Strengthening One Another

Rabbi Andrea Kulikovsky explores the meaning of community and prayer through the lens of the parashot Vayakhel-Pekudei. She reflects on the challenges faced by the community and finds solace in the idea that being together and supporting one another offers protection and strength. The sermon highlights the importance of communal prayer and the sacred space created when people come together.

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What is Kolot: Voices from The Ark Synagogue?

Welcome to Kolot, the podcast of The Ark Synagogue, a bold, experiential and caring Progressive Jewish community in Northwood, London.

Through sermons, reflections and conversations from across our community, Kolot explores Jewish life, learning and values in the world we live in today. Rooted in tradition and open to new perspectives, these episodes bring together voices that inspire thought, connection and belonging.

Whether you are Jewish, exploring Judaism, or simply looking for meaningful reflection, you are warmly welcome.

To learn more about The Ark Synagogue, visit arksynagogue.org.

When we finish a book of Torah, as we will do tomorrow, we say the traditional words:

Chazak, chazak, v’nitchazek.
Be strong, be strong, and let us strengthen one another.

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These words reflect so much of what we have experienced here during the past few weeks.

It is no news to anyone here: we have had some very difficult days in our community. Yet in the midst of the chaos, with so many emotions swirling around us, one feeling would not leave me: I was so proud of our community.

And if I did not already feel blessed, this would certainly have been the moment when I understood just how blessed I am to be part of this loving community.

So it feels only fitting that this week’s combined parashah, Vayakhel–Pekudei — the final portions of the book of Exodus — ends with the whole community bringing the materials needed to build the Tabernacle. Donations of the heart. Every skilled person coming forward, moved by their hearts, to help with the work.

The whole community together.

With their goods, with their hands, moved by their hearts, they built the most sacred space.

And that sacred space was more than simply the place where God would dwell. It was the place where they knew they would find one another. Where they would find community. Where they would find protection.

Earlier this week, during our conversation about prayer in the new adult learning series “Let’s Talk About…”, one of the participants said something very simple and very profound:

“It is a terrible thing to be alone in this world. We come to the synagogue to be together, to be in community.”

That, they said, is why we pray.

Prayer, then, is protection — not only because we are seeking protection from something beyond us, though sometimes we are. It is also because there is something sacred, something powerful, in simply being together in community.

Here at The Ark, I know that we find one another.
We look after one another.
We are not alone.

Here, by leaning on one another and caring for one another, we find protection.

That is the real meaning of community. That is why we come together: to dance, to laugh, to worry, and to cry.

The book of Exodus finishes with these words:

“For over the Tabernacle a cloud of God rested by day, while fire appeared in that cloud by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel throughout their journeys.”

After all the emotions of the past two weeks, I am quite certain that over our sanctuary, every day, there rests a cloud of God.

And in the evening, each of us carries within us a small part of the fire that brings this community together — the fire that makes us who we are.

We are strong, and we strengthen one another.

This is how we walk together.
This is The Ark.

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