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Dear friends, 

This is the first of what I hope will be many notes that I send to our CBI community over the next several months. While I worry about committing to writing weekly, I do hope to write regularly. In these notes I intend to share updates, resources, and a few of my own thoughts and teachings here and there.  

I want to acknowledge that we’re once again dwelling in a place of uncertainty with the recent news that we are no longer in rabbinic contract negotiations. So I’m sharing with you what we are sharing with one another here on staff: let’s take a breath and trust in one another. We will find our path forward, and continue to craft our communal path together. And from the leadership side, we will share updates as soon as we have them.  

This coming week the CBI staff will be engaging in several days of retreats. This will be time to clarify our goals and visions, and begin planning for the upcoming months in areas such as high holy days, educational programming, and the full calendar year ahead. And lest any of us think that we are all in planning mode, the Gan Keshet summer program and spectacular vibrancy (in the form of both people and plants!) on Abundance Farm are a reminder that there is always an aspect of campus that is in the heart of its season.  

I also want to share personally that I have long-awaited plans that require me to be out of town for the next four Shabbatot. Shabbat services are in great hands between Rabbi Jacob, Aram Rubenstein-Gilles, the ritual committee, and several community leaders and teachers. With some exception, I will be in the office in the weeks between, so if you were hoping to connect with me please feel free to contact the CBI office or reach out over email to schedule time together. 
 

Finally, a bit of Torah:  

This week’s parasha, Balak, details the story of Moabite King Balak who hired the sorceror Bilaam to curse the Israelites passing through his territory. Thanks to the intervention of an angel and a talking donkey, when Bilaam arrives and looks out over the Israelite camp, the only words he can utter are those of blessing. The most well-known words of his blessing are “Mah tovu ohalecha Ya’akov mishkenotecha Yisrael” “How good are your tents, O Jacob, your dwellings, Israel,” which have made their way into our liturgy.  

For years, I have been struck by one simple fact about this story: the Israelites have no idea this is even happening. Uniquely, this seems to be the only story in the Torah that happens to and about the Israelites without any of them being aware of it (at least at the time).  

There is profound learning in this for all of us: What does it mean to be worthy of blessing at all moments, even when we don’t believe we are being watched? How can we conduct ourselves in such a way that we aren’t only acting as our best selves when we know it will be noticed? And from the other side, how can we open ourselves to feel overwhelmed by awe and goodness, even if our preconceived agendas are trying to convince us otherwise?  

Wishing all of you a Shabbat filled with unexpected blessing. 

Shabbat Shalom, 
Ariella