Weekly Message 10.17.2025 Parashat Bereshit
- jccwestpasco
- 16 hours ago
- 3 min read
Parashat Bereshit - Genesis (In the beginning) 1:7 - 6:8
Parashat Isaiah 42:5-21
Dear friends,
With the long Holy Days season now behind us, we can reflect on beginning the new Hebrew year of 5786 with renewed commitment to continuing to build and nurture our synagogue community and our region through our services and programming including new fundraising initiatives. We will resume our volunteering at Metropolitan Ministries on October 30th and serve again at their holiday tent on November 25th and December 18th (see the calendar section below for details and sign-up link). And we will visit assisted living facilities again this year to celebrate the first night of Hanukkah with homebound residents on December 14th prior to our shul's Hanukkah party. Fundraising activities include a car show in our synagogue parking lot on November 2nd from 11 am until 3 pm and a Casino Night/New Year's Eve gala on December 31st from 8 pm until 12:30 am. And in addition to the Hanukkah party, Chris and I will once again host a pre-Hanukkah party on the evening of New Port Richey's annual holiday boat parade in front of our home on the Cotee River at 6 pm on December 6th. All of these events and activities are listed in the calendar at the end of this message.
This Shabbat (services tonight at 7:30 pm and Saturday morning at 9:30 am in-person and virtually on Zoom), we literally begin anew by chanting the first triennial section (Bereshit 1-2:3) at the very beginning of the Torah, relates the story of creation. This story which begins with the creation of light and the division of light from darkness and concludes with the launching of Shabbat to provide rest from labor and an opportunity to reflect and give thanks. It reminds us that there is always light at the end of darkness and that each new day provides another opportunity to begin anew. The Haftorah chosen to accompany this portion is from the Prophet Isaiah (42:5-43:10) reminds us of the creation story and urges us to fight degeneracy and corruption and return the world to its original state of perfection again stressing that each new day provides new opportunities.
As we are nearing the end of the first month of the Hebrew calendar, we will announce the new month of Marcheshvan, the only month of the year that does not contain a holiday or festival day. Let's take advantage of this relatively quiet time (ritually speaking) to participate in the activities detailed in the calendar below and support the efforts of our synagogue community to grow and serve!
Shabbat Shalom,
Ron Becker,
Spiritual Leader
Thursday, October 30 Volunteering at Metropolitan Ministries at their Pasco headquarters at 3216 US 19 in Holiday, FL, 11 am-2 pm. Sign up at:
Jewish Community Center Group Link: https://vhub.at/1L1BLIK
Sunday, November 2 Car Show in the synagogue parking lot, 11 am - 3pm
Volunteering at Metropolitan Ministries at their holiday tent on the grounds of Generations Church at 1540 Little Rd, Trinity, FL, 11:15 am - 2:30 pm. Sign up at:
Jewish Community Center Group Link: https://vhub.at/1L1BLIK
Tuesday, November 25 Volunteering at the Metropolitan Ministries Holiday Tent on the grounds of Generations Church at 1540 Little Rd, Trinity, FL, 11:15 am-2:30 pm. Sign up at:
Jewish Community Center Group Link: https://vhub.at/1L1BLIK
Saturday, December 6 Pre Hanukkah party and viewing of the annual New Port Richey holiday boat parade at the Cotee River (Grand Boulevard between Vermont and Kentucky Avenues), 6 pm
Sunday, December 14 Volunteering to bring Hanukkah cheer (song, food, and candle lighting ) to homebound residents of assisted living facilities (location of facilities and times TBA followed by the synagogue Hanukkah party (time TBA)
Thursday, December 18 Volunteering at the Metropolitan Ministries Holiday Tent on the grounds of Generations Church at 1540 Little Rd, Trinity, FL, 8:30 am-12 pm. Sign up at:
Jewish Community Center Group Link: https://vhub.at/1L1BLIK
Wednesday, December 31 Casino Night/New Year's Eve Gala, 8 pm-12:30 am
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