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Shalom is one of the ways we say goodbye in Hebrew. And so I'm thinking about that word. Depending on how it's vocalized (sha'lom, sha'leym, she'laym), it has many different meanings. First, sha'leym is a sense of fullness, completeness. Shaleym describes our life at Temple and our experience in Memphis. So many precious friends, so many extraordinary people, so many dear Temple-Memphians who have treated us as family. (Or better!) Second, I'm thinking about she 'laym, which means to compensate or repay. This is a hard one. How do we ever repay one person, much less countless souls who have made so great an effort to support, encourage, and feed us? Is it possible to repay such extraordinary generosity? Probably not! Tara might have a better idea, but I suspect that all we can do is have faith that our gratitude, love and friendship is our thank you. I'm also thinking of peace- shalom. The rabbis teach that shalom is one of God's names. Shalom is not just a feeling. Shalom is a sign of God's presence. The feeling is a manifestation of God in our lives. Our time in Memphis has brought God more deeply into my life than ever before. Lastly, since shalom is a name for God, more than just a feeling, it occurs to me that shalom is also a goal. It's a vision that we strive to achieve, to emulate, to touch at moments. Well, that's also Temple. As Tara and I embark on the next stage of our journey, Temple will always be a model of an extraordinary synagogue. Temple has so much to teach the world about synagogue life. You all will always be our cherished teachers. So, I say thank you from the bottom of my heart. Thank you for feeling our gratitude, and thank you for accepting our heartfelt desire to repay you for all that you have given us. You will always be a part of us. All the best, Rabbi Meir Feldman |
