Shabbat Shalom GRJC
Weekly Emails to the Congregation
Parshat Vayishlach 2007
Shabbat Shalom to the GRJC family,
I want to wish everyone a happy
Thanksgiving! For all those who will be traveling, have a safe
trip and a wonderful time with friends and family. If you
would like to say the “Traveler’s Prayer (Tefilat Haderech)”
before you leave, you can find it on the following website:
http://www.mondayswithmort.com/tefilat_haderech.htm
This Friday, we will light candles at 4:14 PM. Friday night
services will begin at 8 PM and Saturday morning services will
begin at 9 AM.
During our Friday evening service, we will complete our
exploration of the Yigdal prayer, the closing prayer of the Friday
night service, and we will discuss the last line of the prayer
that suggests Jews believe in resurrection. Join us for a
fascinating look at a Jewish belief that we often do not read or
talk about in synagogue.
On Saturday morning, as part of the Dvar Torah, we will have a
discussion connected to a number of books that have been written
over the past several years, such as Daniel Denett’s “Breaking the
Spell”, that call into question the validity and meaning of
religions. We will use the struggle between Jacob and the
angel as a starting point for the discussion.
INTERFAITH THANKSGIVING SERVICE – This Wednesday evening we join
together at the Sikh Temple on Prospect St. for the Interfaith
service sponsored by the Religious Communities of Glen Rock.
Men and women should bring head coverings, hats for men, hats or
shawls for women. Children should cover their heads as well.
We will take off our shoes when we enter the Temple and we will be
sitting on the floor. There are some seats in the back of
the sanctuary for those who cannot sit on the floor.
Thanksgiving is not a Jewish holiday, but it may have been
inspired by our fall Sukkot harvest festival. Giving thanks,
however, is a Jewish value that goes back to the days of the
Temple and before. During the Temple period, Jews would
bring a sacrifice to the Temple called a “Todah” or thanksgiving
offering. In modern Hebrew, the word “Todah” means “Thank
You.” Rashi (1040-1105, France) explains that Jews offered
the thanksgiving offering for a miracle that we experienced, such
recovering from an illness or returning safely from a trip at sea.
Today, instead of bringing offerings as the ancient Jews did, we
have other ways of expressing thanks to God. We thank God in
our prayers as we focus on the blessings that God has granted us
in our lives. We thank God for our own blessings in the ways
that we reach out to others to help in times of need and distress.
MAZEL TOV: We extend a Mazel Tov to Daniel Kirsch who will
be receiving his Eagle Scout Award at the end of the week.
Mazel Tov on a great performance, on stage and behind the scenes,
from all our GRJC members in the Glen Rock High School theater
company production of “The Crucible”.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
1. ADULT EDUCATION – There will be no Adult-Ed class Sunday
morning Nov. 25th.
2.HAY CLASS MITZVAH PROJECT – Thursday, Nov. 29 - The Hay class
will be helping to rake leaves at a local home.
3.NURSERY SCHOOL CHANUKAH CELEBRATION – Dec. 7, 9:30 AM
4.UPCOMING BNAI MITZVAH – Sophie Lederer will become a Bat Mitzvah
on December 1st. Gabriella Belferman will become a Bat
Mitzvah on December 9th.
5. CONGREGATIONAL CHANUKAH PARTY – DECEMBER 9TH – SAVE THE DATE!
Happy Thanksgiving and Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Tow
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