah is a fascinating one. There is so In our own lives, we must realize
much that we can take from the history how important the here and the now is. jfedsrq.org/CommunityStudy
of our ancestors and see how applica- Despite what our background and up-
ble and relevant it is today. bringing might have been and regard- For more information,
While recently studying this sec- less of our current spiritual state, there contact Kim Adler
tion of the Torah, I came across some- is no better time to do a mitzvah than 941.552.6300
thing rather peculiar. The Midrash tells now. kadler@jfedsrq.org
Stay informed throughout the month. Sign up for the Federation’s Enewsletter at jfedsrq.org.