Shabbat Shalom GRJC
Weekly Emails to the Congregation
Parshat Beshalah 2008
Shabbat Shalom to the GRJC family,
This week we light our Shabbat candles
this week at 4:35 pm. Friday evening services will begin at
8 pm, and Saturday morning services will begin at 9 am.
Join us this Saturday morning for Sisterhood Shabbat. It
will be a morning full of song, special prayers and readings, and
more.
This Shabbat is Shabbat Shirah, the “Shabbat of Song”, referring
to the song that Moses and the people of Israel sang as they
celebrated safely crossing the Sea of Reeds. As the reader
chants this song from the Torah, we will hear the special melody
used when we chant “traveling” passages. A traveling passage
is one that describes the Israelites’ journey from one place to
another during the years of wilderness wandering.
In the case of the sea crossing, it is both a physical and
spiritual journey. God split the sea and allowed the
Israelites to pass through to safety. On the spiritual
level, achieving the opposite seashore meant that the Israelites
were no longer slaves. The surge of relief, happiness, and
spirit inspired Miriam to lead all the Israelite women in singing,
dancing, and praises to God.
This profound change in status must have had a strong impact on
our ancestors’ worldview. Instead of depending on the
goodwill of their masters to provide for them, they now had to
advocate for themselves. This reality leads them to ask
Moses, “What will we drink?”(Ex. 15:24) They were now
in the wilderness and the water was brackish. Notice here,
though, that, at least for the moment, they do not suggest going
back to Egypt. In this moment, they turn to Moses for
leadership, and God works another miracle for all the people.
Our parasha this week can teach us about journeys and transitions
in our lives. When we read about the crossing of the sea and
the events that follow, we can ask the question: How do we
face the transitional moments in our lives? How do we
evaluate them when we “get to the other side”? Have we ever
been through a life journey or transition that has felt
“miraculous”?
COMING SOON TO THE GRJC:
1. Rabbi’s Adult Education class update – The class will be on
hiatus in preparation for a new course starting February 24th.
2. Tot Shabbat and Shabbat Sheli – This Friday at 6:30 pm.
Join us as we bring in Shabbat together!
3. AFC Championship Football Party – Sunday, Jan. 20th.
At 1:45 pm, meet at the GRJC to walk to the GRHS fields for a
football game. Then, join us at the Center to watch the game
on our large screen TV. Great food and snacks included.
Games and prizes for kids. Free for all Men’s Club members.
$5 for everyone else.(with a family cap of $12). PLEASE RSVP TO
ROB WEISS AT 212-448-1100, or rweiss@mclaughlinstern.com
4. MLK DAY – Monday, Jan. 21st, at the Ridgewood United
Methodist Church. Interfaith service begins at 10 am.
11 am rally in Van Ness Square. 11:45 am, Community lunch.
1 pm, presentation – Songs of the Civil Rights Movement.
5. SAVE THE DATE – BOWLING NIGHT – Feb. 2, 2008, 7-9pm, at
Bowler City in Hackensack. $20 per person. RSVP to
Howard at hsperl@verizon.net or call the office 201-652-6624.
6. SAVE THE DATE – SCHOLAR IN RESIDENCE – Feb. 8-9,
“Encountering Islam: An Introduction for American Jews.”
Dr. David Freidenreich of Franklin and Marshall college will join
us for three presentations including a Saturday evening
documentary film and discussion. Please see the flyer in the
January bulletin, and let us know which events you would like to
attend so that we can plan to have enough food for everyone.
RSVP to office@grjc.org or 201-652-6624.
MAZEL TOV:
We wish a Mazel Tov to Klil Babin, Andrea Hutner, and Maayan
Weiss, high school seniors, who have been named Edward J.
Bloustein Distinguished Scholars for the 2007-8 academic year.
With blessings,
Rabbi Tow
Back to Home
|
