I was talking with our Treasurer, Myrna Cohen the other day about a million things as we usually do. One of them was the aftermath of Hurricane Irene, Temple repairs, insurance claims etc. In the middle of it all, she said “did you ever see the humor in the fact that a Presbyterian tree fell on a Jewish Temple and was removed by Baptist men?”

As unusual as that sentence sounds, it actually made perfect sense to me. In one second my brain swirled with all of these thoughts; America, the melting pot. Jews, the adaptive people. All of our interfaith services, students from the world religion course attending our Shabbat services. Yes, it all made perfect sense to me. It fit right in.

While the core of our Synagogue is obviously Judaism, the underlying precept is and always will be Chesed, acts of loving kindness.

I have read that the world rests upon three things: Torah, service to God, and bestowing kindness. In the Talmud, it says that “the Torah begins with Chesed and ends with Chesed.”

Chesed is valued by Jews of all denominations. It is a virtue which contributes to Tikkun Olam, repairing the world.

Chesed is obviously linked with compassion. From our readings we learn how in Ancient Israel that the widow, the orphan and the stranger should be protected. In another words, how we that can, should protect those that can’t protect themselves.

A person who embodies Chesed is known as a "Chasid", one who is faithful to the covenant and who goes above and beyond that which is normally required.

Which brings me back to what I said in the beginning. How it all made perfect sense to me. It fit right in. After all, I am a Jew and a member of the Temple B’nai Sholem family. Whether it is an individual illness, a hurricane, a death in someone’s family, our Congregation continually goes above and beyond what is required. It is contagious and it is not a burden. It is something beautiful both to behold and to participate in. I am so proud of all of us, and so fortunate to be one of us.

L’Shalom

Marc Harris

President

Temple B’nai Sholem