Honouring our elders this Shabbat

Dear friends,

A worthy initiative is taking place this Shabbat. Shabbat VeHadarta, founded by the late Israeli cabinet minister Uri Orbach, encourages communities worldwide to pay special honour to its elderly members. The initiative is held each year on the Shabbat of Parshat Kedoshim on which we read the Torah verse “Rise in the presence of the elderly, honour the aged” (Leviticus 19:32). Michal Orbach, the leader of the Shabbat VeHadarta project, reached out to the Shabbat Project with an offer to join her. It is an honour for the Shabbat Project to partner with VeHadarta – a fellow movement to promote Torah values through global Jewish unity and the power of Shabbat. There are various ways we can get involved. For example, giving flowers before Shabbat, connecting over the phone or in person with an elderly member of your community, taking the opportunity to visit elder family members, inviting elderly neighbours for a Shabat meal, encouraging community rabbis to give elder members special aliyot in shul. You can find more suggestions at vehadarta.uriorbach.co.il/english/. This initiative celebrates a very important mitzvah of showing respect to the elderly, who are our closest link to previous generations going back to Mount Sinai. They are also a source of wisdom for our communities, as the Talmud tells us, zaken, elder, stands for ze-kana-chochma, “one who has acquired wisdom” from decades of life experiences. In recognition of this, the great sage, Rabbi Yochanan would always make a point of standing for the elderly no matter who they were. Shabbat VeHadarta is about, as individuals, showing reverence and respect to the elderly – in our daily lives and interactions. And in doing so, setting an example for our children: teaching them by example the importance of giving honor to wisdom and traditional values. Let us all get involved in this wonderful mitzvah in any way we can! With blessings, Chief Rabbi Warren Goldstein

11/12 November 2022 | 18 Cheshvan 5783 | Parsha Vayeira ShabbatUK is nearly HERE! Save the date: Thursday to Sunday 12 - 15 May 2022