Shabbat Shalom GRJC

Weekly Emails to the Congregation

Parshat Mishpatim 2008

Shabbat Shalom to the GRJC family,

We light our Shabbat candles this week at 4:55 pm.  Friday evening services will begin at 8 pm.  Join us on Friday night as we celebrate all February birthdays and anniversaries with a special blessing and songs.

Saturday morning services begin at 9 am.  We welcome our Daled class students and parents for the class Shabbaton.

This week we read from parshat Mishpatim in the Book of Exodus.  A few moments earlier in the Torah, God presented us with the 10 commandments.  If this week’s Torah reading were a Paul Harvey news broadcast, we would call it “Page 2.”  It is the continuation of God’s revelation to the Jewish people at Mount Sinai.

Parshat Mishpatim is not only a continuation from the 10 commandments.   We find in this parasha additional information, elaboration and clarification of the ten laws.  The fifth commandment teaches us to respect our parents.  We read in this week’s parasha that one who “insults his father or mother shall be put to death.”   We learn here that one aspect of respecting our parents is thinking carefully about how we speak to them.  Later Jewish tradition continues to expand on the explanation of how we understand the fifth commandment.  Jewish tradition continues to develop a deeper understanding of all the Ten Commandments.

The Commandments give us a premise, a basic understanding of God’s laws and how we are to live as people in this world.  The prophets, the Rabbis, and teachers through the generations help us to better interpret and apply the lessons we learn in the Torah.

Can you think of someone who has taught you something valuable about your Judaism?  What was the lesson you learned and how was it meaningful for you?  What new insight did you gain and how did that insight affect your Jewish identity?

ANNOUNCEMENTS:
1. BOWLING NIGHT CANCELLED – Unfortunately, this year’s bowling event had to be cancelled due to a lack of advanced RSVPs.  We will reset and roll out a bowling night in the future.

2. WOMEN’S ROSH CHODESH GROUP – Sunday, Feb. 3rd, 7:30-9 pm

3. BOARD MEETING – Tuesday, Feb. 5th, 8 pm

4. HEBREW CONVERSATION CLASS – Wednesday, Feb. 6th, 8 pm

5. WIDOWS/WIDOWERS GROUP – Thursday, Feb. 7th, 11:45 am

6. TOT SHABBAT AND SHABBAT SHELI – Friday, Feb. 8th, 6:30 pm

7. SCHOLAR IN RESIDENCE WEEKEND – “Encountering Islam:  An Introduction for American Jews.”  Friday Feb. 8th, and Saturday Feb. 9th – Dr. David Freidenreich will present three opportunities to learn more about Islam.  See the bulletin and online calendar for details.  Free of charge and open to the entire Jewish community of Bergen County.

8. MITZVAH OPPORTUNITY – Help Marc Weinstein, a 4th grader at the Solomon Schechter Day School of Greater Monmouth County by registering at www.giftoflife.org or attend the bone marrow registration drive at the Day School on Sunday Feb. 10, 2008 9am-12noon or 5-8pm, or on Tuesday Feb. 12th from 7:30 am – 5 pm.  Marc has a rare genetic blood disease known as HLH (Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis).



With blessings,

Rabbi Tow

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