Graduation season arrives once again. As I watch our youngest move up from pre-school, our middle schoolers head to high school, and our high school seniors head to the college campus, I am always impressed by their connection to our spiritual home, Sinai Temple. Inside the physical walls of Sinai Temple, these graduates have been spiritually nourished, created life long relationships, and built sacred connection. While we play “Pomp and Circumstance” for our graduates today, the Torah tells us of a different ritual for the leaders of the past. We are told to make two trumpets of silver and they should be used to call the congregation to travel.
The Rabbis explain that all the vessels which Moses made were kosher for himself and future generations, but the trumpets could not be passed down to the leaders of tomorrow. Why couldn’t the shofar also be passed down? The Rabbis answer, “The next generation must create their own shofar.”
When one graduates, we take the knowledge inherited from our teachers. Yet, that is not enough. What will we do with that knowledge to become a leader? Each student is unique in their own way. Each student enters the classroom differently as they conclude the year. Beyond the celebration of graduation, it is always an honor to see alumni return to our synagogue. They often express their deep longing for the religious life Sinai gave them, and for the eternal gift of their Judaism. They tell us how they are equipped to go into the world and be the leader of tomorrow.
In other words, just like Moses, they are creating their own shofar, blaring loudly from the pride in their souls.
Mazal Tov to all of our graduates!
