Unbridled joy and love could be felt in the air. Friends and family joined our local community to celebrate a moving weekend in The Last Best Place. On Sunday we inaugurated two Torah’s to The Shul (See a preview of photos here and here). There were so many moments that will remain etched in my heart forever; watching my dear father write the final letter of the Torah, watching Mick Lifson raise the Torah in memory of his mom, and of course, one hundred and forty of us dancing and singing our way down the street to The Shul with a pride that can last a lifetime. The next morning the Chronicle headlined it "The Next Level"; they were absolutely right.

In this week's Torah portion, Beshalach, we read about the splitting of the red sea. While every Hebrew School teacher speaks about the fascinating miracle, many forget to mention what transpired moments earlier. The Egyptians were closing in on the Jews as they stood with a sea before them. There were four groups of thought amongst our people; one demanding that we surrender and head back to Egypt, the second praying to G-d for a miracle, the third contemplating mass-suicide and the fourth readying themselves to fight. There was total chaos, confusion and outright hysteria.

They all got it wrong.

G-d commanded the Jews to head Sinai bound and that's what they should’ve done. G-d can and does transform unbearable challenges into visible good, in a split second. Yes, it may have looked impossible, but all missions are possible when one is following G-d's instructions. As it turned out G-d knows how to split the sea; what a shocker! G-d showed us how a moment of pain and doubt, became a moment of unfathomable faith, optimism and possibilities.

When my mom of blessed memory passed away, I was so broken; I never thought I could heal. Yet, the sadness turned to action and today our Holy Ark is housing two gorgeous Torah scrolls. Do I miss my mom? Sure, every second of every day. Do Mick and his siblings miss their mom? Of course; but we are both joyous because we took that pain and transformed into pure joy, into a bright future for authentic Torah Judaism in Big Sky Country.

As I marched with the Torah; I felt my mom marching with me!

May G-d guard our brethren in Israel and the world over from harm and send us Moshiach speedily. May He protect the armed forces of Israel and the United States wherever they may be. Shabbat Shalom! Chazak!!! L'Chaim!!!!