Parashat Vayetze (and he left) Genesis 28:10 - 32:3
HafTorah Hosea 11:7 - 12:14
Dear friends,
I am looking forward to seeing you tonight and/or tomorrow morning as we celebrate another Shabbat together. We will continue our reading and study of the Book of Genesis with the final third of Parashat Vayetzei. In this episode, Jacob and his wives, children, livestock, and riches stealthily leave the house of his Uncle Laban after twenty years in his servitude. The portion concludes with Laban's catching up with them, chiding his son-in-law, but ultimately, agreeing to a pact with him, and they go their separate ways. Laban, back to his fields, and Jacob ahead to continue the development of the Hebrew nation begun by his grandparents Abraham and Sarah and his parents Isaac and Rebecca through his now enormous family, each son destined to become a tribe of Israel.
On this Veterans Day weekend, I have been reflecting on the role of the Jewish community in our military. Just before Rosh Hashanah, we at the JCC visit the local cemeteries where members and family are interred. One of those cemeteries is the National Cemetery in Bushnell where thousands of those who served our country are buried including those of all faiths and backgrounds. In addition, we see that numerous of our late members and family who are buried at the Jewish cemeteries we visit (Beit Olam in Trinity and Grace Memorial in Hudson) also state their military service on their monuments. The Jewish community has a proud history in the U.S. military, with Jews protecting and defending America since the Revolutionary War. That history continues today, as nearly 10,000 Jewish men and women serve in our nation’s military. Veterans Day is an opportunity for the Jewish community to acknowledge and honor the men and women who dedicate their lives to ensuring our freedom. So, let's try to think beyond the big Veterans Day sales at the shopping centers and honor those among us who have selflessly put their lives on the line to protect the freedoms that we enjoy in the United States.
So, between our intriguing Torah portion and our recognition of Veterans Day, we promise to have a lively and informative Shabbat experience. Again, please join me tonight at 7:30 pm and tomorrow at 9:30 am either in-person or on Zoom to share this experience together as a community.
Shabbat Shalom!
Ron Becker,
Spiritual Leader
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FRIDAY:
JCC is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: Shabbat Service
Time: Nov 12, 2021 07:30 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
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Meeting ID: 497 903 0958
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SATURDAY:
JCC is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: Saturday Morning Service
Time: Nov 13, 2021 09:30 AM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
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Meeting ID: 497 903 0958
Passcode: 5QdVaA
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