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Security Reminder: Please be aware that due to security concerns, we are, for the time being, implementing a new security protocol in which we will require Photo ID

from non-members or unfamiliar faces joining us for services. We hope you understand and join us in prayer as we observe and celebrate Shabbat.

Health Reminder: With the return of Winter, also comes the return of rising numbers of Covid, flu, and RSV in our community. If you are feeling ill, please consider staying home and participating in services online to protect those around you, especially the more susceptible members of our Congregation.

This week’s portion, Yitro, opens with Jethro (=Yitro) suggesting to Moses that it would be prudent to set up a system of courts. In fact, Moses does so, agreeing to hear only those cases which cannot be adjudicated by the lower courts. Put simply, Moses doesn’t have the time and energy to judge all the cases by himself.

 

Interestingly, the requirement to set up courts of justice is not only a basic Jewish principle, but it’s one of the seven Noahide laws. From a Jewish perspective, non-Jews are required to uphold seven basic laws, and this commandment seems almost an anomaly when the others are so basic, like not committing murder or stealing. Why is it included?

 

The fact is that having a system of courts insures an orderly society. Think of the wild west in the United States, where people settled disputes violently, often in ways that resulted in injury or death. A society which functions this way eventually devours itself as people take the law into their own hands.

 

When we read this week’s portion, we tend to focus on the giving of the Ten Commandments on Mt. Sinai. But let’s not overlook the beginning of the portion, and fully appreciate Jethro’s contribution to the history of the Jewish people – and the history of the world.


Shabbat shalom,



Rabbi Scott Hoffman

Click here to sign up!

The synagogues of West Esplanade - Shir Chadash, Beth Israel, Gates of Prayer, and Chabad - are joining together with a very special initiative to pray for Israel by collectively reciting the entire book of Psalms as a community each week that the Israel-Hamas war is ongoing.


Congregants are encouraged to sign up for one psalm each, which they will commit to reciting, in Hebrew or English, once weekly.


Together, with the power of our community and our faith, we can do our spiritual part to support Israel!

Here are some links to additions to our service:

PRAYER FOR ISRAEL'S CAPTURED AND MISSING

PRAYER FOR THE STATE OF ISRAEL

HATIKVAH

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

WWW.SHIRCHADASH.ORG

Friday

6:15 PM


Shabbat Evening Services


Saturday

9:30 AM


Shabbat Morning Services

followed by Kiddush Luncheon

In-person and live-streamed

Saturday

10 AM


Babysitting

Sunday

9 AM


Shul School

Sunday

9:15 AM



Men's Club Morning Minyan

followed by breakfast

In-person and on Zoom

Sunday

12 PM



Children's Mardi Gras Programming

followed by Parades with Shir Chadash


Due to inclement weather expected on Saturday evening, this event will be INSTEAD OF the previously scheduled Children's Mardi Gras Lock-In. Email educationdirector@shirchadash.org to learn more!


Click image to enlarge

Our Sages Speak:
Rabbinic Reflections on the Torah Portion

About fifteen years ago, I was diagnosed with tendinitis in my hamstring. No surgery was required, but I needed to do twice-weekly rehab for several months. It wasn’t too bad, but I often joked that if there were two treatment options being offered, I always received the worse option. Heat and gentle stimulation on the muscle? No, a giant bag of ice, followed by a “massage” consisting of a two-hundred-pound guy leaning as hard as possible into a stick which he pressed against my leg. 



Even after I completed my therapy, it took several months until I gained full strength in my leg. I refrained from racing until I felt confident that both legs were strong. Today the good news is that both legs are equal. The bad news is that, after fifteen years, I’m slower than I used to be.


Our sages wondered if something similar might be behind the delay between the exodus from Egypt and the giving of the Torah, which happened in the third month. (Exodus 19:1). Once the people were free, it would have been logical to have the Torah given immediately. But that wouldn’t have been appropriate, the sages say. The Jewish people needed to complete their “spiritual therapy” after centuries of slavery. Thus we read in the 7th century CE midrash Song of Songs Rabbah (2:5)


Rabbi Shimon ben Yocai taught: When the Israelites departed from Egypt, to what were they comparable? To the son of a king who recovered from his illness. His caretaker said to him: ‘Let your son go to the academy.’ The king said to him: ‘My son has not yet regained his radiance, which changed due to his illness. Rather, let my son be pampered and enjoy himself for three months with food and drink, and then he will go to the academy.’ So too, when the Israelites departed from Egypt, there were those among them who were marred from subjugation with mortar and bricks. The ministering angels said to Him: ‘This is the time, give them the Torah.’ The Holy One blessed be He said to them: ‘My children have not yet regained their radiance as a result of mortar and bricks. Let them be pampered up to three months with spring water, manna, and quail, and thereafter I will give them the Torah.’ When? “In the third month” (Exodus 19:1).


In other words, spiritual health and wellness was just as important as its physical counterpart. The Jewish people needed time to recovery from the injuries, figurative and literal, to be in a proper state to receive the Torah at the foot of Mt. Sinai.



And let’s just say that three months of pampering sure beats my giant ice bags.


- Rabbi Scott Hoffman

Parashat Yitro

Shabbat Mevarchim HaChodesh

Torah: Exodus 18:1 - 20:23

Maftir: Exodus 20:19-23

Haftarah: Isaiah 6:1 - 7:6; 9:5-6


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 2, 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.

Thank you!

Thank you to all those listed below who performed the mitzvah of supporting our community this past week.

General Fund


To: Sarah Lustig

In honor of all of your time, patience and help.

From: Honorine K. Weiss & Family


To: Rachelle G. Stein

Sending you good health wishes

From: Honorine K. Weiss & Family


To: Anne Levy

In memory of Stanley Gene Levy

From: Honorine K. Weiss & Family


To: Sheryl Title

In honor of your birthday!

From: Marcela & Ricardo Totah


In honor of our three rabbis, Rabbi Hoffman, Rabbi Cohen, and Rabbi David. We have also contributed to Hadassah and Magen David Israel. How rich our shul is!

From: Melanie & Ken Ehrlich

Yahrzeit Fund


In memory of Sadie Kleinberger

From: Renee & Gregory Rich


In memory of George Lenz

From: Carolyn Lenz


In memory of Pearl Friedman Rochelson

From: Meri-Jane Rochelson & Joel Mintz


In memory of Julius Aronson

From: Reuben & Marlene Friedman

Contact Us

OFFICE HOURS: Monday - Friday, 9 AM - 3 PM

Scott Hoffman

Rabbi

rabbiscott@shirchadash.org


Ricardo Totah

Executive Director 

 execdir@shirchadash.org

Chaviva Sands

Director of Education & Programming

 educationdirector@shirchadash.org


Rabbi David Cohen-Henriquez

Outreach/Engagement Coordinator

rabbidavid@shirchadash.org

Sarah Lustig

Office Manager

shirchadash@shirchadash.org


Quick Links

Shir Chadash Website


Online Giving


Shir Chadash Family-Established Funds


Great Non Profits Reviewed


Jewish Federation of GNO

Crescent City Jewish News


Southern Jewish Life


Jewish Community Day School


PJ Library


USCJ

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