Parashat Ki Tavo (when you come) Deuteronomy 26:1 - 29:8
HafTorah - Isaiah 60:1 - 22
Dear friends,
We just returned from our annual visit to my family's burial grounds in New Jersey and New York during the month of Elul accompanied by our sister and brother-in-law and cousins.
It is a tradition that we cherish as it gives us the opportunity to remember the experiences growing up with the previous generations and a chance to link them to the present and project to the future. On Sunday, September 29th we will repeat this process here in Florida and encourage you all to join us at Beit Olam in Trinity (10:30 am), Grace Memorial in Hudson (1230 pm), and/or the National Cemetery in Bushnell (2 pm). We will chant memorial prayers for all regardless of whether they are buried in the cemeteries we are visiting and at Beit Olam, we will unveil the memorial for Rabbi Al and Rebbetzin Sandy Goldberg of blessed memories.
And this Shabbat, we continue with our theme of remembrance (Zachor) in the Book of Deuteronomy and the portion of Ki Tavo. We are reminded with how far we have come from slavery in Egypt and how we need to be grateful for all the blessings we have received. We know that life doesn't always go as planned and bountiful times are not guaranteed. We must be grateful for what we have and the beautiful earth we have been given.
Open your eyes and look around you in your daily life - see the child missing a limb, the man walking with a limp, the woman holding the hands of multiple children - maybe not dressed as nicely as you. Think about the clothes on your back and the food on your table - many are not as fortunate as you or I. And we must be open to receive new blessings through our daily activities and world outlook. Look for the good in others and in situations - even when it is not going the way you want it to. Work to turn an occurence into a positive one. Pessimism often leads to behavior that invites the many curses that are also detailed in this Torah portion. For if we turn our backs metaphorically or physically to the "stranger, orphan, and widow" we will not even recognize blessings that appear right before our eyes. As the prophet Isaiah declares in this week's Haftorah reading (the 6th of 7) Haftorahs of Consolation:
וּפִתְּחוּ שְׁעָרַיִךְ תָּמִיד יוֹמָם וָלַיְלָה, לֹא יִסָּגֵרוּ
"Your gates shall be open continually, day and night, and never be shut" (60:11).
So, let's enter this holy time and new year with appreciation and with a new commitment to seek blessings through our deeds and our prayers. Figure out something in your life that you can do for those less fortunate - go to the local school and give to the free lunch fund, donate your gently used clothing (plenty of organizations need these - especially interview clothes), give of your time to read in the school or the local library or teach a class at one of the shelters - GIVE OF YOURSELF! Please join me this evening at 7:30 pm and tomorrow (Saturday) morning at 9:30 am for our Shabbat service in -person or virtually, on Zoom as we continue our preparations for the High Holy Days. Thanks to Wendy Seldin who contributed to the Torah commentary this week. All are encouraged to participate through the weekly message or presenting orally at Shabbat Services.
Shabbat Shalom!
Ron Becker,
Spiritual Leader
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FRIDAY:
JCC is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: Shabbat Service, Friday 09/20/2024 7:30 pm
Time: Sep 20, 2024 07:30 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 497 903 0958
Passcode: 5QdVaA
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SATURDAY:
JCC is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: Saturday Service, 09/21/2024. 9:30 am
Time: Sep 21, 2024 09:30 AM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 497 903 0958
Passcode: 5QdVaA
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