Shabbat Shalom GRJC

Weekly Emails to the Congregation

Parshat Re'eh 2007

Shabbat Shalom to the GRJC family,

Tonight we light candles at 7:44 PM.  Our Friday evening service will begin at 8 PM under-the-tent at the house:  739 Harristown Road.   Please park at the synagogue.  Saturday morning services will also be held at the same location beginning at 9 AM.

From Sunday through Thursday, I will be away on vacation.  In case of an emergency, Rabbi Jonathan Woll, Temple Avoda in Fair Lawn, will be on call.  You can reach Temple Avoda at 201-797-9716.

This week we read from parshat Re’eh in the Book of Devarim (Deuteronomy).  The section of parshat Re’eh that we read this week conveys a message about the relationship between God and the Jewish people.  Two statements from God emphasize that Jewish financial practices and Jewish life are connected to God’s bringing us out from Egypt.

1. “Bear in mind that you were slaves in the land of Egypt and the Lord your God redeemed you; therefore I command you to do this [to remit debts every seventh year] today.” (Deut. 15:15)

2. “Observe the month of Aviv and offer a Passover sacrifice to the Lord your God, for it was in the month of Aviv, at night, that the Lord your God freed you from Egypt.”(Deut. 16:1)

The first statement, that addresses financial practices, requires a remission of debts every seven years.  The second statement, that addresses a major Jewish holiday, suggests a ritual to remember the exodus from Egypt.  Both statements share the idea that Jewish life in the generations after slavery in Egypt is, to a great extent, a function of our relationship to God who defeated Pharaoh and his armies.

The reality is that many aspects of Jewish life are connected to the Exodus.  The Kiddush prayer for Friday night refers to Shabbat as “a remembrance of the Exodus from Egypt.”  The beginning of the Jewish calendar year used to be the Passover holiday, and so Jewish time overall is intimately connected with the Exodus.

Why then do we see two particular references to the Exodus in this week’s reading as far as remitting debts and celebrating Passover?  The underlying message here is that these two practices demonstrate how the Jewish people transformed from a slave people into a free people living by God’s teachings.  By remitting debts, we show that we will not enslave others, as it were, in our business transactions.  By celebrating a ritual and holiday that remembers the Exodus, we show that we must continue to remember and be thankful for God making it possible for us to live as free people.

In our own lives, how can we help others to experience the power of freedom?  The ongoing crisis in Darfur is a modern example of people who are enslaved by fear and oppression.  For more information see www.savedarfur.org.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

1. Rosh Chodesh Group – Tuedsay August 14th at 6:30 PM in the Social Hall.  An informal, fun, and educational experience.  This month, the group will focus on Beruriah, a woman from the period of the Talmud who served as a thinker and teacher.

2. Widows/Widowers Support Group – Thursday August 16th, 11:45 AM in the Social Hall.  This week there will be a special film presentation on the renaissance of klezmer music, the music of Eastern European Jewry.

3. Lulav and Etrog orders – An order form for lulav and etrog sets can be found in the current bulletin that will be going out soon.  Please consider purchasing a set for your family to use this year at Sukkot.

Shabbat Shalom,
 

Rabbi Tow

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