Ki Tissa 5769 Council Service Rabbi Aaron Goldstein 14 March 2009

Construction sites have never struck me as places of beauty. But when it comes to the building of the Tabernacle, the portable Sanctuary where our ancient Israelite ancestors brought offerings to worship their God whose Word was engraved on the tablets of the Covenant that were housed therein, my imagination runs riot. It allows poetic license to conjure a picture of hectic but focused activity, enlightened engineering, craftful agility, raw sweat and brawn working in perfect harmony – all of course, Divinely-inspired.

Indeed, I am even provided with main characters for the play in my mind. Aaron and his sons receive a constant flow of people bearing gifts that they have been so moved to donate to this ultimate of construction projects. Moses is sat in his tent keeping cool from the heat of the day, occasionally disappearing up Mount Sinai to take instructions from God, concerning the pattern for the Tabernacle and the design for all its furnishings. In the tent next door, Two young men - Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur of the tribe of Judah and Ohaliav son of Ahisamach of the tribe of Dan - regularly come to Moses to take these instructions and to translate them into the myriad of tasks that were completed in an array of tents, their sides moved by an almost imperceptible breeze, perhaps as God was among them. These tents omitted the noise of wood, precious metals and stones being combined to create an awesome whole; the smells of fire working the fixtures and the animal skins to provide the coverings; and a sight of concentrated energy. Men and women, old and young, there is not one person in the Community of the People of Israel who is inactive. It is as if time has stood still, but time does not.

Suddenly, [SHOFAR BLAST] the blast of rams horns are heard from the centre of the tent encampment. The sun is getting lower in the sky. Every soul gathers in offering and worship of God before scurrying back to their nuclear families. Ringing in their ears the commands: “Let them make for Me a Sanctuary that I may dwell among them…yet, My Sabbaths must you keep, for this is a sign between Me and you throughout the ages, that you may know that I, the Eternal have consecrated you.”

And so it is today. For six days, our Community has pursued its Divinely inspired goal of creating a Sacred Community, yet, on the seventh day, that Sacred Community rests and gathers to worship their God by whom they are consecrated. And so it has been, for the last four years, that the leaders and volunteers of NPLS have striven over the six days of 208 weeks, to create a Sacred Community of which God would be proud to have dwelt amongst. And on the seventh day of 208 weeks, you have been able to rest and appreciate the fruits of your labours.

In this safe, comforting and dynamic environment, you have created occasions of vibrant atmosphere that have shown this Community to be a light to the society in which we live. You have celebrated countless simchas, enjoying happiness that has been magnified by being surrounded by our members, in a Community that has unconditionally welcomed your own family and friends. And you have received comfort and care in your time of need. You have done so in a fashion that recalls the fervour, the dedication and zeal of our ancient ancestors who toiled in love, to create a Sanctuary for God to dwell among them.

This service of celebration and thanksgiving for your years of service could not have been a more appropriate reflection of the life of our Sacred Community. It is a time for all our members to honour those who have given so much of their lives and livelihood to bring us to this moment in time. To you we owe our heartfelt and sincerest thanks. In the pattern of Kohelet, the author of Eccelsiastes, there is a time to work and a time to rest. Whilst we naturally hope that you will all continue to be integrally involved in the life of our Community into the future, we also understand the Divine gift of rest that has been a source of reflection and renewal throughout our generations. We hope that you enjoy a Sabbatical that may be of varying length and that refreshed, you support the continuation of your legacy the endeavours of others.

This service is also one which has borne witness to your legacy in action. An opportunity for the leaders of the Community to formally welcome those who are our newest members. We have also welcomed into our Community new life, Maddison Holland being a delightful new addition for her parents, Luana and David, and for their families and for our Community. We hope that Maddison was inspired by the sights and sounds of our vibrant Cheder and the effervescent Junior Choir who enriched our worship service. Within our service we will also have offered prayers for healing and comfort for those who are unwell and for those who mourn the loss of their loved ones. May you find strength in these words recited by your Community.

We also remember that as well as being a Sacred Community for our members and that our prayers and thoughts have value, a vital commitment from Liberal Jews is to improve the world in which we live. That is why you will have found on your chairs, pledge cards to support the unique, Liberal Judaism-Christian Aid collaborative Countdown to Copenhagen Campaign. This campaign is petitioning the Copenhagen climate
conference, in December 2009. This is the most important leaders’ gathering since the Kyoto protocol and aims to set a new international climate deal to renew the
treaty in 2012. This is a one-off opportunity to ensure a fair and effective deal for the world's poorest people whose poverty is worsened by droughts and floods caused by
the pollution of the richer countries of the world. If your heart is so moved, please do complete these pledge cards and join a Sacred Community in action.

Mekor ha’Chayim, Source of all life, may it be Your will that the example of the leaders and volunteers of our Community over the past four years who have developed the rich heritage that is the legacy of our Jewish Tradition, that of Liberal Judaism in this country and of our own Sacred Community; be acceptable to You. May their example serve as a source of inspiration for all those who lead and guide our Community into the future, so that they in turn may they be a source of pride, to all those who came before. And may the direction in which our future leaders take us, be a true interpretation of, ‘walking in Your ways,’ so that we are reconsecrated by You, Mekor ha’Chayim, Source of all life.

Keyn y’hi l’ratzon. May it be Your will.

Amen.