Lost objects. How much time during your day, week, month or year do you spend concerned about objects that are lost? I’m sure many of us spend some time worrying about the remote control (that was me last night), glasses (that was me this morning, thank you Galit) or our keys (happens from time to time). But in all seriousness, we spend time concerned with lost objects because of the inconvenience associated with not being able to find things both big and small. It’s about the time we “waste” looking for things and not about the deeper issue of the actual misplaced or lost object we’re contending with. We’re also very aware of the age-old axiom of “finders keepers… losers weepers.” This immoral and deeply troubling rule is not a way to build a society. People lose things because of dumb luck and forgetfulness. We’ve all been there before and should be able to relate to the unfortunate person who is contending with all that goes with losing something. It’s just plain wrong to benefit from someone else’s misfortune.
What’s amazing is this isn’t some simple and mundane concept. It’s a sacred value because it’s a law from the Torah. “If you see your fellow Israelite’s ox or sheep gone astray, do not ignore it; you must take it back to your peer. If your fellow Israelite does not live near you or you do not know who [the owner] is, you shall bring it home and it shall remain with you until your peer claims it; then you shall give it back. You shall do the same with that person’s ass; you shall do the same with that person’s garment; and so too shall you do with anything that your fellow Israelite loses and you find: you must not remain indifferent.” (Deuteronomy 22:1-3)
These verses have become the basis of an entire category of Jewish law called השבת אבדה. One of the first areas of the Talmud that’s commonly studied by young students is called Bava Metzia and it discusses at length the various issues involved in returning lost property. The Talmud will discuss the amount of found stuff and the size of the area in which it’s discovered. It talks about the way it’s discovered and if it looks to have been purposely placed there or if it looks as if it just fell at random. It talks about the value of the lost object and about the amount of effort it would take to collect the items for the owner. All this analysis goes a long way to explain how much importance is placed on humans, Jews, doing the right thing and trying to help return objects to their rightful owners.
While I could go on and on about this deep and important Jewish law and value, I want to go deeper as we’re now just about two weeks from Rosh Hashana. At this time of year, I begin to think more and more about a deeper loss in our midst: all of us. We are all lost. We’ve gotten off the paths we set out on. We’ve been wrapped up and enmeshed in deep fears. We’ve damaged our relationships with other people and with God. We have each, in our own ways, become lost objects. According to the Torah and the Talmud, and thus to Jewish Law, we each have a responsibility to help return those around us to their rightful state… return the lost objects. The way we do this is through gathering together and praying. We do this by gathering together and eating and celebrating. We do this by being together. When we lift one another up, we allow for the returning to be easier. This is also the incredible thing about the word for repentance in Hebrew, תשובה, it doesn’t mean repentance; rather it means returning. We return to ourselves when we repent and when we make things better. We return to ourselves and our origins when we do the hard work of changing and doing things differently. As a community, we help one another with our thirst and hunger to do and be better. We work together to return our lost objects and restore them to their proper and whole place in this world.
Shabbat Shalom, Rabbi Hearshen
Candlelighting time on September 9 is 7:34 pm.
Masks are strongly encouraged inside the building. Kiddush will be served in the tent.
Selichot & Ziara Services
Sunday, September 18 Selichot Services will be held at 7:00 am followed by breakfast.
Ziara Services begin at:
Greenwood Cemetery - 10:00 am Arlington Cemetery - Noon* *Note CORRECT time for Arlington.
Accessing High Holiday Services
Rosh Hashana & Yom Kippur Services will be offered on Zoom for seniors and others with COVID concerns. Tickets for High Holiday Services are a benefit of membership and access to our Zoom will be limited to members in good standing. Advanced registration is required.
Please emailnicole.feldman@orveshalom.orgto request your link for our High Holiday Services on Zoom. We must receive your request by Thursday September 22, 2022 at 5 PM for you to receive the link in time for Rosh Hashana and by Monday, October 3, 2022 at 12 PM to receive a link in time for Yom Kippur.
Prayer books can be borrowed (please request in your email to Nicole) and can be picked up from the OVS office during regular business hours before each holiday.
Note that the link that you receive will be unique to you, can only be used on one device, and cannot be shared with others.
Zoom will remain open throughout each holiday to avoid actively using technology.
