Clergy Blog

When I was in high school I took four years of Latin. It felt deeply impractical at the time, though learning a language with such an intense focus on grammar and syntax did end up serving me well as I dove deeper into Hebrew, Aramaic, and Yiddish. 

Most of my Latin is buried deep in a corner of my brain under more “important” knowledge accumulated in high school, like a running list of NBA MVPs. But still, the three times in my life a new pope has been elected, it has given me a bit of pride to hear “Habemus Papam” and know what those words mean and why they’re written that way. 

Why is a rabbi writing about the pope? It’s not just because of my soft spot for Latin. The Jewish relationship to the Catholic Church has been one of complexity, tension, and persecution. There is no doubt about it, but also one of dialogue, understanding, and mutual respect. Religious leaders like the pope wield an enormous amount of power and influence over the 1.4 billionCatholics in the world. Dialogue and mutual respect are not just nice to have, they are a necessity. We share much in common with our neighbors, and that which distinguishes us need not distance us. 

Pirkei Avot, an early source for ethics from the year 200 CE, teaches about the dueling nature of relating to ruling authorities. It tells us in the same breath to be careful of the ruling authorities and to pray for them. Our world is better when those in power lead from a place of compassion, understanding, and camaraderie. So in that spirit, just like we do every Shabbat morning for the leaders of this nation, we pray that Pope Leo XIV’s papacy instills goodness toward Jews throughout the world and peace within and outside the borders of Israel.  

Tonight at Graduation Shabbat, we will celebrate our high school graduates and their families as they move into an exciting next stage of their life. It is soul-nourishing thinking about the next generation of Jewish leaders and watching them in action. Hope you can join us at 6:30pm for our service and festive oneg. 

Tomorrow morning at 10:00am, our Shabbat service in the chapel will celebrate the aufruf of Steven Birnbaum and Jen Mayer. Mazal Tov to the happy couple. At 10:30am downstairs in the Youth Lounge we’ll have our final family minyan of the season. At 5:00pm in the Sanctuary for our mincha service, we will celebrate the b’nai mitzvah Cooper Rosenbaum and Kate Krasnove and welcome two new Jewish adults into our community.

Lots to celebrate and lots to be grateful for. 

Shabbat Shalom,

Max