Beloved Friends,
As we gather this week to welcome Shabbat on the eve of Independence Day, we find ourselves standing at a sacred intersection—between the enduring light of our American freedom and the eternal flame of our Jewish faith.
The Torah portion this week, Chukat, from the book of Numbers, brings us face-to-face with one of the most seminal moments in our people’s journey: the death of Miriam. With her passing, we are told, the well that had sustained the Israelites in the wilderness dries up. For generations, the rabbis taught that it was by Miriam’s merit that water flowed through the desert—a daily miracle born of courage, compassion, and leadership.
The image of a nation grieving its matriarch while facing thirst and uncertainty stirs something deep within us, especially as we prepare to celebrate the birth of our own nation. It invites us to consider: what sustains us? What wells do we draw from when the road grows difficult, when hope feels far off, or when the burdens of leadership weigh heavily on our shoulders?
Just as Miriam’s quiet strength sustained a people in the wilderness, so too do the ideals of liberty, justice, and shared responsibility sustain our American spirit. Our country was founded on the promise of freedom—not only the freedom to believe, but the freedom to belong, to question, to speak out, and to dream anew.
But like the Israelites in Chukat, we must remember that freedom, once won, must also be nurtured. When the Israelites lost Miriam, they faltered. Their thirst wasn’t just for water—it was for purpose, for reassurance, for leadership grounded in love.
As we light our Shabbat candles this Friday night, under skies soon to be filled with fireworks, we have the opportunity to rededicate ourselves—not only to the freedoms we cherish, but to the responsibilities that come with them. This is a moment to pause and ask:
- How are we, like Miriam, nourishing our communities?
- How are we ensuring that justice flows like water and righteousness like an ever-surging stream?
- How are we balancing our identities—as Americans and as Jews—with courage, integrity, and faith?
At Temple Jeremiah, we are blessed to live out these values together. We lift our voices for justice, we open our doors to all who seek connection, and we pass on the wisdom of our tradition to the next generation with love and pride. Like Miriam, each of us has the power to be a wellspring—of kindness, of learning, of leadership, and of hope.
So this Shabbat, let the melodies of peace fill your home. Let gratitude rise like the morning sun. And as we mark both the holiness of Shabbat and the celebration of July 4th, may we give thanks for the freedom to be who we are—and for the sacred call to use that freedom to make the world more whole.
Wishing you a Shabbat Shalom and a joyful, meaningful Independence Day,
