This Shabbat we read the Torah portion of Va'etchanan. In this parsha we encounter the second rendition of the Ten Commandments. This version of these central Jewish laws is slightly different from the first one, which is found in Parashat Yitro from the book of Exodus. However, the essential message is completely unchanged and the power of these commandments is only reinforced through their second telling. As a matter of fact, it seems that Moses is telling these laws again, perhaps specifically because most of the people before him, the nation of Israel about to enter into their promised land, had not yet been born when the Ten Commandments were initially declared before the eyes of our entire nation. Moses wanted to make sure that this new generation would hear and internalize these sacred laws before making their way into Israel. 

This is made clear by the opening sentence of chapter five of the book of Deuteronomy which states the following. "Moses called ALL of Israel and said to them: Hear, O Israel, the decrees and the ordinances that I speak in your ears today; learn them and be careful to perform them." 

Every Jew needed to hear this message. They could not be ready to establish their new country without a familiarity with, and a devotion to, these sacred instructions. And notice that Moses tells the people to be careful! These commandments must be performed with great care and attention to detail. 

Being a good and ethical person is sometimes complicated. If we are not careful we may miss the message of our Torah and fall short in our practice. This is still the case for us today, just as it was for our ancestors many centuries ago. Let us always strive to live our best lives, as we treasure with great pride the amazing contribution which the Ten Commandments have made to our lives and to the lives of all humanity. 



Shabbat Shalom!

Cantor Zachary Konigsberg

[email protected]

917-696-0749

Yom Huledet Sameach

(Happy Birthday)

Herbert C Gecht

Cookie Schneider

Happy Anniversary to:

Seymour & Charlotte Cooper

Mitchell & Laura Firestein

Jeffrey & Jennifer Miller

Jeffrey & Bernice Schwartz

Harvey & Ruth Malakoff

Temple Sholom Upcoming ZOOM Events

Friends,

Please take a look and check the upcoming events for Temple Sholom.

Mark your calendars accordingly!

Services

Adult Education

Upcoming Events

Thursday, July 27th

Banter with the Cantor at 5pm

Tisha B'va service at 7pm

(in person and on zoom)

Friday, July 28th

Shaharit at 930am

Kabbalat Shabbat/Mincha at 7pm (on zoom only)

Saturday, July 29th

Shabbat Service at 10:00am

(in person as well as zoom and livestream)

Sunday, July 30th

Shaharit at 10am (on zoom only)

Monday, July 31st

Mincha at 7pm (on zoom only)

Tuesday, August 1st

Wednesday, August 2nd

Shaharit at 9:30am (on zoom only)

Mincha at 7pm (on zoom only)

Thursday, August 3rd

Torah Discussion at 12pm (on zoom)

Banter with the Cantor at 5pm

Mincha at 7pm (on zoom only)

Friday, August 4th

Shaharit at 930am

Kabbalat Shabbat/Mincha at 7pm (on zoom only)

Thursday, August 5th

Torah Discussion at 12pm (on zoom)

Banter with the Cantor at 5pm

 Mincha at 7pm (on zoom only)

Friday, August 6th

Shaharit at 930am

Kabbalat Shabbat/ Mincha at 7pm (on zoom only)

Saturday, August 7th

Shabbat Service at 10:00am

(in person as well as zoom and livestream)

Sunday, August 8th

Shaharit at 10am (on zoom only)

Monday, August 9th

 Mincha at 7pm (on zoom only)

Tuesday, August 10th

Wednesday, August 11th

Shaharit at 9:30am (on zoom only)

Mincha at 7pm (on zoom only)

Thursday, August 12th

Torah Discussion at 12pm (on zoom)

Banter with the Cantor at 5pm

Mincha at 7pm (on zoom only)