d’var torah
Do You Believe in Miracles?
BY RABBI GERI NEWBURGE
O Parshat Tzav
ur tradition teaches that
yes, we do (or maybe that
we should)! For instance, the
splitting of the Red Sea and the daily
manna from heaven were miracles;
even the proper functioning of our
bodily systems is considered a miracle,
and a blessing is recited for that every
day. One aspect of this week’s Torah por-
tion, Tzav, from the book of Leviticus,
off ers additional insight into the mir-
acles we experience. While most of
the laws of the various sacrifi ces are
detailed in Vayikra, last week’s portion,
Tzav spotlights the laws of the zevach
shlamim, the peace off ering.

When the zevach shlamim is fi rst
presented in the parsha, the great sage
Rashi teaches that this particular sacri-
fi ce is off ered to give thanks to the Holy
One for a personal miracle. Such mir-
acles include making a sea voyage and
returning safely, surviving a journey
through the desert, being imprisoned
and then released, or recovering from
an illness. Today, we recite the blessing
known as Birkat HaGomel when expe-
riencing such extraordinary events.

What’s going on in
Jewish Philadelphia?
Submit an event or browse our online calendar
to find out what’s happening at local synagogues,
community organizations and venues!
Submit: listings@jewishexponent.com
Online: jewishexponent.com/events/
30 MARCH 17, 2022 | JEWISHEXPONENT.COM
Yet, in many other rabbinic texts, a
miracle is not required to proff er the
zevach shlamim. It should come as no
surprise that peace is considered the
ideal state of aff airs in Jewish tradition.

In fact, the rabbis in Leviticus Rabbah
9:9 claim all blessings are contained
within peace, and they point out sev-
eral instances in the Torah when some-
one speaks misleadingly in order for
people to live in peace.

Th e Hebrew word shalom has a range
of meanings. We teach our religious
school students it translates as “hello,”
“goodbye” and “peace,” yet that fails
to convey the depth of the word. Th e
word shalom is found more than 200
times in the Hebrew bible and encom-
passes a diversity of meanings, includ-
ing peaceable agreements or accord
between individuals (family members
or leaders) as well as nations, and the
rabbis off er numerous midrashim on
many of these occurrences.

Th e miracle of peace is a virtue
ingrained in Jewish practice and ritual.

Every service, weekday, Shabbat and
festival, includes prayers for peace; we
recite them at the end of the Amidah,
aft er Silent Prayer, when we conclude
the Mourner’s Kaddish, a prayer we
utter when we are most bereft , asking
God to make peace descend upon us,
and the most beautiful blessing of all,
the Priestly Benediction, is ultimately
one of peace.

Shalom is also about wholeness,
completeness. Perhaps the rabbis were
onto something when they taught, “Th e
world is maintained by three things, by
justice, by truth and by peace.” Rav
Muna added, “Th ese three actually are
one. If justice is present then truth is
present, and this makes peace. And all
three are found in the same verse, as
it is written, ‘Judge with the justice of
truth and peace within your gates.’” In
other words, peace, in and of itself, is
not possible without an ethical society.

Our sages teach us that there must be
justice to experience peace.

It is impossible to ignore the signif-
icance of this particular off ering our
ancestors made and what it represents,
either in thanksgiving or in fulfi llment
of a vow or donation. We are living
through unprecedented and terrifying
times. As I write this piece, Russia
instigated a war with Ukraine, its pres-
ident a targeted man, its citizens living
under a 5 p.m. curfew, hundreds of
thousands of citizens having fl ed or are
fl eeing, and hundreds of innocent lives
have been lost.

Th e Israelites were instructed to
bring the sacrifi ces “near” to God. Th ey
are meant to draw us closer to God and
to that which is sacred and, in the case
of the zevach shlamim, to peace. We
have an active role in bringing about
peace, with each other and with God.

Finding that path was not easy for
our ancestors, nor will it be easy for us.

We will need to advocate for Ukraine
politically and with social services and
extend fi nancial and other support to
the refugees and the survivors to live
up to the ideals ingrained in our tra-
dition. Perhaps the zevach shlamim, peace
off ering, is the greatest miracle of all.

