February 12, 2010
Mishpatim Ex. 21:1-24:18
Dear Friends:
Last Friday night, as the snow started to fall, as we tried our best to make for a meaningful Shabbat for the Litofsky family as they celebrated Justin’s becoming a Bar Mitzvah, David Stameshkin presented the assorted Temple gifts to Justin. David spoke to him about the gift of snow as it guaranteed that most of us would have a full day off that we otherwise would not be inclined to take for ourselves. (Of course, some of the effect has been lost since many of us can work remotely from our homes thanks to the Internet.) I thought about how wonderful that true Shabbat is, even when it comes in the middle of the week as it did this week.
First of all, this week especially, our snow reminded us of all the things with which we are blessed. The shelter has been at our congregation this week. I watched women show up by 3:00 in the afternoon because they had nowhere else to go. I saw the desperation in women on Tuesday night as they tried to imagine where they would spend the day on Wednesday. This snow, as Shabbat should be, was a call to responsibility to care for all that God has created in the world.
Two weeks ago, I also had a conversation with one of our members, a regular at Shabbat morning Torah Study and services. She shared with me that she sometimes feels guilty about not coming on Friday nights, but that she and her husband have created a wonderful Shabbat eve ritual that she doesn’t want to sacrifice. I told her to stop feeling guilty, that I envied her, and that I would love to have everyone create such meaningful Jewish moments in their homes, especially if they then join with the community on Shabbat morning.
So consider this e-mail your mid-winter invitation to Shabbat. Here are all the things we have coming up:
February 19—Learners’ Shabbat. Come, ask questions, learn more of what the service is all about.
February 26—SSTY service. Our high school students will lead the service and share with us the things they wrestle with in their lives and in our world.
February 27—Children’s Havdalah for our youngest members and students.
March 5—1st Shabbat. 6:00. After services, we invite you to bring a Shabbat picnic for your family—indoors! After dinner, we will have the opportunity to learn Israeli dancing. We’re all beginners. Don’t be intimidated to try.
March 19—Scholar in Residence with Rabbi Jan Katzew.
Together, let’s enjoy the rest, the blessing, and the peace of Shabbat.
Shabbat Shalom u’m’vorach.
Sincerely,
Jack P. Paskoff,
Rabbi