WHAT TIME DO THE DOLPHINS COME?

By Rabbi Judith HaLevy

“Shalom. Malibu Jewish Center and Synagogue.
How can I help you?”

“What time do the dolphins come?“ queried a
potential visitor to the MJC&S Shabbat on the
Beach. Caught off guard, the person responding to the phone
replied (somewhat erroneously) “I don’t know, they’re fish!”

Much like our congregants, it is hard to predict when the dolphins will actually appear, but show up, they do. In fact, they probably have a better Shabbat attendance record than many Jews in Los Angeles. When we first began holding Shabbat services, their appearance seemed to be coincidental. Seven years later, we know that dolphins love to celebrate Shabbat – perhaps it is the music, the sunset and flickering candles, or the “vibe” of a community joyously singing together in the gathering dusk. As we sing during each Friday evening service:

Eli. Eli, we pray that these things never end
The sand and the sea
The rush of the waters…

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