It has been a terribly sad and devastating week as we heard about the horrific slaughter in Jerusalem, in the peaceful Har Nof neighborhood, of Jews engaged in morning prayers. 24 children were left orphaned.  I had a house guest this week, an American-Israeli woman visiting her father here in Orlando.  We are all used to "a small Jewish world," but in Israel there are almost no degrees of separation, especially in the observant community.  And so my friend Miriam was on the phone with her husband and other family members who all knew somebody who had been in the Beit Knesset (synagogue) when the horror happened.  Today, I received an email with a request from the widows of the murdered men, and I have to share it with you.  It is remarkable that at the time of their grief and devastation these women speak about love, compassion, and unity of the Jewish people, and not about anger and revenge.

With tears and broken hearts from the blood that has been spilled, the blood of the sanctified ones, the heads of our homes (may God avenge their blood), we turn to our brothers and sisters, everyone from the house of Israel, in whatever place they may be, to stay united to merit compassion and mercy from on High. We should all accept upon ourselves to increase love and affection for each other, whether between a person and his fellow or whether between distinct communities and congregations within the Jewish people. We beseech that each and every person accept upon himself or herself at the time of the arrival of Shabbat, that this Shabbat Parshat Toldot, should be a day in which we express our love for each other, a day in which we refrain from speaking divisively and words of gossip. By doing so it will be a great merit for the souls of our husbands, slaughtered in sanctification of God's name. May Hashem look down from above, see our suffering, wipe away our tears, and say "Enough to all the pain and grief!" May we merit witnessing the coming of the Messiah, soon in our days, amen, amen.  Signed by Chaya Levine, Breine Goldberg, Yakova Kupinsky, and Bashi Twersky. 

I urge you to join them and many thousands of Jews around the world in observing a Shabbat of love and respect for each other, a day of refrain from lashon harah (gossip and slander), for the merit of the souls of Rabbi Aryeh Kupinsky, Rabbi Avraham Shmuel Goldberg, Rabbi Avraham Shmuel Goldberg, Rabbi Kalman Levine, and Rabbi Moshe Twersky. 

I usually plan my Fed Friday in advance, and I had it in mind to write this Fed Friday about the community calendar.  In the last few weeks, we have had a number of issues and complaints regarding the community calendar, and although they are so insignificant when put in the perspective of recent tragedies and problems facing the Jewish people, I think that they are all parts of the bigger picture and the problem facing the Jewish community.  We have to start to be kinder and nicer to each other, both on the individual or institutional basis. Let's not focus on petty grudges and conflicts.  Let's give each other the benefit of the doubt, and not presume that the other person (or organization) has bad intentions.  Let's remember to thank each other and say something kind and nice.  This afternoon, a community member thanked one of my staff members for a great job she does, and it meant a lot to her.   

Let's use the community calendar thoughtfully and smartly.  We have created it in order to promote and build the Jewish community in Greater Orlando.  It is extraordinary how many things are going on in our Jewish community and we want everybody to know about them and have access to them. Just in October and November, 40 events have been listed for each month.  Recently, our website has been redesigned and upgraded.  The calendar looks different but we hope you will find it user-friendly.  Here are a few pointers:  Go to www.jfgo.org and click on the 'Community Calendar' icon.  If you prefer a monthly view, click on the "grid" icon.  Every organization is welcome to submit as many events as it wants.  If your organization needs help putting an event on the calendar, you are welcome to send information to Marisa West at [email protected]  or at 407-645-5933 and she would be happy to help you. 

The community calendar is just one of the many programs brought to you by the Jewish Federation of Greater Orlando and is made possible with you generous contributions to the Federation's Annual Campaign.  The 2015 Shaping the Future Annual Campaign is up and running and we look forward to your participation.

Thank you and Shabbat Shalom,