Dear Friends,
In this week’s Torah portion, Vayakhel, the people are commanded to take the next step toward turning the “mixed multitude” that left Egypt into a sacred community. Anyone motivated to be one of the foundational community “builders” is invited to do so.
As the text tells us,
“Moses said [ ] to the whole community of Israelites: This is what Adonai has commanded: ‘Take from among you gifts to Adonai; everyone whose heart is so moved shall bring them gifts for Adonai.’”
The “invitation” goes out to the people, and they respond:
“And everyone who excelled in ability and whose spirit was moved came, bringing to Adonai an offering for the work of the Tent of Meeting, all its service, and the sacral vestments.”
Any God who could send plagues upon Egypt, divide a Sea of Reeds, and send sufficient nutrition on a daily basis in the form of manna could have easily handed the people a completed Tent of Meeting. Why then, I wonder, did God command its construction and supply the blueprints but ultimately leave to the people the work of gathering materials and fashioning them into something sacred?
Perhaps God understood that the Jewish community can only be built and sustained by the efforts of those passionate about creating our people’s future.
Then, as now, our kehillat kodesh, our sacred community, can only be built and maintained by those “whose hearts are so moved” that they freely shared their Divine-given gifts with others.
Over thirty years ago, I met such an individual.
At the time, Carol Pastor was teaching in our preschool; she became the school director a short time later. The rest, as they say, is history.
Carol’s heart is so big, her creativity so remarkable, and her passion for our community so great that she turned our small preschool into a nationally recognized powerhouse of early childhood education. Under Carol’s leadership, the Iris Family Center for Early Childhood Education has provided countless young people with their first formal educational experience. The students have learned to work together as a community. They have shared powerful moments such as weekly Bimah time. They have each been celebrated along the way for their unique, individual gifts.
Carol’s vision, passion, and love have been the guiding forces at every turn.
I am grateful for everything Carol has done throughout these years. I am also grateful that, in her wisdom, she brought into her circle of vision two other incredible individuals—Jennie Rubin and Lauren Byers—who will soon take over the school’s leadership.
However, Carol’s impact has not only been felt by the students in the school but also by their families. Many of our “alums” have become Jewish leaders in their own right. Many have chosen to return to the community as adults to raise their own families at TSTI. In other words, Carol’s work has impacted everyone who calls TSTI their spiritual home, even if their children did not go through the school.
Over these next weeks, we will have the opportunity to thank Carol for her years of dedication and for the impact she has had and will continue to have for years to come.
On Friday, May 9 we will have a Shabbat service to honor Carol. That will be followed by an adult celebration during which we will honor and roast our dear friend and teacher. Let’s celebrate Carol by making sure there is standing room only that night. She deserves no less.
In addition, we are creating a tribute journal to honor Carol’s years of dedication. Having recently come across a tribute book that was done when I became Senior Rabbi, I know how meaningful such things are. Please join me in helping to support TSTI and show Carol how much we love and appreciate her by taking an ad in the journal. It will be a lasting reminder that her contributions have been immeasurable.
You can find the form to sign up for the celebration and submit a tribute here. (There are only a few weeks left to submit your tributes, so please consider submitting yours before Shabbat begins.)
As this week’s Torah portion makes clear, it is only through our collective efforts that our people have endured. And it is only because of leaders like Carol Paster that we have not only survived but thrived. Thank you for joining me in celebrating this remarkable individual.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Daniel Cohen