This weeks Parsha is one of my favorites. From Leviticus 25: "When you enter the land that I give you, the land shall have a sabbath for the Eternal. Six years you may sow your field and six years you may prune your vineyards and gather in the yield. But in the seventh year the land shall have a sabbath of complete rest." This is one of the earliest recorded statements concerning a unique, respectful and loving relationship with the earth.

Happy Lag B'Omer! While a minor holiday, this 33rd day of the Omer Period, is marked by bonfires, celebrations and remembrances of the Kabbalist and Tannaitic sage from the 2nd century, Shimon bar Yochai.

Last week Jewish communities throughout the world commemorated Yom HaAtzmaut, when the leaders of the Jewish National Council in Palestine declared independence on the 5th of Iyyar, May 14, 1948. It was a transforming and emotional moment for the Jewish people. For many, the restoration of our people in its ancient homeland was the fulfillment of dreams and prayers since ancient times and a step toward healing the oppression that our people had experienced throughout the centuries and, then, more recently, from Nazism.

The Torah still serves as a central guide for ecological responsibility and environmental awareness. The Sabbath, Shabbat, is perhaps the oldest celebrated "Earth Day."

This week's blog simply consists of several verses from Pirkei Avot, the Ethics of the Sages, a short book found in the Mishna. When I was a teenager, growing up in Lakewood, New Jersey, I would look forward to the weekly Seudah Shlisheet, the third Sabbath meal, late Shabbes afternoon in shule. We would davven Mincha, the afternoon service, sit down for a simple meal of gefilte fish, herring, maybe some kugel, kichel and mondelbrot, and sing Zemires. We would also enjoy a bissel schnoptz.