Twenty faith organizations gathered in the Main Sanctuary this past Tuesday to come together in prayer. Children across Los Angeles sang songs of peace as we concluded the evening with the words of “Lean On Me.”
“You just call on me brother when you need a hand. We all need somebody to lean on.” Father Ihor Koshyk of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Ukrainian Catholic Church reminded us that the true definition of peace is the victory of freedom, and the only way to achieve freedom is to act. Over the past week, we have collected emergency medical kits that are being shipped to Ukraine in the coming days.
The Torah begins to expound on the various sacrifices required in the Temple.
A todah offering is for gratitude. Rashi gives us the reasons of gratitude. Examples include miraculous deliverances such as one who has made a sea voyage or travelled in the wilderness, or had been kept in prison, or if he had been sick and was now healed.
Miraculous deliverances do not happen alone. Rather, we must create miracles together.
Yesterday, an elementary school student from Sinai Akiba Academy told me that he used his profits from his avocado business to donate $242 to the Los Angeles Federation to help with Ukrainian relief efforts.
This is the letter he sent to his customers.
“This shipment with all of the generous amounts of added tips (thank you!) along with an extra $10 by our founder we donated a whooping $242.15 to Ukraine through the Jewish Federation. Below is a picture of the founder giving (Jacks) avocados and the check to the new CEO of the Jewish Federation.”
A todah offering, an offering of gratitude with what we pray will be a miraculous deliverance to those across the world.
Thank you Jack for this reminder. Small steps…big miracles.
