Shabbat Evening Services

Friday, 6:15 PM

In person in the Chapel.

Also available on Zoom.

Shabbat Morning Services followed by Kiddush lunch

Saturday, 9:30 AM

In-person and live-streamed

Welcome Back Cookout!

Sunday, 12 PM

ALL CONGREGANTS WELCOME!

Parent orientation and teacher introductions will be offered to all Shul School families.

COVID-19 UPDATE

In this week’s portion, Ekev, we are commanded to “circumcise the foreskin of the heart.” (Deuteronomy 10:16). Although this is a technically correct translation, we need a little background about ancient anatomy and physiology, plus an assist from the Sages, to understand what’s going on here.

First, let’s realize that according to the ancients, the heart wasn’t really the primary source of emotion. That honor belonged to the kidneys. Take, for example, this verse: “I bless the Lord who has guided me; my conscience (literally, kidneys) admonish me at night.” (Psalms 16:7) Though that may sound strange to us, the fact is that the loss of kidney function is a serious matter, often requiring dialysis three times weekly to remedy, so ascribing something as fundamental as emotion to them makes sense on some level. Kidneys were also a part of the priestly sacrifices, so they were a body part which was widely known to all.

Now if the kidneys are the seat of human emotion, then what function does the heart play? The answer is that it is the seat of intelligence. The heart, not the brain, is what helps us understand, as in the following verse: “And in the hearts of all those who are wise, I have implanted wisdom.” (Exodus 31:6).

Given that, what does it mean to circumcise the heart? Just as circumcision is a “peeling back” or “removal of a covering” which also facilitates the completion of a central commandment, so too is “circumcising the heart” a way of removing obstacles to following the commandments. In the midrash entitled Pirke Rabbi Eliezer (the chapters of Rabbi Eliezer), a rabbinic commentary dating to the 7^th century CE, we read:

And in the future the Holy One, blessed be He, will take away from Israel the uncircumcision of the heart, and they will not harden their stubborn (heart) any more before their Creator, as it is said, "And I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh" (Ezek. 36:26).

Just as removing a cataract improves visual acuity dramatically and immediately (I know personally from having the surgery), so too removing the flesh surrounding the heart will improve our commitment to the Jewish people and the Jewish faith.

- Rabbi Scott Hoffman

Parashat Eikev

Shabbat Mevarchim HaChodesh

Torah: Deuteronomy 10:12 - 11:25

Maftir: Deuteronomy 11:22-25

Haftarah: Isaiah 49:14 - 51:3

The Torah reading for this week is in the panel above. If you do not have a Chumash at home, you can find it on the link below. We are reading Triennial Year 3, but you might like to read the full portion (“Full Kriyah”).

Our Shabbat brochure with yahrzeits and simchas for this week is attached. You might wish to take special notice of those who are sick, and take a moment to direct your thoughts towards them.