May the people of Ukraine, and all
those living in fear and with illness, be
granted this miracle. May we carry on
the sacred work of our ancestors, ded-
icating ourselves to peace and whole-
ness for children, grandchildren and
the generations to come. JE
Rabbi Geri Newburge serves at Main
Line Reform Temple-Beth Elohim in
Wynnewood. The Board of Rabbis of
Greater Philadelphia is proud to provide
diverse perspectives on Torah commentary
for the Jewish Exponent. The opinions
expressed in this column are the author’s
own and do not refl ect the view of the
Board of Rabbis.




worth the schlep
M A R CH 18 — MARC H 24
FRI DAY, M A R C H 18
JEWISH SIGNS EXHIBIT
The Signs of Our Jewish Times exhibit at the
Temple Judea Museum at Reform Congregation
Keneseth Israel will be on display until March 31.

What constitutes a “sign”? Admittedly, our defini-
tion is quite broadly interpreted. See for yourself.

8339 Old York Road, Elkins Park. For more infor-
mation: TJMuseum@kenesethisrael.org; 215-901-
2656; 215-887-8700, ext. 416.

CALENDAR P U RI M PARAD E • S U NDAY, MAR CH 20
PARSHA FOR LIFE
Join Rabbi Alexander Coleman, Jewish educator
and psychotherapist at the Institute for Jewish
Ethics, at 9 a.m. for a weekly journey through the
Torah portion of the week with eternal lessons
on personal growth and spirituality. Go to ijeth-
ics.org/weekly-torah-portion.html to receive the
Zoom link and password.

VIRTUAL CLASSES
Golden Slipper Gems is a great place to connect
with friends and meet new people. Our diverse
speakers will stimulate your passion for learning
and you’ll keep returning to sample all that we
have to offer. Click on our website and learn
more about our most recent classes: goldenslip-
pergems.org. M O N DAY, M AR C H 21
MAHJONG GAME
Melrose B’nai Israel Emanu-El Sisterhood
invites the community to join our weekly mah-
jong game at 7 p.m. Cost is $36 per year or free
with MBIEE Sisterhood membership. For more
information, call 215-635-1505 or email office@
mbiee.org. 8339 Old York Road, Elkins Park.

TU E S DAY, M AR C H 22
Join Northeast Jewish Life for a Purim car and walking parade. Decorate your car and dress up
in costume. Start at Temple Beth Ami and end at Politz Hebrew Academy. There will also be a
contactless opportunity to give to the Mitzvah Food Program. Visit jewishphilly.org/purimparade
to register in advance. For information, email Carrie at northeast@kehillah.jewishphilly.org.

BINGO WITH BARRY
Join Barry at Tabas Kleinlife for an afternoon of
bingo from 12:30-3:30 p.m. on March 22, 23 and
24. Free parking and free to play with snacks
available on March 23. For more information, call
215-745-3127. 2101 Strahle St., Philadelphia.

vladi79 / iStock / Getty Images Plus
SISTERHOOD BINGO
The Sisterhood of Congregations of Shaare
Shamayim is hosting a virtual bingo at 7:30
p.m. The cost is $36 per person and includes
two cards for eight games of bingo. We are also
holding a $5 50/50 each week. For further infor-
mation, call the CSS office at 215-677-1600 and
ask for Gerry or Nancy.

FINANCE WORKSHOP
Money is the No. 1 source of stress for the major-
ity of Americans across all demographics and
earning levels. In this virtual Jewish Family and
Children’s Service workshop, financial expert
Simi Mandelbaum will help you successfully
reduce that stress. For more information,
contact Laura Flowers at 267-256-2274 or
lflowers@jfcsphilly.org. T HU RSDAY, MARCH 2 4
BEREAVEMENT GROUP
Jewish Family and Children’s Service is
offering this eight-session online support group
for individuals who have suffered the loss of a
loved one. Sessions will be held from 10:30 a.m.-
noon until April 21 on Zoom, and the cost is
$144 total. Contact Rivka Goldman at 267-256-
2250 or rgoldman@jfcsphilly.org for more
information. JEVS WORKSHOP
At this virtual JEVS workshop at 11 a.m., we will
help you gain confidence and prepare to answer
the most difficult interview questions that don’t
have a one size fits all response. jevshumanser-
vices.org/event/answering-tough-interview- questions-3/.

HOARDING SUPPORT
Jewish Family and Children’s Service is offering
an online support group to help individuals find
community and connection with those whose
partner, parent or loved one is also struggling
with a hoarding disorder. Sessions will be held
from 12-1 p.m. on Zoom. To register or for more
information, contact Rivka Goldman at 267-256-
2250 or rgoldman@jfcsphilly.org. JE
JEWISHEXPONENT.COM 31