Years ago, the legendary British rock & roll band, the Beatles, recorded a beautiful song. I don't know if you remember it.   Its name is "Hello-Goodbye". 

You say Yes

I say No

You say Stop

I say Go, Go, Go

You say Goodbye

And I say Hello

Hello, Hello!..

Shalom, hello to all of you, dear congregants of Temple Beth Israel. Thank you for being here on this Shabbat, which is special for all of us.

This song, Hello-Goodbye, is a good description of what I am experiencing during this week.

There is a saying that says: "a door closes, another opens."

Last Shabbat, I was saying goodbye to Beth Israel Synagogue in Aruba, where I spent four unforgettable years. Today, I am saying hello to Temple Beth Israel, to its members, to its congregants, to you!

This Shabbat, the "hello one" is the first one that I preach as your rabbi, and I thank the Boards (the new one and the former one); the rabbi search committee; and all of you who selected me to be your rabbi.

I remember perfectly the night that you called me in Aruba to give me the great news while listening to many voices singing "mazel tov and siman tov"!.

These are the "hello" things, that I don't forget.

But to have a "hello", one always needs to have previously said a "goodbye".

Last Tuesday, I performed my last official act as a rabbi in Aruba. It was a bris
(brit milah), and when I was on the road to the doctor's office with the other witness (a member of the congregation), we were talking about the importance of the brit. Brit milah, the covenant of the word; but more than words in that covenant, there are actions.

And this Shabbat, parashat Matot-Masei, the last two parashot of the fourth book (Bamidbar [Numbers]) of the Torah, the importance of making a vow -- a neder -- appeared.

The bible says: "You can make a vow, a neder, but you cannot break it."

You should fulfill your words with your actions.

You should be responsible to your vow, to your words.

That is the big difference between saying something and doing it.

That is the message of our parashot: "More important than your words are your actions."

This message, the importance of action, was taught thousands of years ago by Shammai (1^st Century C.E.) who said in Pirkei Avot 1:15 (the Ethics of the Fathers):

"Make your study of Torah a fixed habit. Say little, and do much, and receive all men with a cheerful face".

When I read that, I remembered the speech that Elaine gave a few Shabbatot ago -- her first speech as TBI president.

Elaine invited all of you to give time, support, donations, make vows... but more importantly, do actions!

Last year, you made a decision, as Elaine said:

"...We decided to remain independent, to be Temple Beth Israel, to have Temple Beth Israel go back to being the best Conservative synagogue in Broward county... but it depends on us...".

I agree 100% with these words. That's my dream, and G-d willing, it will come true with our combined efforts.

Hello-Goodbye, the Beatles sang.

The Pirkei Avot, in addition to the words of Shammai, provided us with additional lessons...

"Asai Lecha Rav"  You should acquire a Rabbi.

And, "Asai Lecha Chaver"  You should set up a friend for yourself.

Let me be a friend to you, I want to be your friend, to open your heart because my family and I want to open our hearts to all of you! 
 
I want to count on you for you can count on me; not only with words, but also with actions!

"Hello-Goodbye" sang the Beatles years ago. Today, the Shabbat of the Maasim, of  actions, is the time for me to say "hello" to Temple Beth Israel.

Shabbat Shalom!

Rabbi Marcelo Bater