Ursula Leguin, a feminist and science fiction writer, wrote: Listening is an act of community, which takes space, time and silence…reading is a means of listening.
Listening to each other is indeed a core value of community life at FPS. We learned that when we joined London Citizens to do justice work across Barnet and to ensure it would be an important part of FPS life.
Talking to FPS congregants is the most precious part of being your rabbi and understanding what matters to you, what worries you, what you would like to see happening in your synagogue.
Our previous Chair, Tamara Joseph, with Blue Weiss (our community organiser with London Citizens) is training some FPS folk in the skills of listening, which will ensure it’s at the heart of congregation.
What matters to us right now is what animates us in our Jewish life and purpose.
What and who are we worried about?
I am intrigued to see what comes of it.
This week’s portion, Acharai Mot-Kedoshim, is the central portion in the Torah, half way through Leviticus and it’s here we receive this teaching, which is repeated so often: “Love your neighbour as yourself” (Leviticus 19:18). Rabbi Akiva stated “this is a major tenet in the Torah.” For so many of us, it’s what is at the heart of Jewish life and thought, both for each other here in FPS and in the wider world. We look forward to sharing opportunities to meet for some more ‘listening’ and talking.
Shabbat Shalom on this 25th day of the Omer,
Rebecca
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