Friday, November 22, 2024/21 Heshvan, 5785

Friday, November 22, 2024/21 Heshvan, 5785

Parashat Chayei Sarah Genesis 23:1−25:18

Dear Friends,

This week’s parasha, Chayei Sarah (The Life of Sarah) begins with her death at the age of 127. We often ask not only why does it seem to define her life with her death, but also why it phrases the years the way it does: She was 100 years, and 20 years and 7 years of age.

Some commentators focus on the total number of years. She was 120 years old (the ideal age because Moses was that age when he passed away), plus 7 years, the magic number of wholeness and the days in the week.

Others see it as telling us that at 100 she still had the spirit of a 20 year old, and at 20 she was as free of transgressions as a 7 year old. In speaking of her life by talking about her death and age, other commentators feel that Torah was trying to convey to us that it was not the number of years that she lived that was important. Rather it is what those years were filled with that is meaningful. As we age we tend to look backward at what we have done with the gift that is life. Did we make our years count for something? Did we bring some good, some light, some kindness into the world?

Sarah was a vital part of the founding of the Jewish people. The Torah tells us that Abraham left his home, his family, and the place of his birth to follow God, and to find his destiny. Sarah, as his partner, did exactly the same. She had to be willing, like Abraham, to become the other, to be different, to leave on the adventure of a lifetime to become the person she was supposed to be. She became the mother of an entire people. Sarah is the stock from which we come. In being the other, we are willing to look beyond the horizon, envision and seek a better life and a better world. Her years were filled with life.

No wonder then that my mother’s mother came from the Ukraine, by herself on a ship, to this country. She left family, her birthplace, and all that was familiar at the age of 14 in order to realize a better life and world. She arrived at Ellis Island, illiterate, not knowing English, not knowing American culture, and yet found a place here to thrive and grow. Her lack of formal education did not mean that she was without the ability to learn, or to acquire wisdom.

I am so grateful for the adventuresome spirit of all of my grandparents that led them to leave the shetl (ghetto) behind and seek a better existence. Their willingness to venture into the unknown, to sacrifice the present for a future that might blossom bequeathed to me a life ultimately filled with blessings.
On this Shabbat, in particular because of this Torah portion, I will allow myself to learn from our scholars. I will allow myself the time to acquire new insights. I will enter that shelter of Shalom that my forebears created for me, and in each moment, by celebrating the gift of life, I will honor their memories and hallow them with gratitude. May this Shabbat of Shalom inspire us all to add to the storehouse of good, and pass that good onto those who follow us.

Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Marv
rabbischwab@bethelsp.org

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Ilan Davidson

Cantor

Cantor Ilan Davidson has been pleasing audiences with his singing since before he could read. At age five, he began singing with his Cantor, Philip Moddel, and hasn’t shut up since. At ten, he made his Operatic debut with the Fullerton Civic Light Opera’s production of Bizet’s Carmen, as a street urchin. Since then, he has performed roles in opera and musical theatre, performing, directing, and producing world-class productions.

Among his many accomplishments, Cantor Davidson is also known as a contemporary Jewish songwriter and performer, having delighted audiences all over the world, including Israel and Lithuania with the soulful sounds of his music. His recordings, Stained Glass (1995) and In A Hanukkah Mood (2007) are collections of original and covered songs by himself and many contemporary Jewish artists. His most recent recording, God Is In This Place (2020), is a collection of original liturgical pieces for the Friday night Shabbat Service, commissioned and written in honor of his 25th Anniversary as the Cantor of Temple Beth El.

Cantor Davidson left the stage and in 1995 joined the Temple Beth El family, in San Pedro, where, in his nearly 30 years of service, he has brought many new programs and much enthusiasm to all he does. Coming from a long line of Cantors, it must have been Besheret for Cantor Davidson, although talented in all areas of musical performance, to finally settle down into his career as Hazzan for Temple Beth El in San Pedro, California. In 2007, Cantor Davidson founded a new foundation, KindredSPIRITS, producing an annual world humanitarian aid event. KindredSPIRITS premiered on June 5, 2008 at Walt Disney Concert Hall, adding that prestigious concert hall to the ever growing list of venues around the world, where Davidson has performed. During the 10 years of humanitarian events, Global KindredSPIRITS, Inc., as an official 501©3, raised awareness and close to $500,000 for its beneficiaries over the decade.
As a past president of the South Coast Interfaith Council, Ilan fought for tolerance and understanding of ALL faiths in a difficult climate. For the past 7 years, Cantor Davidson has been service as an LA County Commissioner, representing the 4th District on the Human Relations Commission, where he currently serves as President. Whether it is raising his voice for justice, Hazzanut, Pop, Opera, Musical Theatre, or folk music, Cantor Ilan Davidson shares his soul and genuine love in every note.

When asked about his finest accomplishment, Cantor Ilan invariably responds, “After all the great concerts, services, and roles, my finest role in life is that of husband to my beautiful wife, Jodi, and daddy to my gorgeous daughters, Jordan and Zoe.”

cantor@bethelsp.org

Office: (310) 833-2467 Ext. 106

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