A Message from our Esteemed Rabbi
Rav Chaim Marcus
This year marks a momentous occasion - Congregation Israel’s 50th Annual Gala Dinner - representing decades of hard work, spiritual growth, and communal dedication. It is a moment of great joy and celebration, a time to recognize the immense efforts of so many and to reflect on the blessings we have received.
In Jewish tradition, the number 50 holds deep significance, notably as Yovel, the Jubilee year, when indentured servants are freed and ancestral properties are returned to their owners. However, our milestone carries a deeper connection to another mention of 50 in the Torah, the initial count of fifty days. As the verse instructs: “Tispiru chamishim yom - You shall count fifty days…” (Vayikra 23:16). On the 50thday, the Jewish people commemorated the receiving of the Torah at Har Sinai marking the culmination of their journey from Egypt.
The Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson zy”a, provides a profound insight into this count. In the verse immediately preceding this commandment, the Torah instructs us to count seven complete weeks, which total only 49 days — not 50. If this count, known as Sefiras HaOmer, reflects the experience of the Exodus, then the question arises: do we count 49 days, or 50? How many days did the Jewish people count in anticipation of Kabbalat HaTorah?
The Rebbe explained that this count symbolized a much deeper transformation than simply counting the days it took to complete a desert journey. In the Jewish mystical tradition, that number represented a spiritual metamorphosis taking place during those weeks. The Jews had sunk to the 49th level of impurity, a dangerous abyss. The preparation to receive the Divine directives on Mount Sinai was not merely to get to the foot of the mountain, but rather to ascend from the pit of the metaphysical morass they were stuck in and to enter through the corresponding 49 gates of holiness. Here they joined together as a unified people, thereby preparing themselves to enter the Covenant of Torah.
However, there was still one more gate of holiness to pass – the 50th gate. Rabbi Schneerson taught that this gate could only be entered though God’s benevolence, as a Divine gift that transcends human effort. In Jewish thought, the number 50 symbolizes the culmination of human effort, where a Heavenly reward is bestowed upon people for their perseverance. Fifty represents a level beyond this world.
As we celebrate the 50th Annual Gala Dinner, we pray that Hashem continues to bless us with success and growth in the years ahead. Lea and I feel incredibly privileged to be recognized as this year’s Guests of Honor. We join the congregation in expressing our gratitude to all the honorees, who embody the values of arvus v’achdus —responsibility and unity — that make Congregation Israel a vibrant center of religious life. Our 50th Gala Dinner is an opportunity to celebrate the contributions of these individuals, who exemplify the spirit of our community:
- Dr. Leonard Bielory – Keter Shem Tov Award
- Sarah Lachs – Aishet Chayil Award
- Leora and Shmuel Babich – Young Leadership Award
- Racheli Marcus – Joseph Tammam Memorial Youth Community Service Scholarship Award
May Hashem continue to grant the honorees and their families, and our entire Kehilla, the blessings and rewards that come from Divine and communal service.
Mazel Tov!