Weekly Message 10.09.2026 Parashat Bereshit
Parashat Bereshit (In The Beginning) Genesis 1:1 - 6:9
HafTorah Samuel I 20:18 - 18:42
Dear friends,
What a wonderful and fulsome Holy Day season we have just concluded!
Thanks to all who made everything possible and who attended our many services and events from Selichot and cemetery visits, Rosh Hashanah, Tashlikh, and Yom Kippur services, and all the way through Sukkah decorations and Sukkot observance, Hoshana Rabbah, Shemini Atzeret, and finally Simchat Torah! I hope your holidays were meaningful and enjoyable!
And thanks to all who participated in the October 7th memorial program with emotional prayer and song together with our friends at Temple Beth David. We came away with renewed hope and commitment to help bring people together to help heel our fractured world and prevent the repetition of so much that divides us. We will continue to hold joint programming with our friends in Spring Hill, the next event being the Interfaith Thanksgiving service on November 19th.
After being fully charged with the events of the past month, we enter the new month of Cheshvan with the vitality of the fall season and a renewal of faith and vigor. More on upcoming events below.
This Shabbat is Shabbat Bereshit, the Sabbath of beginning the Torah anew and with it a deeper understanding of its messages and lessons. This year, we will be chanting the second triennial portions of each Sedrah meaning that we will read and study the middle part of each.
In this week's Parashat (Genesis 2:4-4:26), we learn of the exile from the Garden of Eden and the murder of Abel by the hands of his brother. And with this message, we know that Hashem equips us to make this a better world, but we have been given the freedom to choose what is right and what is wrong, what is good and what is evil. And if we make the wrong ethical and moral decisions, we are responsible for the consequences, the most extreme being detailed in next week's portion of Noach. We have been given a potentially bountiful world and with it, the responsibility of being the custodians of that world. We have the freedom to take action to protect it from war, strife, famine, and climate change or to ignore what is happening and suffer the consequences for all humanity as the ancient world did in the time of Noach and many times since.
And because this Shabbat Bereshit is also Machor Chodesh (the eve of the new month), we will chant a special Haftorah (Samuel 20:18-42), the beautiful and inspirational story of love and loyalty of David and Jonathan through incredible, stressful times. Building on the freedom of choice decisions in this week's Torah portion, Jonathan chooses good over evil and right over wrong even with the consequences resulting in loss for him. Please join me at services this evening at 7 pm and tomorrow (Saturday) morning at 9:30 am in-person or virtually on Zoom as we pray and study together as a community.
Please mark your calendars with all of the events detailed below, beginning with our wonderful Game Night and Havdalah tomorrow (Saturday) evening. And PLEASE consider volunteering at the Metropolitan Ministries headquarters on October 27th and at the holiday tent on November 24th and December 22nd. Together and with very little sacrifice of time and effort, we can make great strides in helping our community! Please sign up at the links below and I will look forward to working with you in fulfilling this very much needed Mitzvah.
Shabbat Shalom,
Ron Becker,
Spiritual Leader
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ZOOM LINK FRI & SAT
JCC West Pasco is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: JCC West Pasco Zoom Meeting
Time: Oct 9, 2026 07:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
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COMING EVENTS AT THE JCC
Saturday, October 10, 2026, Game Night and Havdalah, 7 pm
Tuesday, October 27, 2026 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 BEFORE NOVEMBER 17TH to help at this link: https://vhub.at/1L1BLIK
Saturday, November 14, 2026 Game Night and Havdalah, 7 pm
Thursday, November 19, 2026 joint Interfaith Thanksgiving Service at Temple Beth David, 7 pm
Tuesday, November 24, 2026 We will volunteer at the Metropolitan Ministries Holiday Tent at Generations on 1540 Little Road in Trinity, 11:30 am-3 pm. Please sign up at https://vhub.at/1L1BLIK
Friday, December 4, 2026 We will enjoy a joyous Shabbat/erev Hanukkah dinner, 6:30 pm
Saturday, December 5, 2026 We will enjoy the annual holiday boat parade on the Banks of the Cotee River between Vermont and Kentucky Avenues in New Port Richey beginning with Havdalah and latkes, sufganyot (jelly donuts) and other Hanukkah treats while watching the decorated boats float by, 6 pm
Sunday, December 6, 2026 We will celebrate Hanukkah with the residents of the Trinity Place Assisted Living Center at 8684 Old Route 54 in New Port Richey, 1:30 pm
Sunday, December 6, 2026 We will enjoy a Hanukkah party, 5 pm
Saturday, December 12, 2026, Game Night and Havdalah, 7 pm
Tuesday, December 22, 2026 We will volunteer at the Metropolitan Ministries Holiday Tent at Generations on 1540 Little Road in Trinity, 11:30 am-3 pm. Please sign up BEFORE DECEMBER 15TH at https://vhub.at/1L1BLIK
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