Weekly Message 08.29.2025 Parashat Shoftim
- jccwestpasco
- 14 minutes ago
- 3 min read
Parashat Shoftim (Judges) Deuteronomy 16:18 - 21:9
HafTorah 51:12 - 52:12
Dear friends,
As we enter the month of Elul, we quicken our preparations for the High Holy Days begun after Tisha B'Av and now to include the last four Haftorahs of Consolation, the listening to the sounds of the Shofar every morning except for Shabbat, and the recitation of Psalm 27 twice a day, morning and evening thus satisfying the mitzvot of Shofarot, one of the three themes of Rosh Hasanah. We highlight the shofar's role as a reawakening and as a call to repentance, a signal for redemption, and a symbol of G-d's sovereignty. Since we do not have a weekday morning minyan at the synagogue, you can hear the Shofar at this link:
YouTube
And the words of Psalm 27 to be recited each morning and evening between now and after the conclusion of Sukkot at Shemini Atzeret:
A Psalm of David
The Lord is my light and my salvation; of whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
When evildoers came upon me to eat up my flesh, even mine adversaries and my foes, they stumbled and fell.
Though a host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war should rise up against me, even then will I be confident.
One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the graciousness of the Lord, and to visit early in His temple.
For Adonai conceals me in His pavilion in the day of evil and hides me in the covert of His tent; He lifts me up upon a rock.
And now shall my head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me; and I will offer in His tabernacle sacrifices with trumpet-sound; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the Lord.
Hear, O the Lord, when I call with my voice, and be gracious unto me, and answer me.
In Thy behalf my heart hath said: 'Seek ye My face'; Thy face, the Lord, will I seek.
Hide not Thy face far from me; put not Thy servant away in anger; Thou hast been my help; cast me not off, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation.
For though my father and my mother have forsaken me, the Lord will take me up.
Teach me Thy way, O the Lord; and lead me in an even path, because of them that lie in wait for me.
Deliver me not over unto the will of my adversaries; for false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breath out violence.
If I had not believed to look upon the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living!--
Wait on the Lord; be strong, and let thy heart take courage; yes wait for the Lord.
Another important theme of Rosh Hashanah is that of Zikhronot which emphasizes how our actions are remembered and that we remember those family members and friends who came before us and helped shape our lives. To that end, we visit the cemeteries where our loved ones are interred throughout the month of Elul and on Sunday, September 21st, we will once again chant memorial prayers at Beit Olam in Trinity at 10:30 am, Grace Memorial in Hudson at 12 noon, and the National Cemetery in Bushnell at 2 pm. Please join us regardless of whether you have people buried there. We will chant the Eil Moley Rachamim prayer of remembrance for all who are with us.
This Shabbat, we continue with our reading from the Book of Deuteronomy (Devarim) 19:14-21:9 continuing the theme of justice. In our triennial portion, we explore the concepts of witnesses, the laws pertaining to warfare, and even those concerning the destruction of trees. We are to be kind and just not only to our fellow humans, but to all of nature. And for the fourth of the seven Haftorahs of Consolation, we read once again from the Prophet Isaiah 51:12-52:12 who teaches that Israel shall be redeemed from exile and be the means of extending Adonai's salvation to all humankind.
As I am preparing for my journey with my sister to Bari, Italy where my father resided in a Displaced Persons Camp immediately after the Holocaust, I will join you this Shabbat on Zoom from my sister's residence in New Jersey. We then leave for Bari on Sunday. I will have much to share with you all when I return. "See" you tonight at 7:30 pm and tomorrow (Saturday) at 9:30 am.
Blessings,
Ron Becker,
Spiritual Leader
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