Religious Committee

My Dear Congregational Family,

This week we celebrate two stories of freedom.

One is the birth of our nation as Americans. The other is found in this week's Torah portion, Parashat Pinchas. At first glance, they could not seem more different.

Parashat Pinchas begins with violence, one of those difficult passages we often struggle to understand. We long for peace, not war. Yet as Jews living in today's world, we also recognize that there are moments when a people must defend its very existence. I pray for the day when such moments are no longer necessary, but the Torah doesn't stay there. It shifts from a man with a spear...to five remarkable and courageous women with nothing but their voices.

The daughters of Zelophehad come before Moses after their father's death. Because he had no sons, his name and inheritance would disappear. Instead of quietly accepting the law, they respectfully ask, "Why should our father's name disappear?" Moses brings their case before God, and God answers simply, "They're right."

This story has always touched me because it reminds me of my own journey. When I applied to Hebrew Union College, I answered every question honestly, including one about my health. Because I was living with ulcerative colitis, there were those who questioned whether I could become a cantor. For a time, I wondered if my dream had come to an end. But I chose not to let someone else write the ending to my story. With faith, determination, and the support of many who believed in me, I returned stronger and fulfilled the dream God had placed in my heart.Perhaps that is why I love these five sisters. They didn't demand special treatment. They simply asked to be seen fairly. Their courage reminds me that sometimes the most powerful words we can say are, "I will not give up."

As we celebrate the Fourth of July, I wonder if that isn't the truest meaning of freedom. Freedom is not simply the absence of tyranny. It is the courage to raise our voices, to ask difficult questions, and to stand up for what is right. Perhaps that is the invitation of this Shabbat: to have the courage to raise our voices for what is just, carrying with us the morals and values that have guided our people throughout history.

Shabbat Shalom, and may God bless the United States of America, the State of Israel, and all who work and pray for peace.

With warmth and love,

Rabbi Rachelle Nelson
Kehillah on the Beach of Cuban Hebrew Congregation