Isaiah 58:12

We had our annual synagogue business meeting this past Sunday.  Although such meetings tend to be dry by nature, I have to confess that this one seemed to go pretty well, generally speaking.  Among other things, we voted to move our Erev Shabbat (Friday evening) service time to 8:00 pm, allowing people more time to get home from work and take care of their families before service begins.  We still plan on ending no later than 9:30 pm.  

Also at this meeting I introduced the theme I believe God has given us for 2011.  This year we are to focus on "repairing the breach and restoring paths to rest in" as found in Isaiah 58:12.  What does this mean? 

 A breach is a hole.  Well, it's more than a hole.  It's a violation.  A breach is an unhealthy, unintended break in the integrity of a wall.  There are healthy, intended breaks in walls.  We call these doors and windows.  But when a break occurs where there should be none, this is trouble.  Breaches let in the unwelcome rain and wind.  Breaches can let in bugs and pests of all kinds.  Thinking of walls that used to surround cities, breaches can even let in the enemy and result in the fall of an entire society.  

 To restore a breach means to return to the original foundation, the strong, immovable foundation, laid by Sacred Hands.  To restore a breach means to build upon this foundation with stones that will be able to endure the offense of the seasons and the assault of the enemy.  These stones must be excavated from the earth, chiseled and shaped, and laid in place with much forethought and care.  It requires planning, patience, persistence, and people.

Ah, there's the clincher!  People!  This wall cannot be made by one or two people alone.  If it is to be a strong bastion, a fortress that will resist all that will eventually come against it, it will require a coordinated, prayer-saturated, hard-headed, soft-hearted group of men and women and youth who are willing to work together, forgive each other, and roll-up their collective sleeves.  This effort, to be successful, will need to be supervised by God, led by His Spirit, and coordinated by His appointed leadership.  It will require, from everyone, humility, courage, and LOTS of grace!  The task that lay before us is for neither the weak-hearted nor for those who can't quite seem to make a commitment.

The question before us now is:  can we do it?  Can we pull together and meet this call?  I believe so.  The deeper question is, do you?

On my next blog I'll talk about what it means to "restore paths to rest in".  If you have any questions at all, please feel free to contact me at phillyrabbi@gmail.com.  Shalom!