Shabbat Shalom GRJC

Weekly Emails to the Congregation

Parshat Lech Lecha 2008

Shabbat Shalom to the GRJC family,

We light our Shabbat candles this week at 4:27 pm (Early candle-lighting due to last week’s time change).  Friday evening services will begin at 8 pm, and Saturday morning services will begin at 9am.

This week we will read from the middle portion of parshat Lech Lecha.  This middle section begins with the wars between the league of four kings and the league of five kings, a type of ancient “power-play,” as in hockey.  The four kings, contrary to expectations, defeat the five.

The Torah and the prophets offer us many stories of the few defeating the many, the weak defeating the strong, the small defeating the large.  The tenacity of individuals and forces derives from their ideals, their commitment to their goals, and their willingness to apply themselves to the task at hand.  The Torah also teaches that victory does not come from human strength but rather from God’s strength.

One of the messages here is that if we believe in ourselves, then we can overcome, or at least confront with confidence, the challenges and obstacles of life.  A congregant told me of her father who was told by doctors that he had just a short time to live due to his illness.  This man ended up outliving the very doctors who made the diagnosis.

But it is not only issues of life and death in which we can find inspiration to confront the challenges that life presents.  In every task that we do from making dinner without all the ingredients necessary, or helping a child with homework, we face numerous challenges:  limited time, limited energy, other pressing tasks…

There is no activity in our lives that does not require some level of faith, inspiration, perseverance and patience.  I always appreciated the wisdom of Albert Einstein who said, “If you believe you have difficulty with mathematics, my difficulties with it are even greater.”  Einstein was suggesting that all people face challenges, but they are challenges that we each interpret through our own lenses of life experience and knowledge.

May our Shabbat rest give us the strength and inspiration to confront and find our way through all the tasks that we will encounter in the days ahead.

With blessings,
Rabbi Tow


ANNOUNCEMENTS
No Religious School this Sunday, Nov.9 (NJ Teachers Convention).  Nursery School resumes Monday morning, Nov. 10, and Hay class meets Monday afternoon 4-6pm.

Also, on Monday evening, all Daled Class students and their parents will attend a pre-B’nei Mtizvah “Boot Camp” in the GRJC Social Hall from 7-9pm. (There will be no Daled Class on Thursday, Nov.13.)

Melton II Class continues in the Youth Lounge Mondays from 7:30-9:45pm.

Tuesday, Nov. 11 is Veterans Day – WE THANK ALL VETERANS IN OUR COMMUNITY FOR THEIR DEDICATION AND SERVICE TO THE COUNTRY.  We will recognize veterans at our Shabbat services next week.

On Tuesday, Nov.11, the second session of our new Single Parents Support Group will meet in the GRJC Library from 7:30-9:00pm with Rabbi Tow and Sheila Steinback from Jewish Family Services.  If you know a mom or dad who might benefit from joining this group, please have them call Rabbi Tow or drop in next Tuesday evening.

RABBI TOW WILL BE OUT OF TOWN TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY, 11/11-11/2 AT A CONFERENCE IN CHICAGO.  He can be reached by cell phone at 201-421-9811.

Mommy & Me holds fall sessions Tuesday and Wednesday, Nov. 11 and 12 in the Social Hall from 9:30-10:35 am.

On Thursday, Nov. 13, there is Senior Aerobics from 9:45-10:30am in the Social Hall.

Also on Thursday, Movin On, our Widow/Widowers Support Group, holds its monthly meeting and light lunch, in the Social Hall at 11:45 am.

The November bulletin will be arriving in your mailboxes in the next day or two.
DEADLINE for the DECEMBER issue is next Friday, Nov. 14.

ADULT EDUCATION-  Haftarah chanting class begins Sunday Nov. 16 at 10 am.  Adult Bar/Bat Mtizvah class begins Sunday Nov. 16 at 11 am.  The Adult Bnai Mitzvah class is open to all and will culminate in students leading a Shabbat service in June.

GRJC PRAYERS NOW ONLINE FOR BAR/BAT MITZVAH STUDENTS AND THE CONGREGATION -
The prayers (tefillot) are now recorded as MP3s on the GRJC website, www.grjc.org.  On the main page, click on "Hear Rabbi Tow's Tefillot Recordings."

SAVE THE DATE – WEDNESDAY EVENING, NOVEMBER 26, INTERFAITH THANKSGIVING EVE SERVICE AT GOOD SHEPHERD LUTHERAN CHURCH.


 

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