From The Rabbi
Summer 2026
Chaverim,
Judaism has a special word for the moment between day and night: bein hashmashot. It is what we call twilight— it’s not quite day, but also not quite night. The sun has set, yes, but darkness has not fully arrived yet. Because it belongs to both worlds and also to neither world, Jewish law treats it as a unique and sometimes mysterious period of transition. In our world, this presents….challenges when a baby is born or someone passes away bein hashmashot. What day is it? When is the bris? When is the yahrzeit? Some moments in our lives defy being categorized. In a world where we like to file everything neatly into order, and our halachic times like sunset and candle lighting can be calculated to the minute, it’s interesting to see that we still live with uncertainty every day.
Judaism has a special word for the moment between day and night: bein hashmashot. It is what we call twilight— it’s not quite day, but also not quite night. The sun has set, yes, but darkness has not fully arrived yet. Because it belongs to both worlds and also to neither world, Jewish law treats it as a unique and sometimes mysterious period of transition. In our world, this presents….challenges when a baby is born or someone passes away bein hashmashot. What day is it? When is the bris? When is the yahrzeit? Some moments in our lives defy being categorized. In a world where we like to file everything neatly into order, and our halachic times like sunset and candle lighting can be calculated to the minute, it’s interesting to see that we still live with uncertainty every day.
As we gear up in this country for the America 250 celebration and our anniversary of independence, I couldn’t help but wonder if the United States had its own bein hashmashot. On July 4th, 1776 the Declaration of Independence was signed, but on July 5th, 1776 the British army was still in North America. The king had no idea that the declaration had been issued. The news would take weeks to reach the Crown and even the rest of the fledgling nation on this continent hadn’t heard yet. The USA was very much no longer a colony – but not yet a new nation. America was experiencing its own bein hashmashot. The Declaration on July 4th was not the dawn of the nation; it was the twilight between what had been and what would become.
In November 1776, the small Dutch island of Sint Eustatius returned a cannon salute to an American ship. Historians often call this the “First Salute” and there is a plaque at the site on the island marking the moment. It was the first international recognition of the new United States. But America had already declared independence months earlier. The rest of the world was still catching up. Perhaps sometimes we know who we are before the others figure it out!
The Jewish people have experienced many moments of bein hashmashot. Did we become a nation when Abram heard G-d's call? When we were freed from Egyptian slavery and crossed the Sea of Reeds? When we stood at Sinai? Or when we entered the Land? Identity emerges gradually, it seems. While each of these were singular events or moments in time, they marked periods of transition, or gray areas. The same is true for our own lives. There are moments when we know we are becoming something new, even before the transformation is complete. Our own personal twilight, bein hashmashot.
The Jewish people have experienced many moments of bein hashmashot. Did we become a nation when Abram heard G-d's call? When we were freed from Egyptian slavery and crossed the Sea of Reeds? When we stood at Sinai? Or when we entered the Land? Identity emerges gradually, it seems. While each of these were singular events or moments in time, they marked periods of transition, or gray areas. The same is true for our own lives. There are moments when we know we are becoming something new, even before the transformation is complete. Our own personal twilight, bein hashmashot.
s a congregation you could say we are also in a period of bein hashmashot. We just voted on an exciting move to a new building – yet it won’t happen for some time yet. Many things have to go well for this project to see completion. So we made a decision, a declaration if you will, and we also have not changed anything yet. Services, classes, and programs are all taking place in our familiar surroundings. We are “in between” right now. You could say that it’s not just about the building either. We are growing, becoming, evolving and transitioning to meet the needs of a growing Jewish community on the Space Coast. But we are also not there yet. We exist bein hashmashot for a while yet. We are still in the process of becoming.
At 250 years old, America is still very much a work in progress. While we mark July 4th with pomp, circumstance, fireworks and hot dogs, it was not the singular moment in time many imagine. It was a moment within the twilight – an in-between period of hope, uncertainty and courage. May we be worthy heirs to those who saw this nation through the twilight, the darkness and to the new dawn.
At 250 years old, America is still very much a work in progress. While we mark July 4th with pomp, circumstance, fireworks and hot dogs, it was not the singular moment in time many imagine. It was a moment within the twilight – an in-between period of hope, uncertainty and courage. May we be worthy heirs to those who saw this nation through the twilight, the darkness and to the new dawn.
Rabbi Craig Mayers