This week we read from Parashat Naso, the second Torah portion in the Book of Numbers.  In this portion, we read the famous Priestly Blessing:

"Adonai will bless you and protect you!
Adonai will deal kindly with you and be gracious unto you!
Adonai will bestow favor upon you and grant you peace!" (Numbers 6:24-26)

Our world today is unpredictable and often scary. The events of this past week in Orlando cause us to both fear for our children and fear for the the kind of world in which we now live. We must concern ourselves with matters of safety, matters of equality, fairness and kindness, and the danger of guns in inappropriate hands, in inappropriate places at inappropriate times.

So we turn to our words of Torah for guidance and for meaning. This week, we are given perhaps the most simple yet powerful series of blessings. We recite this blessing when babies are born, when we celebrate with B'nai Mitzvah and Wedding Couples, and simply when we bless our children each and every Shabbat. 

In a world filled with pain and turmoil, we must seek out opportunities be grateful, and thankful - times to feel blessed. And we must bless one another, and continue to count our blessings, each and every day.

This week, I feel blessed for the gift of life.
I feel blessed to be free to act and believe as I choose.
I feel blessed to be surrounded by family and friends.
I feel blessed to be part of an incredible new community that brings blessing, warmth, kindness and wholeness to one another and to our world each and every day.

After a horrible week such as this one, we must each count our blessings,
we must each use our voices to speak out for truth and right,
and then we must once again, share in our blessings.

Shabbat Shalom and Happy Anniversary to Makom NY!
Hope to see tonight in the Park!
Rabbi Bravo

Tomorrow, we conclude our countdown from Passover to Shavuot, our yearly reflection of what it means to go from the Exodus from Egypt to Revelation on Mount Sinai. We reflect on the spirit and will of the Israelite people during these long and difficult days, as they began to wander somewhat hesitantly toward the receiving of laws and guidelines that would help them to live life as good Jews and good human beings.

This weekend we also read from the beginning of the Book of Numbers, where we learn of the first census recorded in the Torah, and the important idea that all people count. It is not coincidence that we celebrate the Torah portion of counting on the weekend that we conclude our literal counting of days. As an ancient people, we have learned to both count our days, and time, but also to count people.

My son was studying for a Social Studies test this week, and we were reviewing the history of Athens and the first ideas of democracy. The people of Athens, and the historians after, took great pride in the idea that every person's voice finally counted (at least as they understood 'every person' in those days).  And once again in our Jewish history, we are reminded that 'every voice counts'. We have heard many stories on the news recently where we are reminded that we need to use our voices to count. 

Whether we are counting days toward a significant event or counting people in our community and in our world, our voices matter. 

Be counted, and keep counting. 

Shabbat Shalom and Chag Sameach,
Hope to see you over Shabbat and the Holiday Celebration,
Rabbi Bravo