"Who has need for any of those rituals," I often hear people ask. "We don't do that, we are Reform," others proudly proclaim. Ritual behavior that demands time and attention to detail has often been pushed aside in our modern, busy, rational everyday lives. For many people this works just fine.

I was looking at year-end evaluations, for example, and a child in our school wrote that you sit shiva when someone dies for that day and the next day. The teacher had noted that the answer was incorrect. But I wondered, was it? This was probably that child's experience of shiva.

This week in our Torah portion we read a few unique rituals of the slaughtering of a red heifer as purification from sin, and rules after someone has been in contact with a dead person as well as other purity laws. These rules may seem foreign and strange to most of us. Even observant Jews might not be familiar with the rituals. But the approach to ritual is something many of us can understand.

Recently I have spoken with a number of congregants who have experienced devastating losses. They speak of the endless days where they go from one activity to the other, passing through the motions of life, waiting for time to pass until they will once again be able to sleep through the night, or feel normal again. Who among us has not experienced such a loss? Who among us has not felt that agony, wishing there was something someone could do, something we could do to lessen the pain?

It is in this time that I, as a Rabbi, think back to some of our ancient and timeless rituals. Things like saying prayers or psalms every day, rituals such as a weekly trip to synagogue to say Kaddish, or a commitment to visiting the sick, helping the elderly, doing something for someone else. Each one of these rituals can add meaning and structure to an otherwise difficult day-to- day existence. The problem with rituals is they cannot be approached rationally and their usefulness cannot be evaluated free from the emotions that accompany the need for the ritual.

It is hard to read our sacred scripture and really understand what it must have been like for our ancestors. As with everything in life, we must be careful not to judge, since we do not stand in their shoes. What we must do is to seek to understand, and to find out what we can learn from the sacred memories they have left us.

Shabbat Shalom!

A MOSQUE, A SHUL AND A HINDU SHRINE - One-day bus trip led by Rabbi Sussman on Thursday, August 7, to visit the Eldrige Street Synagogue, Islamic Cultural Center, and the Ganesh Hindu Temple. Reservations by check only. $60/person (KI members) $75/person (non-members). Information (215) 887-8702. Maximum 45.

VISIT THE KI/WRJ GIFT SHOP - Lap robes now 10% off. We accept VISA and MasterCard. Free Gift Wrapping! Summer hours by appointment: Contact Marlene Baker at (215) 368-8025.

RED CROSS PLATELET DONATION - Sunday, July 13, at Adath Jeshurun. Platelet donation takes approximately two hours. For more information or for an appointment, contact Nancy Taylor of the Red Cross at 215-348-9271.

DO A MITZVAH - Help the Jewish Relief Agency at their warehouse (10980 Dutton Road, Philadelphia) assemble and deliver food packages to people in need. Special Summer Schedule: Sunday, July 13th,10:00 a.m.: pack and deliver (bagels & coffee for volunteers). Monday, July 14th, 4:00 to 8:00 p.m.: deliver only (pizza for volunteers). For more information, contact Amy Krulik, JRA Executive Director at 610-660-0190, or Rabbi Stacy Rigler at 215-887- 8704.

DONATIONS TO HELP MIDWEST FLOOD VICTIMS - Send contributions to Union for Reform Judaism Donations, URJ Disaster Relief Fund, 633 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017

CLOTHING DRIVE BENEFITS CHILDHOOD LEUKEMIA FOUNDATION - Bring gently used clothing and shoes to the collection bin along KI's driveway. Proceeds will go towards improving the quality of life of children afflicted with this dreaded disease. For more information, visit their website.

UNPLUG IT!! Help the Environment - Make an effort to unplug battery chargers when not in use, turn home office equipment off from a power strip, and turn lights and ceiling fans off when no one is in the room. Many products use energy even when turned off, if they are still plugged in. Small trickles of energy use in your home can drain your wallet, as well as waste our natural resources.

COOKING FOR SHARING IS CARING - Help assemble meals in the K/G kitchen for clients of the Klein Branch JCC from 9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, TBA. Information: Gladys Segal (215) 635-5815.

WIRELESS INTERNET ZONE! Bring your laptop, enjoy a cup of gourmet coffee, and explore a current best seller. Make the KI Library your home away from home.

AUDIO BOOKS - Click here for a list of our audio books.

"WHY ME: SPIRITUAL AND EMOTIONAL ISSUES THAT OFTEN ACCOMPANY A DIAGNOSIS OF BREAST CANCER" - Thursday, July 10 from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. at a private home on the Main Line. Co-facilitated by Rabbi Elisa Goldberg, Director of the Joan Grossman Center for Chaplaincy and Healing, and Gari Julius Weilbacher, breast cancer survivor and life coach. Presented by Yad b'Yad, (Hand in Hand), a program of Jewish Family and Children's Service (JFCS) of Greater Philadelphia. Part of an ongoing series of workshops being sponsored by Jewish Family and Children's Service and funded by the Philadelphia Affiliate of the Susan G. Komen Foundation on topics of interest and concern to women living with breast cancer. Registration required. RSVP to Lonnie Beer at 215.635.8909, ext. 118.

SUNDAY SOCCER LEAGUE - Click on the Kehillah link below left.