Parashat Va'era (and i appeared) Exodus 6:2 - 9:35
HafTorah Ezekiel 28:25 - 29:21

Dear friends,
The Martin Luther King Day activities were inspiring and I was honored to deliver reflections again. This year, since we began the Book of Exodus on the previous Shabbat, I made the connections between Moses and Dr. King from their struggles both with the oppressors and within their own communities. And how they both went up to the mountaintop immediately prior to their deaths to gaze at the Promised Land, Moses as he was commanded by Hashem and King in his dream that he related at his very last speech in Memphis. I will publish my talk in the next issue of the Schrier. It is especially meaningful to have our JCC congregants attend these events to show our support and I thank Mark and Renir Silveira and Debi Robinson for their participation.
It was with sadness and a heavy heart that I recently informed you of the death of our dear friend and congregant Harvey Goldberg ז״ל the beloved husband of Cheri Goldberg. The funeral is taking place this morning as you read this message. Shiva will take place at the Goldberg residence at 8436 Monaco Drive, Port Richey, FL 34668 beginning with a memorial meal immediately later this morning jafter returning from the cemetery. There will be services at the residence beginning with Havdalah on Saturday evening, January 21st at 6:30 pm and then on Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday at 7 pm each succeeding evening. It is important that we have a minyan each evening so please make it a priority to attend.
May we all be blessed with our memories of Harvey (Hertzel Ben Avraham v Chava) and may Cheri and family know no more sorrow and be comforted together with all mourners.
המקום ינחם אתכם בתוך שאר אבלי ציון וירושלים
Last Shabbat, we re-introduced our Friday evening Kiddush and Motzie and enjoyed Challah from Railroad Square Bakery. We are doing the same on Saturday mornings and will be scheduling luncheons to mark birthdays, Bar/Bat Mitzvah anniversaries, and other significant life cycle events. So, if you would like to celebrate with food, drink, and good cheer with your synagogue family, please let Eileen know and she will make the arrangements. In the meantime, please attend our Shabbat services. In addition to praying and learning, you will help make a minyan for those who are saying Kaddish. Our services will take place in-person and virtually on Zoom at the usual times, 7:30 pm tonight and 9:30 am tomorrow morning.
This Shabbat, we willl read the first portion (chapters 6 to 7:7) of the second Sedrah (Va'era) in Exodus. This provides the setting for the negotiations with Pharoh with a genealogy of the Hebrew tribes and the designation of Moses's brother Aaron as his spokesperson. It sets the stage for the plagues and the ultimate release of the people from Egyptian bondage, and the beginning of the very long road to freedom.
See you in Shul and at the Goldberg residence!
Ron Becker,
Spiritual Leader
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FRIDAY:
JCC is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: Shabbat Service, Friday, 01/20/2023, 7:30 pm
Time: Jan 20, 2023 07:30 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/4979030958?pwd=YXJPT2FGVTdzVVV2bVQ3c1ZnS1lMZz09
Meeting ID: 497 903 0958
Passcode: 5QdVaA
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SATURDAY:
JCC is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: Saturday Service, 01/21/2023, 9:30 am
Time: Jan 21, 2023 09:30 AM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/4979030958?pwd=YXJPT2FGVTdzVVV2bVQ3c1ZnS1lMZz09
Meeting ID: 497 903 0958
Passcode: 5QdVaA
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