Erev Rav – The Torah states that those who were a part of the Exodus from Egypt, were an erev rav, a “mixed multitude.” The classical and more modern commentaries capitalize on this colorful notion, explaining that not all those who left Egypt could, “de facto or de jure”, be considered B’nai Yisrael, the Children of Israel (“descendants of our patriarch, Jacob). Rather, our brilliant interpreters teach that this erev rav consisted of the children of Israel AND many others, inspired by the inherent mission of Exodus – to make real the vision of b’tzelem Elohim, that all human beings are created in the image of God.
I know it might seem a bit chutpahdik to compare the forming of CSK to the Exodus from Egypt, but I don’t think it’s that far off. In this way – CSK started is and has become more and more a mixed multitude of individuals, couples and families who join our spiritual journey because they can see not only what we are, but what we strive to be.
The mishkan, the portable holy space that, like the Israelites, we too shlepp, set up, break down, and set up again each and every week, is one into which all are welcome. This is indeed what we mean when we say, as we have said from the very beginning, “Join us…you already belong.”
As the end of the year approaches, please remember CSK in your 2023 Tzedakah plans.
Rabbi Scott
