What Is Home 2008/5768
Friends,
In the Torah portion we read - Metzora - described a very unusual incident. We are told that once the people settle in the land of Israel, God may afflict a house with an "eruptive plague" - something like a mold. Upon examination by the kohein there may be no option but to completely destroy the house. Why would God do this? What is the purpose of such a plague?: The Torah doesn’t elaborate. The rabbis in their commentary explained that someone who either engages in gossip or is miserly may be deserve this punishment so that they can see the literally destructive affect of their behavior. From a negative behavior, the people are to learn a more positive lesson.
This past week I could not have been happier about house being demolished. The house on our new site in Olney was finally destroyed so that excavation and construction of our building can proceed. It is an incredible coincidence that of all the Torah readings we could be reading, this one coincidentally is what is read this week! However, this destruction teaches us positive lessons about a house.
A synagogue is called a beit tefilah (house of prayer), a beit midrash (house of study), and a beit kenesset (house of assembly). Our goal of course in building our house is to ensure that all will be able to pray and lift our voices to God; that all can come and study and grow in their Jewish identity; and that all will enjoy gathering for all sorts of events. With those goals in mind we can be sure that our building will endure on a solid foundation.
10881 Lockwood Drive, Silver Spring, MD 20901 P: (301) 593-3410 F: (301) 593-0280
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