Dear B’nai Shalom members, friends, and families:

There simply are not the words or expressions of appreciation that can fully or accurately convey the true sense of gratefulness that flows from my heart to the wonderful members, friends, and families of B’nai Shalom who have shown Robin and me continual, indescribable acts of remarkable kindness.

The very unnecessary but totally appreciated Kiddush you arranged and contributed to for my recent special birthday on the Shabbat of Parshat Vayigash and the accompanying gestures of thoughtfulness truly touched my heart.

Although I thanked the Congregation in my Shabbat morning remarks via my sermon that morning, I take the time and space here and now to further express my heartfelt thanks for more than can truly be described in words.

I liken this additional expression of thanks to the rabbinical discussion concerning the distinguishing factors celebrated on the joyous holidays of Simchat Torah and Shavuot.  On Shavuot, we celebrate G-d’s giving us his holy Torah – our blueprint for all aspects of every component of our lives.  On Simchat Torah, we celebrate the completion and restarting of the Torah reading cycle, arranged with a weekly, systematic schedule, fully read each and every Shabbat morning in shul.

The rabbis discuss the different style of appreciation we express at each of these holidays, similar yet distinct in their origins and reasons for celebration.

A wonderful analogy that appears to fit perfectly in the manner in which we celebrate these two holidays, I believe, is appropriate for applying here in redoubling my thanks for the incomparable Kiddush arranged in my honor.

When a small child anticipates his/her birthday in the expectation of receiving a special gift that he/she has “always wanted” and for which he/she has waited a long time, and then subsequently RECEIVES that long sought-after gift, the child celebrates and displays dynamic thanks for “finally” receiving the desired gift.  This all takes place even as the child unwraps the gift but PRIOR TO actually using or playing with the toy.  The child is, in fact, celebrating the actual RECEIVING of the gift – the joyousness caused simply by the presence of the desired present.

Once the child removes the gift from its box and actually begins to play with the toy, the child’s jubilation is even MORE HEIGHTENED by the pleasure and joy received from playing with, and getting pleasure from the present.

Similarly in our situation, the B’nai Yisrael celebrated the giving of the Torah on Shauvot, praising HaKadosh Baruch Hu, The Holy One, Blessed be He, for choosing our nation to receive his Holy Torah, the ultimate gift of all gifts.  However, once we “opened the box”, began the process of learning Torah, inculcating Torah into our lives, and starting to live lives directed by Torah, we FURTHER thanked HaKadosh Baruch Hu for his EVEN GREATER kindness, once we recognized the genius of following a richer, more meaningful Torah-driven life.

In similar fashion, I did make a point of thanking the tzibbur, the shul members, friends, and families for the incredibly thoughtful preparation of a magnificent Kiddush in my honor.  I did this in my morning Drasha, the Shabbat morning sermon, in anticipation of something wonderful and beautiful.  However, once I saw, witnessed, and had a chance to partake of the glorious Kiddush, similar to the B’nai Yisrael celebrating even FURTHER upon recognizing the superb nature of Torah and its enhanced way of life, I too thank you in a far more compounded way.  Thank you, thank you, thank you.

You are a shul unlike many, with members, friends, and families who lead with their hearts, who show unparalleled generosity of spirit, warmth, and compassion in all you do.

Robin and I are the most grateful recipients of your unique kindness and we thank you for this and so much more.

May the shul continue to endure, to continue to demonstrate an all-encompassing welcome to all who enter the shul doors, and may Hashem bless B’nai Shalom and all its members, friends, and families in kind “l’olam va-ed”, forever and ever.

B’Kavod Rav,

Rabbi Dr. Yaacov Dvorin