Weekly Message 11.13.2026 Parashat Toldot
Parashat Toldot (Generations) Genesis 25:19 -28:9
HafTorah Malachi 1:1 - 2:7
Dear friends,
As we are now well into our fall season and having observed Veterans Day activities, we turn our attention to Thanksgiving and its meaning to us as Jews and as members of our community at large. As Jews, we give thanks throughout our liturgy and our actions. There are elements of thanksgiving in nearly all of our prayers and psalms and one in particular (Psalm 100) we chant every day:
A Psalm of thanksgiving. Shout unto the Lord, all the earth. Serve the Lord with gladness; come before His presence with singing. Know that the Lord is G-d; it is He that hath made us, and we are His, His people, and the flock of His pasture. Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise; give thanks unto Him and bless His name. For the Lord is good; His mercy endures forever; and His faithfulness unto all generations.
א מִזְמוֹר לְתוֹדָה: הָרִיעוּ לַיהוָה, כָּל-הָאָרֶץ.
ב עִבְדוּ אֶת-יְהוָה בְּשִׂמְחָה; בֹּאוּ לְפָנָיו, בִּרְנָנָה.
ג דְּעוּ—כִּי יְהוָה, הוּא אֱלֹהִים: הוּא-עָשָׂנוּ, וְלוֹ אֲנַחְנוּ—עַמּוֹ, וְצֹאן מַרְעִיתוֹ.
ד בֹּאוּ שְׁעָרָיו בְּתוֹדָה, חֲצֵרֹתָיו בִּתְהִלָּה; הוֹדוּ-לוֹ, בָּרְכוּ שְׁמוֹ.
וה כִּי-טוֹב יְהוָה, לְעוֹלָם חַסְדּוֹ; וְעַד-דֹּר וָדֹר, אֱמוּנָ
On November 19th, we will gather with our friends at Beth David in Spring Hill for the annual interfaith Thanksgiving service. And to add meaning to our prayers, this is the season to show our appreciation for all that we have been given by sharing with those in need. Gifts of funds and food to our regional organizations (Metropolitan Ministries, Feeding Tampa Bay, Volunteer Way and many others) and to Mazon, the Jewish response to hunger https://mazon.org And PLEASE consider volunteering at the Metropolitan Ministries 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.
This Shabbat, we continue our reading of the Book of Bereshit (Genesis 26:23-27:27) which depicts Isaac's inadvertent blessing of Jacob as a result of disguise, trickery and deceit thus depriving the older brother, Esau of his rightful heritage. It is a well-known story and a warning of the consequences of unequal treatment of siblings. Every child needs to be loved and nurtured for his/her own sake just as every human being needs to be respected regardless of what talents that person possesses or what that person's beliefs are.
Following our Torah reading, we will chant the words of the prophet Malachi (1:1-2:7) which begins with the lament of Jacob and Esau and ends with Hashem's covenant of life and peace.
Please join me at Shabbat services in-person and virtually on Zoom this evening at 7 pm and tomorrow (Saturday) morning at 9:30 am as we pray together and explore these critical themes. And join us for our monthly Havdalah and game night on Saturday at 7 pm! And please attend our interfaith Thanksgiving service and volunteer at the Metropolitan Ministries holiday tent if you possibly can.
Shabbat Shalom,
Ron Becker,
Spiritual Leader
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Time: Nov 13 07:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)Nov 14 9:30 am
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COMING EVENTS:
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 BEFORE NOVEMBER 17TH at https://vhub.at/1L1BLIK
Friday, December 4, 2026 We will enjoy a joyous Shabbat/erev Hanukkah celebration with candlelighting before our Kabbalat Shabbat service, and potato latkes and sufganyot (jelly donuts) after. Bring your own menorah for the lighting of the first candle, 6:30 pm
Saturday, December 5, 2026 We will enjoy the annual holiday boat parade on the Banks of the Cotee River at Grand Boulevard 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, 2 pm
Sunday, December 6, 2026 We will enjoy a Hanukkah dinner party, 6 pm NOTE CHANGE OF TIME
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
Thursday, December 24, 2026 We will enjoy a movie and Chinese dinner at the synagogue, 1 pm
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