Hineni

When the holy one calls upon a person singled out for some task, those who are up to the work respond with the word hineni. The response means more than "Here I Am"; it means, more deeply, "I am ready to do what is asked of me." One puts aside reservations, doubts and hesitations, committed to the task at hand.

It is time for our congregation to say hineni and act to help us acquire a permanent home. I have a unique message – that the life of spirit can be the core value of Jewish communal life. We've created a community based on this principle and it has transformed the lives of our congregants. It has the power to touch thousands more, through outreach to communities around the country. Having a permanent home will allow us to continue to develop and expand upon this important work.

Judaism as a religion will ultimately stand or fall on whether it has the ability to transform lives. Our heritage will only have meaning if its spiritual resources can be brought into our lives, shape our lives and create a legacy for future generations.

At Ohr HaTorah we show how that is done.

Rabbi Mordecai Finley