Weekly Message 06.19.2026 Parashat Korach
- jccwestpasco
- 5 days ago
- 4 min read
Parashat Korach (Korach leeds a rebellion against Moses) Numbers 16:1 - 18:32
HafTorah Samuel I 11:14 - 12:22
Dear friends,
Greetings from the tiny, but great and beautiful state of Delaware where Chris and I are enjoying our 56th consecutive reunion with friends and family. Good access to WIFI permitting, we will be joining you tonight at 6:30 pm (note the earlier starting time) and tomorrow (Saturday) morning at 9:30 am for Shabbat services. This evening's religious service will be followed by a Juneteenth Shabbat dinner.
Juneteenth is now a national holiday and gives us the opportunity to appreciate the freedoms and opportunities that we have and to strive to extend those freedoms throughout our communities, the nation, and the world. We can only be completely free when all are free from discrimination and hunger. In this Shabbat's Torah portion (Bamidbar 16:1-17:15), Korach and his followers lead a senseless rebellion against Moses's authority. They make many valid points, but instead of raising those points through civilized discussion, debate, and compromise, they move to cause chaos and calamity against Moses and Aaron. Having already lost the opportunity to immediately enter the Promised Land after the debacle of the report of the spies and the reaction of the people as evidenced in last week's portion of Shelach Lecha, the children of Israel have clearly forfeited their own future in that land.
And how are we to react to this portion in this day and age of political and social polarization and lack of respect for anyone holding a different opinion than our own? As much as we recognize Moses as our greatest prophet, we all have a little bit of Korach in us. Whenever we equate disagreement with disparagement of others, we harken back to the dark times in the wilderness, and we distance ourselves from our own Promised Lands. Let us take a lesson from this Torah portion and learn to listen to others, to discuss rather than to belittle and work together to build a better community, one in which all are welcomed and feel comfortable voicing opinions. Together we can help build a better society, one of which human dignity is respected, and the goals are shared despite disagreements on how to reach them.
This week's Haftorah (I Samuel 11:14-12:22) is from the Prophet and last of the Judges Samuel who like Moses, faces discontent in the land of Israel with people unable to work together for the betterment and unity of the nation are clamoring for a king to lead them. Samuel gives in and King Saul is anointed. A limited monarchy is envisioned whereby the monarch was bound to respect the liberty, honor, and property of all the subjects, and be bound by the laws as given to all by the fundamental laws of the Torah. As Rabbi Hertz comments in our Chumash, the king needed to be a shepherd of his people whose reign should foster peace, piety, and righteousness. Although those lofty goals were never entirely met, we must strive to take responsibility to act in that manner and to elect our representatives to foster those same qualities rather than the rancor and disrespect that we see throughout the political world today.
Hope to see you all on my computer tonight and tomorrow. Enjoy the Juneteenth dinner and all that it represents, and please note the summer and early fall activities below and be a part of our wonderful community by participating in as many as you can!
Shabbat Shalom
Ron Becker,
Spiritual Leader
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COMING EVENTS - MARK YOUR CALENDARS
Friday, June 19 We will have a Shabbat "Juneteenth" dinner after services which will begin at 6:30 pm (note the earlier starting time).
Tuesday, June 30 We will volunteer at Metropolitan Ministries bringing sustenance, clothing, and hope to those in need at the headquarters at 3216 US-19, Holiday, FL 34691, at 11am-2 pm. Please sign up to help at this link: https://vhub.at/1L1BLIK
Wednesday, July 8 We will be participating in Jewish Heritage Night at Tropicana Field when the Rays take on the New York Yankees at 6:40 pm. We will be carpooling from the synagogue parking lot at 4:30 pm. In addition to the game and sitting with our Jewish friends from throughout our region, each participant will receive a commemorative jersey.
Thursday, July 23 We will observe Tisha B'Av with the reading of the Book of Lamentations (Eicha) composed by the Prophet Jeremiah at 9 am.
Tuesday, July 28 We will volunteer at Metropolitan Ministries bringing sustenance, clothing, and hope to those in need at the headquarters at 3216 US-19, Holiday, FL 34691, at 11am-2 pm. Please sign up to help at this link: https://vhub.at/1L1BLIK
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HIGH HOLY DAY SCHEDULE:
Selichot Saturday, September 5, 2026
Social hour 7 pm
Havdalah and Selichot services 8 pm
Cemetery Visitations, Sunday, September 6, 2026
Beit Olam Cemetery in Trinity 10 am
Grace Memorial Cemetery in Hudson 11:30 am
Erev Rosh Hashanah, Friday, September 11, 2026
Services followed by community dinner 6:30 pm
Rosh Hashanah, first day, Saturday, September 12, 2026
Morning services 9:30 am
Mincha/Maariv services 6:30 pm
Rosh Hashanah, second day, Sunday, September 13, 2026
Morning services 9:30 am
Tashlikh at the Cotee River on Grand Blvd between Vermont and Kentucky Aves 3 pm
Erev Shabbat Shuva, Friday, September 18, 2026
Kabbalat Shabbat and Maariv services 7 pm
Shabbat Shuva, Saturday, September 19, 2026
Services followed by luncheon honoring adult B'nai Mitzvah anniversary 9:30 am
Community Sukkah decoration, Sunday, September 20, 2026, 10 am
Kol Nidre, Sunday, September 20, 2026
Kol Nidre and Erev Yom Kippur services 6:30 pm
Yom Kippur, Monday, September 21, 2026
Morning services 9:30 am
Mincha service 6 pm
Yizkor service 7 pm
Neila service 7:20 pm
Havdalah followed by community break-the-fast meal 8 pm
Erev Sukkot, Friday, September 25, 2026
Services followed by Kiddush in the Sukkah 7pm
Sukkot, Tuesday, Saturday, September 26, 2026
Services followed by Kiddush in the Sukkah 9:30 am
Hashanah Rabbah, Friday, October 2, 2026
Services 9:30 am followed by community brunch at Panera's
Erev Shemini Atzeret, Friday October 2, 2026
Services 7 pm
Shemini Atzeret, Saturday, October 3, 2026
Services 9:30 am including the Yizkor memorial service
Simchat Torah, Saturday, October 3, 2025
Social hour 7 pm
Services 8 pm
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