It's lovely to have you with us.

This day...

The Eternal One, your God, commands you to observe all these statutes and laws.

This day is an auspicious one for me, my last public service for our sacred community before a few months of recuperation and, I'm sure, inspiration.

It is a regular service in its worship of God and its celebration of life, welcoming Andre into our community and celebrating the 65th wedding anniversary of founder congregants Rene and Dave Simmons.

Yet I want to suggest through three readings from a few of my favorite sources of inspiration that there is a direct relationship between the regular and the special.

Let us begin with a modern Israeli poet, Leah Goldberg, who lived from 1911 to 1970.

Let us thank the holy God ever to be praised, who gives us bread to eat

It's lovely to have you with us.

I and you.

Transmissions flow from your heart to mine, trading, twinning my pain with yours.

Am I not you? Are you not I? My nerves are clustered with yours.

Your dreams have met with mine.

Are we not one in the bodies of millions? Often I glimpse myself in everyone's form, hear my own speech, a distant, quiet voice in people weeping, as if under millions of masks my face would lie hidden.

I live in me and you.

Hinei matov umanaim shevet achim gam yachad How good and pleasant it

Welcome to Kolot, Voices from the Ark Synagogue.

Bold, experiential and caring progressive Jewish community where you can truly belong.

It's lovely to have you with us.

Olives Trees by Lea Goldberg They withstood the heat wave and the confidence of the storm as though they had stationed themselves for eternity on the slope across from the ruined village where they silvered in the cool light of the crescent moon.

Stand still.

How abundant in this peace.

Here is ripe old age.

Listen, listen to the gusts of winds through the landscape of olives.