Shabbat Newsletter - June 17, 2022

Shabbat Shalom!

All Zoom links have migrated to our webpage! Click here to get there!

WWW.SHIRCHADASH.ORG

Kabbalat Shabbat

Friday, 6 PM

ON ZOOM ONLY

Shabbat Morning Services

Saturday, 9:30 AM

In-person and live-streamed

Minyan with

Men's Club

Sunday, 9:15 AM

In person in the Chapel,

followed by breakfast.

Also available on Zoom.

COVID-19 UPDATE - New Information!

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

In life, we sometimes feel like we are in a battle between parties in a courtroom. I want this and they want that. I think this way and they feel otherwise. This image of strife is also found in the first vision of the prophet Zechariah in this week’s haftarah. In it, we find a messenger (or lawyer) of God arguing with the Satan, the prosecutor, over whether the high priest Joshua is fit to serve in the not yet rebuilt temple (after the first was destroyed by Babylon in 596 BCE). Joshua in this scene, although wearing filthy robes, is vindicated by the angel of God, and re-dressed in priestly garments.

By the end of the haftarah a second vision is shown of the menorah with two olive trees, each on one side of its seven branches. According to Rashi, this vision shows these trees providing oil miraculously processed without human effort, through a series of vats, bowls, and tubes that drip into the lamps themselves. Zechariah doesn’t understand the meaning of the image, so the angel explains it—albeit not so clearly. What the messenger says is:

“ לֹ֤א בְחַ֙יִל֙ וְלֹ֣א בְכֹ֔חַ כִּ֣י אִם־בְּרוּחִ֔י — not by might and not by power, but by my spirit alone.” Again, we need Rashi to help us. He explains that just as the lamps process the oil by themselves without human effort, so too God’s new temple will not be built with their own power or strength.

In both these visions of Jeremiah, we have images of strife resolving through God’s guidance, not human toil. In both, we also have visions of two parties counterpoised: the angel and accuser, the left and right olive tree. While in the first picture, one party prevails, the second image shows a partnership. There are indeed two different trees, but their purposes end up bringing light to different sides of the same menorah. The angel’s words reflect this harmony: not by warring and not by power, but by God’s spirit shall the future be built. May we remember in times of disagreement and strife that we are all ultimately in service to strengthening the light of Torah and the Holy Blessed One.

- 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.

Torah Service Prayer

Here is the new prayer we have created for our Torah service. Thank you to Elliot Finkelstein for the idea! Please join in from home.

____________________________________

Nishmat Kol Hai, Breath of Life

bless the people of this community

their families and their friends

here and at home.

HaShekhinah, Beloved One

bless our neighbors in this city

may we live in harmony

may we be proud of each other.

HaTzur, Protecting One

bless this country, its government,

all who strive for its welfare

all who risk themselves to protect it.

Elohei Avoteinu, God of our ancestors

bless the land of Israel

may it flourish in hope and in honor

spread over it a shelter of peace.

Ma’ayan Hayyenu, Wellspring of our lives,

bless the Jewish people

may we be ambassadors of our tradition

may we be spared from distress and shame.

Hamakom, All-present One

bless the world and all that is in it

help us defend it and preserve it

for the generations that will follow us.

May all this be so,

And we say,

Amen.

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

Parashat Beha'alotecha

Torah: Numbers 10:35 - 12:16

Maftir: Numbers 12:14-16

Haftarah: Zechariah 2:14 - 4:7

The Torah reading for this week is in the panel above. If you do not have a Humash 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.