February 26-27, 2021 Parashat Tetzaveh
15 Adar 5781 Shushan Purim
Moses was the one who freed the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. Was his older brother Aaron jealous that Moses was selected for this honor? Aaron was chosen to become High Priest. Was Moses jealous that his brother received this honor? We might expect these positions to cause a rift between the two brothers. After all, don’t we sometimes feel a personal disappointment when someone else receives a position or an acknowledgment that we believed to be rightfully ours?
A midrash teaches that each brother rejoiced in the other’s success. Moses tells Aaron: “Even though you have become High Priest, it is as if I have become High Priest. Just as you rejoiced when I rose to greatness, so I am happy at your rising.” Rabbi Peter Knobel says this midrash reminds us to “remove the bitter taste of the loss” and move forward, rejoicing in the success or accomplishment of our sibling, friend or colleague. He holds Moses and Aaron up as a model for helping us understand the gains and losses in our own lives.
Shushan Purim is observed by people who live in Jerusalem, in the city of Shushan where the story of Purim takes place, or in any walled city. Purim is on the 14th of Adar, while Shushan Purim is on the 15th of Adar. This is the day Jews in Jerusalem read the megillah and give gifts to friends.
Purim Reminders:
Thursday: Megillah reading in Yiddish at 4:00 PM on Channel 1963
Thursday: Megillah reading & Purim Shpiel at 6:30 PM on Channel 1963.
Friday: Megillah & Purim singing with Rabbi Sherman & Cantor Shikler at 11 AM on Channel 1960.
Watch your ledge for a loaned copy of the Megillah text, a Purim songbook, and Purim treats!
Please leave the Megillah book and song book on your ledge for pickup on Sunday.
Please join in this week’s Shabbat celebrations on Channel 1960 (Residents only):
Friday at 4:30 PM: Kabbalat Shabbat & Ma’ariv (Evening Service) & Blessings
Saturday at 10:00 AM: Shabbat Shacharit (Morning Service) & Blessings
Candle lighting time for the city of Mission Viejo:
Friday evening at 5:27 PM
Shabbat ends Saturday evening at 6:23 PM
Shabbat Shalom! Rabbi Sherman