Rabbi Jonathan Shippel
Parsha of the Week

The 15th of Av is Tu B’Av, the Jewish day of love or matchmaking day. In the Talmud, young women in borrowed white dresses met young men in fields, symbolising their potential and future growth. Their eyes would meet and matches would be made. In choosing a partner, the focus must be on the person’s deeper energy and true goals by looking beneath the surface to see their inner grace. We can achieve a sense of wholeness and build a loving home with the right partner.

Near the end of his life, Moses repeats the story of the Torah and the Ten Commandments to a new generation of Jews. This generation is readying to enter the Promised Land and a new agrarian society. When the Shabbos is first introduced in the Talmud the word zachor is used, meaning to remember it and keep it holy by creating a space of withdrawal from the world. When Moses retells it in Devarim Deuteronomy during the Mishneh Torah, he uses the word shamor, a warning to guard the Shabbot by following the limitations given by God. As the people are preparing to transition to agrarian work, God has given a license to work for six days and one day to focus on in the inner spiritual life. By safeguarding the day from regular activities, it can be sanctified and a connection to the family and God will be strong and meaningful. God is shown as two parts in one – the kind, loving God and the God of judgment who sets limitations. The role of parents can also be seen as godly, in which two people create a loving space to teach children right from wrong. In the holding space of tremendous love, one can be mindfully guided and instructed on the correct path. We can connect to the act of listening to the deeper meaning of God’s insights and actions in the world while joining and serving the wider community.