Dear B’nai Shalom members, friends, and families:
Now that Shavuot and the Counting of the Omer are both completed, and hopefully, the former was enjoyed by everyone, we have a period of time on the Jewish calendar that is somewhat like the time after the celebration of Simchat Torah.
It is a period of “dormancy” that does not lead up to special holidays, festivals, or unique commemorations.
The next notable date on the Luach Ivri, our Jewish calendar, is the 17th of Tammuz, the fast day which begins the NEXT mourning period known in Hebrew as “Bein HaMeitzarim” or better known by the Yiddish title: “The Drei Vochen,” which literally means “The Three Weeks.”
These are the three weeks from the aformentioned fast day of Shiva Asar B’Tammuz, the 17th of Tammuz, until and including the 21st day: Tisha B’av, the Ninth of Av: the most tragic, calamitous day of the entire Jewish calendar.
This gives us a chance to reflect, contemplate, and direct our focus to matters that may escape our concentrated attention when holidays and festival preparation garners our primary efforts.
In this light, I marvel at the subtle but ominous passage of time – generally hard to believe, as the calendar tells me that the current month of May, 2026, marks 17 years that Robin and I have had the pleasure of coming out to Buffalo Grove and spending wonderful shabbatot with our B’nai Shalom family.
I believed then – in May of 2009 (when we spent our FIRST shabbat as newly-arrived guests of B’nai Shalom hospitality and kindness) as I do now, 17 years later, that it was nothing short of “the hand of Hashem” that brought Robin and me to this paradise of goodness, thoughtfulness, and helpfulness.
The members of the B’nai Shalom family have never failed to well represent the well-known sentiment found in the Book of Psalms which has been repeated for generations in poetry, prose, prayer, and particularly in song.
In Chapter 133 of Psalms, the first verse, we are told, “Hinei mah tov umah naim shevet achim gam yachad” — “How good and how pleasant it is when we sit down together as brethren.”
There is also a well-known but often ignored mitzvah, commandment, in the Torah of “Ahavat Yisrael” – the unconditional love of each Jew for his/her fellow Jews.
Often we find ourselves separated and at odds with other Jews based on religious beliefs or practices, synagogue or school affiliations, customs and traditions near and dear to us, or even our birthplaces or places of national origin.
When we find immediate fault with one another or find the flow of venomous resentment rapidly rising within ourselves at gatherings of Jews for religious or even social occasions, there is hardly any “goodness or pleasantness” being spread over the “People of the Book” at that time.
Thankfully, the B’nai Shalom family and the way it shows itself to its members, guests, and visitors, have been sterling examples of warmth, kindness, and true camaraderie in saturating joy and high regard for one another. This has been demonstrated consistently since my wife, Robin and I have had the pleasure of joining the B’nai Shalom family for prayer services, kiddushes, and social gatherings in the past 17 years.
What a glowing illustration of how Jews can, should, and DO get along while making everyone around them feel comfortable and at home!
I am reminded of two edicts directed at the Nation of Israel, our people, from the “Ethics of the Fathers.” They come, certainly non-coincidentally, from one of the most famous rabbinical Torah study partners in our tradition: Hillel and Shammai.
Hillel in Chapter one, Mishnah 12 tells us that we “need to be among the disciples of Aaron (brother of Moses), loving peace and pursuing peace, loving people and bringing them (in this manner), closer to Torah.”
Hillel’s intellectual and Torah study “sparring partner,” Shammai, is in atypical, perfect agreement with Hillel in this sentiment as he declares in Chapter one, Mishnah 15, “Receive everyone with a cheerful countenance.”
Within the warm, inviting atmosphere of the synagogue, there is nothing less than full and sincere compliance with these instructions, resulting in no drop-off from what the Torah has commanded us in this regard.
To the credit of the synagogue members and participants, even if they are not familiar with “Ethics of the Fathers,” an environment of kindness, pleasantness, and genuine concern for one another has been instinctively displayed naturally and automatically! It is something that just comes to the synagogue’s considerate and helpful members and participants as a normal and wonderful way of greeting and treating others.
In this way, a consistently-loving “welcome sign” is created for everyone entering this very special place of gathering known as B’nai Shalom.
The warmth being generated by the remarkable individuals of Congregation B’nai Shalom is fully, and in the best possible way, fulfilling the spirit and the letter of Jews being tolerant of each other and people being kind and good to each other.
May Jews and synagogues EVERYWHERE learn from B’nai Shalom’s exemplary adherence to true Ahavat Yisrael — unconditional love of each Jew for his/her fellow Jews, and its inspirational discharging of faithfully displaying true Love of Jews everywhere.
And we humbly thank our B’nai Shalom family for permitting us to be part of a group of people so wonderful that our every Shabbat spent together in Buffalo Grove is consistently one of great joy and pleasure!
B’shalom and with Hashem’s blessings for all,
Rabbi Dr. Yaacov Dvorin