Shabbat Shalom GRJC
Weekly Emails to the Congregation
Parshat Toldot 2007
Shabbat Shalom to the GRJC family,
This Friday, we light candles at 4:25
PM. Services will begin at 8 PM on Friday night. As
part of our Friday evening services, we will have a commemoration
of Kristallnacht, the 1938 pogrom against Jews in Germany.
On a happier note, we will also celebrate all November birthdays
and anniversaries Friday night. Please join us for a
blessing and song.
Sarah Boutom will become a Bat Mitzvah this Shabbat. We wish
an early Mazel Tov to the Boutom family.
Saturday morning services will begin at 9 AM. As part of our
services we will have a Veterans Day ceremony for all those who
served in the US military and the Israel Defense Forces. If
you are a veteran, please join us so that we can recognize and
thank you for your service.
This week we read from parshat Toldot in the Book of Bray’sheet,
the Book of Genesis. The parsha opens with the future twins
Jacob and Esau already struggling with one another even before
they were born. When they are older, Esau comes in from a
hunting trip and Jacob compels him to sell his birthright in order
to eat from the lentil stew he had prepared. Later, Jacob
will dress up like his brother and receive the best of his
father’s blessings.
When we think about this episode, we focus first on the prophecy
that God gives to Rebecca, “Two nations are in your womb…one
people shall be mightier than the other, and the older shall serve
the younger.” Esau is the older brother, and Jacob is the
younger brother.
Should we understand what happens later between the two brothers
to be the fulfillment of this prophecy? On the other hand, should
we understand what happens later to be simply a function of the
personalities of the two brothers and their relationship?
We often find ourselves thinking about our lives, and the lives of
friends and family, from these perspectives. Are we born
with the future path of our lives predetermined by God?
Alternatively, are we born with a personality and attributes that
cause us to choose a particular path? Perhaps the answer is
a mixture of these two options.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
1. DARFUR AWARENESS – See “Darfur Now” the powerful new
documentary about the genocide this weekend in New Jersey:
Clearview Millburn Cinemas (350 Millburn Ave., Millburn, 07041)
Saturday evening: 7:15 and 9:45/Sunday 1:15, 4:15, 7:15 –
Please consider going this weekend to show support for this film
to stay in theaters. We will present further opportunities
for awareness and action through the synagogue.
2. ADULT EDUCATION – Rabbi’s Sunday Adult-Ed class will not meet
this Sunday. We will resume Sunday, November 18.
3. THANKSGIVING TZEDAKAH PROGRAM – Support the Glen Rock High
School Interact club’s annual Thanksgiving dinner and program to
help battered women and their children. The dinner will be
at the GR Community Church 12-2 on Nov. 22nd. Needed:
Volunteers, Donations of items and services.
4. GRJC Community Shabbat - This spring, we will have a
Friday evening of Shabbat meals held in GRJC homes across the
area. We hope to host all member families and also families
of religious school and nursery school students as well.
Following the dinners, we will gather at the synagogue for the
Friday evening service. This project is in its planning
stages. Let us know if you would like to work on this
community-wide event. Contact: rabbi@grjc.org.
5. WOMEN’S ROSH CHODESH GROUP – Join the Rosh Chodesh group Sunday
evening at 7 PM to welcome in the new month of Kislev with a
program of spirituality, learning, and meeting new people.
Wine and cheese will be served.
6. FOR OUR COLLEGE STUDENTS – We want to be in touch with our
college students and send them care-packages and more.
Please help us by emailing us with student addresses and emails.
Contact: membership@grjc.org
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Tow
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