Green And Growing

Last Friday, I got to witness something so beautiful. We had grandparent’s Shabbat in our Early Childhood Center. As I looked out at the children, who were so excited to have grandmas and grandpas and other special friends with us, I realized that so many of the grandparents joining us were once bar/bat mitzvah parents. Their children have grown up, right before so many of our eyes and have started their own families. Once b’nai mitzvah at Ramat Shalom, they have continued to make our community their home. In doing so, they have brought their own babies to our Early Childhood Center, giving them the gifts of love and community that lie at the foundation of who we are. In this week’s Torah portion, Jacob blesses his son, Joseph, saying, “I will make you into a congregation of peoples…” (Genesis 48:4) He blesses his two grandsons, Ephraim and Menasheh (Joseph’s…