Our Congregation

Please consider supporting us with a donation.

Our Beth Ruach congregation is built on the values of the Torah and the Talmud, and we are united in our faith in Judaism and our support of Israel.

We support our congregation through Torah learning, Shabbat dinners, Jewish holidays, celebrations, and life-long learning of our Jewish education to all ages.

Our congregation is made up of primarily interfaith families due to the rise in Jewish people marrying outside of their faith. As such, while grounded in Judaism, our congregation welcomes their spouses of all faiths and those with no faith to join us in creating a diverse, vibrant spiritual community of individuals and families.

Through our teachings, work, and embrace, we aspire to keep the Jewish faith and traditions alive within these interfaith unions and be cherished by their extended families so that it may remain vibrant and alive into future generations.

We are affiliated with the Universal Oneness United Faith Canada.

Universal Oneness United Faith Canada (“UOUFC”) is a spiritual center that welcomes people from‎ all faiths and those of no faith. The UOUFC works to break down the barriers of religious intolerance. Congregation Beth Ruach is the Jewish interfaith branch of the UOUFC and is the ‎community that Rabbi David Gellman serves.

SILENT AUCTION 2024

Thank you to all who donated to and participated in our silent auction.

TESTIMONIAL—

“I’ve known David practically my whole life, and he knew my mom and my family, so he was the obvious choice to provide the funeral service for my mother, Miriam Stein. He did a very, very nice job, was very personal, and made sure everyone was included—as I knew he would. Thank you, David.”

Helen B.

The Rabbi’s Weekly Commentary-May 24, 2025

Two measures of time

Greetings friends

I know many of you missed it, but there was a special holiday this week. No, not Mother’s Day—that was already; no, not Father’s Day—that’s in a few weeks; no, not Victoria Day—just had it or Memorial Day, which is this weekend.

It was Lag Ba’omer, which is now a National Day of Partying, for a day that means “33rd day of the Omer.” Sadly, it is not party time in the real world. The level of Jew hatred has reached epic proportions, as demonstrated by the cold-blooded, execution style murder of the two engaged Jewish employees of the Israeli embassy. This must stop, as must the interference of other nations deciding what Israel should and should not do. New axis of evils appear whenever you let them. If there is to be a call not just for nationhood but for a nation to live freely, it should be for Israel. Thank you, Canada, France, and Great Britain. Take a look at the mirror of self.

Interestingly enough, because the seven weeks between Passover and Shavuot, the time the Omer is counted, were viewed as a period of anticipation and sadness. I’m not sure why it would be so sad, given that it leads to celebrating the gift of the Law, no marriages are conducted during this time, except on that one day—Lag Ba’omer, considered a day of weddings; a day to celebrate love. I cannot tell you why, but take any day to celebrate love as a great day. In fact, make sure you celebrate love every day because even in your darkest times, love is there for you.

We have reached the end of the current book of the Bible – the priestly manual, Leviticus. This great organic book we read cannot just be taken in its simple meaning. In fact, there is a belief that the Torah can, should, and is to be interpreted on four levels, and sometimes five.

The first four levels are called PaRDeS, which is an acronym for Pshat, Remez, Drush and Sod.

Pshat is the most basic literal meaning of the Torah text. It is not necessarily identical to the apparent plain meaning of the text, but it is an explanation of the text based on the tradition as it has been handed down in the Oral Torah (Mishnah and Talmud), closely following the literal meaning. Most traditional Jewish editions of the Torah are published together with Rashi’s commentary, which is the classic example of Pshat exegesis. If you go to synagogue and listen to the rabbi drone on, you get this.

The second level, called Remez, departs from the literal meaning of the text in search of hints and allusions. Much of Torah is taught by allusion and parable. Linguistic analysis of the text and gematria are basic techniques of the Remez exegesis.

The third level, Drush, is the homiletic or moral or preachy exposition of the text. It includes moralistic homilies as well as derivation of legal rulings based on the text. It is typically found in aggadic and halakhic midrashim.

The fourth level, Sod, literally means secret. It involves esoteric interpretation of the scripture and is the subject of Kabbalah.

This week, we are reading the last two parts of the Book of the Priests and then we can get on with the story again about this wilderness generation, the only one of its kind in history.

This twin reading is a great example of those four levels of interpretation, from literal to allusion to moral to secret.

We get blessings and curses, but the two things I want you to notice are the concept of the Sabbatical Year and the Year of Jubilee. We are currently in the year 5785 of the Jewish calendar, which happens to be the midpoint in the agricultural cycle.

According to the Bible, every seventh year (Sabbatical Year) in the Land of Israel is a shmita (“which means release”) when debts are canceled, and fields lie fallow and ownerless. Promoting growth through most forms of plowing, planting, and pruning is forbidden, as are the usual methods of reaping and harvesting. Any previously planted vegetable, flower, or fruit that grows in the soil during the Sabbatical Year has a special sanctity. It must not be wasted or sold. It should be made available freely to anyone, in acknowledgement that the land is God’s, not ours.

The idea of a sabbath is for all. We cease; those who work for us cease; and so the land must cease. It too must partake in renewal.
The Bible promises a triple bounty in the sixth year of the agricultural cycle, enough for the sixth, seventh, and eighth years (first year of new cycle) until new crops can be planted and harvested, as we read this week in Leviticus 25:20-23.

It is serious business to follow the shmita, and a lot of science has gone into it, and something else. It is a sign of faith, my friends. And I only know a very few people with that level of faith.

The other concept we end this book with is the announcement of the Jubilee Year —every 50 years – Leviticus 25:10. And you shall consecrate the year that makes fifty years and proclaim liberty in the land, to all its inhabitants. It shall be a jubilee for you. And you shall go back, each to his possession; and you shall go back, each to his family. To his ancestral holdings.

So important a concept it was carved on the Liberty Bell, the bell of freedom in Philadelphia, P.A.

It is when all people shall be freed, all possessions returned, and all land given back to the families to which it was first allotted.

When you purchased land, you weren’t purchasing the land but only the years left till the next Jubilee. We were never more than caretakers of the land.

Ultimate freedom, ultimate sharing, and ultimate caring—we are always only caretakers for this magnificent world. The Year of Jubilees is the true year of freedom—let’s hope it comes soon.

This episode will be posted on our channel, where you can see all our past shows. Click here to watch the Rabbi David Gellman Show in the 2025 cycle.

And if you are one of the people this was sent to by a friend and want to receive it yourself, let me know. I will add you to my mailing list.

Thank you all for allowing me into your homes, electronic devices, and hearts, as you are all with me in mine.

Be well, be happy, be healthy, be free, be kind, be forgiving, be compassionate, be independent of mind and deed, be mindful of your intentions, and be good to yourself. Continue to celebrate freedom of choice in your life. Do not give in to the fear that is so prevalent and enjoy the peace that comes from acceptance. As always, if you have any questions, suggestions, or just want to say “hi,” please send me an email. I love hearing from you.

Remember, anytime you do not want to receive these anymore, please send me an email so I can remove you. And know that I truly appreciate you sharing your sacred time with me.

Enjoy and celebrate your life and the lives of others, and be happy in doing so. May you all sow the seeds of and reap the rewards of peace, love, and miracles, and make sure you also celebrate your own unique individuality and incredible awesomeness.

Continue celebrating love, freedom, renewal, and goodwill to everyone in the world—it is an energy that cannot be stopped. Be a growing beacon of light, and remember—your world is what you make it. Just wish upon a star and continue to be a miracle in someone’s life and light the light of love.

Blessings

www.rabbidavidgellman.com
Respecting our past. Putting faith in your future