Dear Friends,
Shabbat Shalom! Like our ancestors traveling through the wilderness, we find ourselves in a space of uncertainty and change with routines uprooted and replaced. There is something powerful in reflecting our own personal struggles are echoed throughout the world as billions of people respond to this new day. As another week draws to a close I challenge us to reflect not only on the struggles of the past week but also the blessings we've experienced as well.
In American culture we often start our conversations with the words "Hello, How are you?" Fifteen hundred years ago, in the time of the Talmud, people offered a greeting of well-being as well, one still used by some Jews today. "
Shalom aleichem
", they would commonly say, "Peace upon you." It was this hope of peace that
inspired
the song Shalom Alechem that we sing on Friday nights to welcome in Shabbat as we ask the angles of peace to bless our home. Cantor Kupfer sings this beautifully here and as you do we pray that you, your family, our community, our world may find peace and wholeness.
1.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the Steinberg and McPherson families
on this Shabbat.
To Ari, Howard, Riley and Alex Steinberg on the death of their mother and grandmother, Cheryl Shannon.
And to Trey, Liz, Frances, and Will on the death of their father and grandfather Clifton McPherson.
May they be comforted among the mourners of Zion and Jerusalem.
2.
Join us on Zoom for our Virtual Shabbat Service tonight at 7:30pm.
Watch it on Facebook or Youtube, but if you, click
HERE to join the Zoom meeting it will
allow more participation and even a chance for an
oneg shabbat
with schmoozing (but no food). This service will be s
ign interpreted for the deaf.
Then join us tomorrow at 11AM as we celebrate Max Bernstein's Bar Mitzvah.
3.
Sign up to call 10 congregants.
I join Jeff Smith, our president, in asking you to what he is calling our "Phone Buddy" program. Call periodically and just check in as you would with your own friends and family on 10 of our congregants during these times and make sure your buddies are well, have the supplies they need, and to generally be available even if it's just to talk. Our Caring Committee will get you the names and numbers to call.
Another initiative to support our community is a grocery shopping program for our senior congregants. To sign up for either please respond to this email or call our synagogue office.
4. This week's Torah portion, Vayikra, describes a sacrificial system (korbanot) that ended 2,000 years ago with the destruction of the Temple. It reminds us that our people have a good history of adapting and changing and yet still holding onto the ikar, the essence of our ancient practices. As we, hopefully temporarily, change, while our practices may change - may we hold onto our essence. Vayikra teaches us that for each of us God has a task. That discerning that task, hearing God's call, is what gives a life meaning and purpose.
Shalom Alechem - may you find peace and wholeness -
Rabbi Pincus
|
Shalom Alechem Malachai Hashalom
May you enter in peace oh you angels of peace
May G-d's spirit in you abide
May the blessings of peace be with you tonight as our praises rise to G-d, as our praises rise to G-d.
|
|
Friday
|
10:30AM
|
Tot Shabbat Service with Cantor Kupfer
|
|
|
7:30PM
|
Shabbat Services
|
Or call in: 1-929-205-6099
|
|
Saturday
|
|
|
9:30AM
|
Torah Study
|
|
|
11AM
|
Congregation Beth Israel Shabbat Services
|
|
6:45PM
|
Havdalah and Drinks with Super Tribe (
For Folks 35-50)
|
Click here to join |
|
Tuesday
|
|
|
11AM
|
Preparing For Passover
(Learn to prepare for a virtual seder)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
a progressive, welcoming Reform Jewish community
701 Farmington Avenue
West Hartford, Connecticut 06119
860-233-8315
|
|
|
|
