Shabbat Newsletter - July 8, 2022

Shabbat Shalom!

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WWW.SHIRCHADASH.ORG

Friday Night Services

Friday, 6:15 PM

In-person and live-streamed

Shabbat Morning Services followed by Kiddush lunch

Saturday, 9:30 AM

In-person and live-streamed

Minyan with Men's Club

followed by breakfast

Sunday, 9:15 AM

In-person and live-streamed

COVID-19 UPDATE

Our Health Committee update as of June 17, 2022 is as follows:

In the last few months, we have been able to largely resume our normal programming (babysitting, indoor dining, etc.), and remove the strict limitations on attendance numbers and spacing. We also lifted our mask mandate, while keeping our vaccine requirement in effect.

Recently, however, COVID-19 cases started creeping up again. Approximately a month ago, in response to the increased local positivity rates, we reinstated our mask mandate. While local positivity rates do remain elevated, we have not seen a significant increase in local hospitalizations or deaths. As a result and with the approval of the Board, we are returning to our mask optional policy.

Please click HERE to read our guidelines in full.

Haftarah Tidbits

There’s something about outsiders that allows them to see so clearly what the rest of society misses. In our haftarah from the Book of Judges, Yiftach the Gileadite is one such outsider whose vision is made crystal clear out of the haze of rejection. As the son of a prostitute, Yiftach is cast out of his land by his half-brothers into the wilderness of Tob until the elders of Gilead come crawling back to ask him to lead them in battle against the attacking Ammonites. It turns out that Yiftach is in fact the perfect person for the job and not simply because of his skill in warcraft.

That is because the war he is being asked to lead is one to defend rightfully Israelite territory from a kingdom that claims that they have no right to be there. Yiftach knows what it’s like to be dispossessed of what is rightfully his. In fact, his brothers said as much to him when they forced him off his land: “לֹא־תִנְחַ֣ל בְּבֵית־אָבִ֔ינוּ כִּ֛י בֶּן־אִשָּׁ֥ה אַחֶ֖רֶת אָֽתָּה / You shall have no share in our father’s property, for you are the son of an outsider!” The King of the Ammonites says essentially the same thing to the whole clan of Gilead in claiming that they seized Ammonite territory unlawfully: to the king, the Gileadites are the outsiders, usurping the rightful property of his people.

That is why Yiftach’s response to the King of Ammon is more than a mere recounting of the history of how the territory came into Israelite hands. Yiftach’s defense of Israel’s right to that territory is really a defense of his own right to have a share in the community. Ironically, it is his experience of being cast out that makes him the perfect person to see clearly how unjust the claims of the Ammonites are and let that motivate him to defend his people—despite and because of how they treated him.

In this way, Yiftach speaks for all outsiders who deserve a place in society. We, like Yiftach, have each had our moments of feeling outcast, of not belonging. Rather than letting those lead us to despair, let us be like this great chieftain and find ways to use those experiences to fight for others who are cast aside unjustly—helping them to find their rightful place in society.

- Rabbinic Intern David Kaplinsky

A Prayer for Peace

May we see the day when war and bloodshed cease,

when a great peace will embrace the whole world.

Then nation will not threaten nation,

and the human family will not again know war.

For all who live on earth shall realize

we have not come into being to hate or destroy.

We have come into being to praise, to labor, and to love.

Compassionate God, bless the leaders of all nations

With the power of compassion.

Fulfill the promise conveyed in Scripture:

I will bring peace to the land,

and you shall lie down and no one shall terrify you.

I will rid the land of vicious beasts

and it shall not be ravaged by war.

Let justice and righteousness flow like a mighty stream.

Let God’s peace fill the earth as the waters fill the sea.

And let us say: Amen.

A Prayer for Our Country

Our God and God of our ancestors, with mercy accept our prayer on behalf of our country and its government. Pour out Your blessing upon this land, upon its inhabitants, upon its leaders, its judges, officers, and officials, who faithfully devote themselves to the needs of the public. Help them understand the rules of justice You have decreed, so that peace and security, happiness and freedom, will never depart from our land.

Adonai, God whose spirit is in all creatures, we pray that Your spirit be awakened within all the inhabitants of our land. Uproot from our hearts hatred and malice, jealousy and strife. Plant love and companionship, peace and friendship, among the many peoples and faiths who dwell in our nation. Grant us the knowledge to judge justly, the wisdom to act with compassion, and the understanding and courage to root out poverty from our land.

May it be Your will that our land be a blessing to all who dwell on earth, and may You cause all peoples to dwell in friendship and freedom. Speedily fulfill the vision of Your prophets: “Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.” “For all of them, from the least of them to the greatest, shall know Me.” And let us say: Amen.

Click here to view in PDF form and print prior to Shabbat

Parashat Chukkat

Torah: Numbers 20:22 - 22:1

Maftir: Numbers 21:34 - 22:1

Haftarah: Judges 11:1-33

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”).

Brochure

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.