Parashat Toldot-Generations/Descendants - Genesis 25:19 -28:9
HafTorah - Malachi 1:1-2:7
Dear friends,
This Shabbat's Torah reading is Toldot from the book of Genesis. We are confronted with the fundamental lack of honesty in our ancestral family. Esau and Jacob maneuver and deceive rather than interact truthfully.
Their immoral act offers a lesson for today. Rabbi Michael Dolgin of Temple Sinai in Toronto offers a powerful message. The greatest threat to our civilization is a failure to communicate in an open way, combined with an unwillingness to listen to one another.
In this very contentious political season combined with the worst pandemic in a century, the timing of this portion is critical. We must commit ourselves to truth, openness, and communication, and we must find the courage to stand against those who choose evil. "Willful blindness" presents a profound danger to all we hold dear. More on this and on the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday at our Shabbat services tonight at 7:30 pm and tomorrow morning at 9:30 am. Both will be held in person and virtually on Zoom.
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JCC is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: Shabbat Service
Time: Nov 20, 2020 07:30 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/4979030958?pwd=YXJPT2FGVTdzVVV2bVQ3c1ZnS1lMZz09
Meeting ID: 497 903 0958
Passcode: 5QdVaA
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JCC is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: Saturday Morning Service
Time: Nov 21, 2020 09:30 AM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/4979030958?pwd=YXJPT2FGVTdzVVV2bVQ3c1ZnS1lMZz09
Meeting ID: 497 903 0958
Passcode: 5QdVaA
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Speaking of the upcoming holiday, many of our thoughts are of past Thanksgivings and how this year will be so different from any other.
As the pandemic continues to grow, we are told to be more vigilant than ever--to forego family/friends reunions this year so that we will all be healthy next year, etc. However, we still have much to be thankful for. For the most part, our synagogue community has not been affected by the virus and we are able to carefully have religious services and meetings and have a powerful assistant (the computer) to help us get together. And again, for the most part, we are not suffering from hunger, deprivation, and loneliness. So, instead of hosting or attending large gatherings and sumptuous feasts, let's show are thanks through tsedaka.
We can help alleviate hunger in our midst through contributing to those who are feeding the growing destitute. Locally, there are at least three organizations committed to this, all of which have very low overhead so that contributions go directly to purchasing, preparing, and distributing food. They are:
The Volunteer Way https://thevolunteerway.org/
8061 Congress Street
Port Richey, FL 34688
(727) 815-0433
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Metropolitan Ministries
https://secure.metromin.org/site/SPageNavigator/COVID_19_Response_Form.html?_ga=2.92671005.1264027326.1605805297-441991228.1605463701
3214 Highway 19
Holiday, FL 34691
(727) 937-3268
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Feeding Tampa Bay https://www.feedingtampabay.org/
4702 Transport Drive, Building #6
Tampa, FL 33605
(813) 254-1190
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And, of course, there is the international Jewish response to Hunger: Mazon
Mazon: A Jewish Response to Hunger https://mazon.org/ways-to-give
PO Box 96119
Washington, DC 20090
(310) 442-0020
Please be as generous as you can, and I'll look forward to seeing you in shul! Ron
Ron Becker,
Spiritual Leader