I am in awe of them

Yes, we have beautiful Hebrew-English Siddurim, and we announce page numbers throughout the service. Yet, I am sure it’s not so easy to sit through the entire prayer without understanding Hebrew.

s the Chabad Rabbi at ASU, my family and I are delighted to host hundreds of Jewish students weekly at our welcoming and vibrant Levenbaum Chabad House at ASU.

We love seeing the Jewish students — the ASJew’s — feel at home at Chabad and we understand why they love coming.

But there is one time of the week that I’m amazed to see students joining. I am in awe of those who come to Shabbat morning Services.

Why? You might ask.

Is it because the sermons are long and boring? Well, I try to make them short and interesting for the college students attending.

Is it because the Kiddush is not good?

On the contrary, the Kiddush is quite good and our delicious, gourmet Shabbat meals are well known in the campus community.

So why am I in awe?

Because the majority of the services are held in Hebrew, the original language of the Siddur (prayerbook).

And most of our students do not read or understand Hebrew.

KOPPELL

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This is why I am in awe of them. Despite that challenge, they come, they show up and participate as much as they can.

Often, I find that some Jews who don’t read Hebrew feel like second-class citizens. They (wrongly) feel as if not being able to pray and study Torah in its original language, means that they are somehow less of a Jew.

Jewish people in the desert and translated the Torah to … 70 languages! Those 70 languages included all of the languages spoken at that point in history.

If I were to guess, I’d say that not many of those present at the desert were multilingual.

In other words, the entire Jewish people was just standing there, listening to Moses speaking in a language they didn’t understand, and then doing it again in another language, and again … for a total of 70 times!

By being the first to offer a translation, Moses was sending a clear message: even if you don’t read Hebrew, the Torah you learn is holy. It is the same Torah, whichever language you can understand.

EXACTLY 3,295 YEARS AGO, ON ROSH CHODESH, THE FIRST DAY OF THE MONTH OF SHEVAT, MOSES STOOD IN FRONT OF THE JEWISH PEOPLE IN THE DESERT AND TRANSLATED THE TORAH TO … 70 LANGUAGES!

For those who might feel this way, here is a beautiful fact.

Exactly 3,295 years ago, on Rosh Chodesh, the first day of the month of Shevat, Moses stood in front of the priority focus of the new year, based on the number of ads for gym memberships around this time. We all know we should exercise more, eat better and sleep more. And, I might add, be more accepting of ourselves and others and the glorious diversity of our bodies.

I promise to eat more vegetables this year, blee neder

Which leads us to the emotional level. Yes, to be more accepting of ourselves and others. More kindness and less anger. More forgiveness and less regret. More energy giving to others and causes we believe in can be a foundation for a sense of well-being in the year ahead.

Then there’s the intellectual level. Could this be the year when we read that book that’s been sitting on the nightstand? When we sign up for a class on a topic we’ve been meaning to explore? When we commit to studying the weekly Torah portion? We are, after all, the people of the book!

Remaining is the spiritual realm. Are you a person who thinks about what makes life meaningful and how you can enhance that focus in your own life? Maybe just saying Modeh Ani in the morning or Shema in the evening? Maybe saying a blessing before you eat? Maybe reminding yourself right now of your dreams and visions for yourself? Maybe committing to more gratitude and less negativity and judgment?

As we enter 2023, let’s be kind to ourselves and others and remember that we are doing the best we can. Instead of big resolutions, perhaps a humbler approach is in order. No promises, no vows, just the resolve to renew and enhance our focus on dedicating ourselves to our continued growth physically, emotionally, intellectually and spiritually. JN

Rabbi

What was the purpose of this?

The Lubavitcher Rebbe explains that Moses wanted to imbue the translations with holiness.

If he taught the Torah exclusively in Hebrew, the translations might have been considered a foreign element, something that is not holy.

ETTINGER

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On Saturday, Dec. 17, 2022, 180 people (a very chai number) filled the Lewkowitz Sanctuary at the Arizona Jewish Historical Society during the second Phoenix Sings Chanukah Sing-a-long led by four Phoenix area cantors (Todd Herzog, Dannah Rubinstein, Noa Shaashua and me), a new Jewish community choir from Congregation Beth Israel and singers from the Jewish Family & Children’s Service Creative Aging program. The concert featured new Chanukah hits like “Light Up the Night” by Jewish rocker Jacob Spike Kraus and “Be A Light” by Rabbi Neal Katz. What really got the crowd singing were the “oldies but goodies” like “Not by Might” and “I am a Latke” by Debbie Friedman, “Ocho Kandelikas” by Flory Jagoda, “Light One Candle” by Peter Yarrow, the folk melodies of Mi Yimalel and S’vivon and a closing mashup of Maoz Tzur and “Loves Me Like a Rock” by Paul Simon which brought everyone to their feet.

It was the first time since prior to the pandemic where the Jewish community came together to sing and for the majority of the group that gathered, it was a much-

No doubt, learning Hebrew has its benefits. Being able to read the Torah in the language given by G-d is of great value. Still, one should never feel demoralized by their lack of Hebrew knowledge.

This coming Monday is Rosh Chodesh Shevat (this year on January 23). It was on that day, 3,295 years ago, that Moses translated the Torah.

This day will forever be remembered in history as the day when the message was loud and clear: regardless of your language, the Torah is yours, forever.

Now let’s go and explore our amazing G-dly gift of the Torah! Regardless of the language you study the Torah, the Torah is your heritage and birthright and your gift from G-d. JN needed experience of comfort. Not only did congregants come but Jews who do not have a spiritual home came as well. The highlight for me was seeing members of the Gesher Disability Resources community stand up and dance a hora together. Aside from the financial success in that we raised several thousand dollars for camp scholarships through the Center for Jewish Philanthropy of Greater Phoenix Community Camp Fund, the level of engagement we were able to cultivate with those who came was unprecedented. I know this was a flame that will last throughout until next Chanukah. We look forward to brightening the light of Chanukah next year with all of you at our third Phoenix Sings Chanukah Sing-a-long on Dec. 2, 2023. Until then, continue being a light and may it be a happy and healthy 2023 for all. JN

Cantor Seth Ettinger is the cantor of Congregation Beth Israel in Phoenix and the creator of the Phoenix Sings Chanukah Sing-a-long.

Jewish News is published by the Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Phoenix, a component of the Center for Jewish Philanthropy of Greater Phoenix.