Precious Stones: Five Years of Learning, Loving, and Leading

Friends, we are scattered across the globe, but wherever we are, we are connected. Today, the UJA-Federation of New York Morning Torah community celebrated five years of Torah, five years of staying steady in the midst of an unstable world. We have gathered every weekday morning, without fail, even when the world trembled, even when it seemed we might falter. This is no small thing.

Today, we celebrate the perseverance of our learning community. For 529 days, since October 7th, we have counted every single day, carrying the weight of each one with us. We have held our loved ones in prayer and song, organized in their honor, and wept for those still held in terror. The 59 souls who await freedom in dark tunnels, trapped in unimaginable conditions, have been on our minds and hearts every day. Today, their fate is again at risk. Let this moment of celebration be dedicated to them, to their freedom, to the wisdom that we hope will guide the decision-makers in their release. Let us pause, just for a moment, and give all of our hearts to them. For 529 days, we have prayed for their safe return, knowing that even in our darkest moments, we must carry the preciousness of their lives in our hearts.

Let us also reflect on the steadiness of this community. For five years, we have found each other every single day. Through pandemics, political upheavals, war, loss, and the births of new lives — through all of this, we have stood together. Each day, we have found one another, even when the world seemed divided, even when we felt alone. This community matters. It is a testament to the power of presence, the power of showing up, and the power of loving each other in our vulnerability.

Today, we read from Exodus 35 (as part of Parashat Vayakhel), where the people are instructed to bring their offerings for the construction of the Mishkan — the Tabernacle. It’s a litany of specific materials: gold, silver, copper, fine linens, and precious stones. These things, each one significant, each one precious, were to be used to create something holy. But we also learn something deeper here. The Torah tells us that every person whose heart is moved should bring an offering. These materials, like the Torah itself, are carried by all of us. The priest, though, carried them in the Tabernacle as a symbol of leadership. But we, too, are leaders in this community, carrying each other’s burdens, learning from each other, and supporting one another.

For five years, we have taken turns carrying one another. We are all priests in this sense, all responsible for holding each other up. Every word, every prayer, every act of kindness, and every moment of learning is a precious stone in this great mosaic. And though we are not in the desert, we carry these precious things with us, in our hearts, in our deeds, and in our words.

This is the great revolution of our time — the shift from the priesthood to the rabbinic tradition. Today, each of us is called to lead, to learn, to offer, and to carry. There is no one person who is the keeper of all wisdom. We take turns, we share the weight, and together, we build something holy. In this, we have found a great strength, a great community.

As we mark this five-year milestone, let us remember that we are all here. No matter where we come from, no matter where we are, we are united by a common purpose. We are connected by the Torah, by our love for one another, and by the belief that together, we can make a difference in the lives of others and the world we share.

And so, today, as we gather, let us continue to carry these precious jewels in our hearts. Let us send our love and strength to those who need it most. Let us keep learning, keep growing, and keep on keeping on. May the strength of this community be a source of light in the world, and may it inspire others to gather together, to carry one another, and to build something holy.

As we conclude, let us remember our beloveds, still waiting for freedom, and say together, with all the strength of our hearts: Bring them home now. Bring them home now. Bring them home now.