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While many might opine reasons why Judaism continues to flourish after 4,000 years, I’d like to focus on two: life and portability. All that we do, all that God expects of us, is focused on life. We are encouraged to live our lives to the fullest, embracing joy and celebration of family, Shabbat and holidays, and building community. God wants us to develop to be the best possible versions of ourselves, and in doing so, create a world where everyone has the opportunity to do so. In other words, tikkun olam. The mitzvot provide us with daily vehicles through which we can achieve goodness and a better life. That is why we read in Deuteronomy, “therefore, chose life”. 

Judaism also flourishes because it is portable and not building-based. With the destruction of the Second Holy Temple in 70CE and the growth of diaspora communities throughout Europe, the only thing that we needed to take with us was the Torah. Any place that our ancestors settled, they established communities that offered all that everyone needed: a house of prayer, study and gathering; a mikvah; a cemetery.  Every community did not engage a Rabbi or Cantor; rather, both were itinerant travelers who would move from community to community. Questions of observance and other halachic matters were submitted to the major Rabbis of the generation for answers, sometimes taking months to receive such a response. Despite not possessing the current technological tools that we can easily utilize, these communities thrived. The story of Jewish communities in Western Pennsylvania is not dissimilar, as small communities sprang up throughout the region, built synagogues, sometimes with the cemetery on the same land, and flourished. Alas, with the passage of time and the descendants of these founders moving elsewhere in pursuit of their professions, we continue to witness the closure of these synagogues as the community is no longer able to sustain itself. While it is indeed sad and difficult for these communities, the portability of Judaism ensures that there are communities that do thrive, Squirrel Hill being just one example. 

The Cantors Assembly acquired a Torah that survived the Holocaust, and had it completely restored and returned to use. It was decided years ago that it would be housed in the ark of the congregation whose Hazzan serves as President of the Cantors Assembly. On August 18 of this year, during our officers’ retreat here in Pittsburgh, the immediate past president of the Cantors Assembly, Cantor Joanna Dulkin from Minneapolis, presented me, and through me, the Tree of Life Congregation, this precious legacy of a Holocaust Torah. It is now housed in the ark in Levy Hall, and will be utilized throughout the year. I am humbled and honored to have received this Torah, and I hope that you are as well. May we jointly share in this distinction and celebrate the occasions when it will be read from.