Shabbat Newsletter - August 5, 2022

Shabbat Shalom!

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WWW.SHIRCHADASH.ORG

Shabbat Evening 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

COVID-19 UPDATE

Our Health Committee update as of July 15, 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.

In the last few days, however, local COVID-19 positivity rates have started to significantly increase. Unfortunately, local hospitalizations have begun creeping up again as well. As a result, we will be opening up the back of the sanctuary to allow for maximal ventilation during services. We also STRONGLY ENCOURAGE everyone to mask while indoors. Lastly, we suggest that anyone who is at high risk for serious infection consider staying home and joining us via Zoom for the time being.

Please click HERE to read our guidelines in full.

Our Sages Speak:

Rabbinic Reflections on the Torah Portion

What’s in a name? The answer is – it depends. Sometimes, as Shakespeare observed, it’s not crucial – “a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” (Romeo and Juliet). But other times, it can make a difference. Think of Audrey Hepburn’s character Holly Golightly (“go lightly” through life, i.e., free of commitments) in the 1960 film Breakfast at Tiffany’s. (And try not to hum “Moon River” all afternoon).

Our sages debated this very point in commenting on the opening verses of the book of Deuteronomy. This quote is taken from the Sifre, a fourth century CE commentary.

R. Yossi son of Chanina says: It is written "in the desert, in the plain": This alludes to the ten trials wherewith our fathers tried the Holy One Blessed be He in the desert: two at the (Red) sea, two, with water, two with manna, two with the quail, one with the golden calf and one with the spies.

R. Yossi son of Dormaskith said to him: Yehudah, why do you distort the verses for us by assigning allegorical interpretations to what are really place names? I testify by heaven and earth that we have reviewed all of the sources and (we have found that) they are all place names. It is just that they were thus named (as aforementioned) because of an event (that transpired there).

Speaking personally, I’m a fan of the first view – names matter. But as is so typical of Jewish tradition, if you want to take the opposite view, you won’t be the first person to do so – or the last.

- Rabbi Scott Hoffman

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 Devarim

Shabbat Chazon - Erev Tisha B'Av

Torah: Deuteronomy 2:31 - 3:22

Maftir: Deuteronomy 3:20-22

Haftarah: Isaiah 1:1-27

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.