Our Congregation

Greetings friends

I hope you all had a great Purim and got that glimpse into the real self and the clue as to what stops you from being you.  And I also hope that Paulito had a wonderful birthday. It sounded pretty good.

This is the month with so many things, the change in time, Purim, Pi Day, the infamous Ides of March, the change in season as we welcome spring, the change in year as the Persian world welcomes Nowruz, and the change in the biblical year as the 1st of Nisan ushers in the new year, this year on March 30.

That new year date ushers in your ability to plan the 12 months of your year, as those first 12 days show the universe what you hope for and dream of.

What did not happen this month is the release of the hostages or the elimination of the genocidal maniac regime who live for one thing only, the destruction of Israel and death to all Jews.  I still wait for the world to take notice and end this insanity.

In this reading, there are also two examples of problems and changed meanings with translations of biblical writing—the first with Aaron and the second with Moses.

This week, we see Moses on the mountain receiving instructions, and we find out who the artisans are who will be entrusted with the task of implementation of the great pieces used in religious practice.  We begin the process of moving from inspiration and idea to formulation, a process we go through in all of our breakthroughs. We see there is a need to blend art and science, intellect and emotion, and idea and vision to create anything of value in our lives.

Those who combine the two spheres and blend left and right brains together see the whole picture.

Moses comes down from the mountain carrying the tablets written by G0d himself. But in the 40 days he has been gone, the people have strayed, and we have the episode of the Golden Calf—eggel hazahav—and Moses destroys it and, in doing so, destroys the stone tablets.  We still have Golden Calves in our lives today.  Maybe not just money —yes, we immediately think of gold, money, wealth, and crypto, today’s gold.  But perhaps control is a modern Golden Calf, where some pray at the altar of power, maybe prestige—where so-called influencers, who primarily are never experts in any subject—influence the mindless masses, or mob, around them.  This has allowed ego to become the hidden great Golden Calf of society.

We are attached to ego, but our true self lies in the soul, and the differences between them are huge:

Ego seeks to serve itself; soul seeks to serve others

Ego seeks outward recognition; soul seeks inner truth

Ego views life as competition; soul sees life as a sharing gift

Ego seeks to preserve self; soul seeks to preserve others

Ego looks outward; soul looks inward

Ego feels lack; soul feels abundance

Ego is mortal; soul is eternal

Ego is drawn to lust; soul is drawn to love

Ego seeks wisdom; soul is wisdom

Ego enjoys the prize; soul enjoys the journey

Ego causes pain; soul causes healing

Ego rejects god; soul embraces god

Ego seeks fulfillment; soul is eternal wholeness

Ego is me; soul is we

For thousands of years, man has wondered what made Aaron make a Golden Calf for the people. It is the great bane of man. It comes from doubt and fear, the things that still imprison us.

Aaron’s fear got the better of him, and we have a mistranslation of the word “afraid” being read as “saw” – the same letters but different vowels, and biblical Hebrew has no vowels.  Aaron was afraid.

The lessons of history are still the lessons of today and tomorrow.  We all still carry fear with us, and we celebrate our freedom from fear every Passover.

Moses returns to G0d and makes the second set of tablets, but this time, seven of the 10 commandments are different, just a little, just enough. When Moses returns this time, his face is shining from the radiance of being in G0d’s presence, but a second mistranslation in this reading has it interpreted as horns, not radiance, and a stereotype is born.

Keep practicing forgiveness, my friends. Use this time to continue to forgive those you need to forgive and ask forgiveness from those you need to seek forgiveness from. Give thanks and celebrate your freedom and joy; do not succumb to fear and its henchmen, anger, and hatred.

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.

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Thank you all for allowing me into your homes, electronic devices, and your 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 or 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.  Know that I truly appreciate your sharing your sacred time with me.

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

Continue celebrating love; continue celebrating freedom; send renewal and goodwill out 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

RD