Rabbinic Reflection: Rabbi Eliza McCarroll

Honouring our Wisdom Generation

Growing up, and still to this day, my family has the tradition of celebrating Shabbat dinner together at my grandparent’s home, every Friday night.

Like many of your families, we too have our Shabbat routines; this person lights the candles, that person says kiddush, we have these special foods on the table, and so on.

One such part of this routine was how my siblings and I were always taught that before anything else – before playing with our cousins, before pouring a glass of water, before petting the dog –  we were to first greet our grandparents.

I could not help but think about my grandparents as I came across a midrash (Bamidbar Rabba 15:17)  that outlines the behaviour we as Jews are expected to model towards someone of the Wisdom Generation. We are, for example, meant to rise in their presence, to not sit in their place, inquire after their welfare, and to not interrupt or contradict their words. The Midrash likens this respect to rising in God’s presence, thus Lewis Warshauer of the Jewish Theological Seminary concludes that honouring our elders is akin to honouring God[1].

As we at Holy Blossom seek to reinvigorate our Dorot program, aimed at providing our Wisdom Generation with opportunities for connection within our community, we are so thrilled to be starting with the Summer (Re)Gathering this Shabbat, 16 July. Services begin at 10.30 am, and delicious lunch and a spectacular musical program will follow.

We hope to see you there as we honour our Wisdom Generation – registration can be found here!

The Dorot Summer re-gathering is generously sponsored by a gift of Elen Steinberg in memory of her father Vladimir Steinberg z”l.

[1] https://www.jtsa.edu/torah/honoring-elders/