Parashat Chayei Sarah (the life of Sarah) - Genesis 23:1 - 25:18
HafTorah - Kings I 1:1 - 31
Dear friends,
As we approach the Thanksgiving holiday, many are preparing to visit family and friends from near and far and/or to receive visitors for a traditional meal. We are reminded of the importance of family and friends' connections and thankful for their support and company.
We learn through our Torah readings in the Book of Genesis (Bereshit) of the consequences of favoritism, jealously, and intrigue. This week we are introduced to our great matriarch Rebekah and learn of her kindness towards others and how she becomes the loving wife of Isaac. Yet even she is prone to favoring one of her sons over another with unfortunate consequences for her family and society. In our HafTorah from the first Book of Kings, i: 1-31, we read of further fracturing of our ancestor's families with King David's son Adonijah plotting and then attempting to replace his father while David still lives. Ultimately, David's son Solomon becomes king after his father's death while Adonijah and his allies continue their efforts to supplant him. Again, fractures in families with grave consequences for all those around them. On this Thanksgiving, let us put politics, jealousies favoritism, and all other ill will aside and find common ground with all we share the holiday with and all we encounter as we go forth during difficult times.
Time is running out to sign up to volunteer to help the hundreds of our neighbors who are in need of food for the Thanksgiving holiday at the Metropolitan Ministries Holiday Tent located on the grounds of Generations Church at 1540 Little Road in Trinity. Our synagogue will volunteer as a group on Tuesday, November 26th and Thursday, December 19th both days from 11 am until 2:30 pm. To register, just click on this link https://vhub.at/1L1BLIK If you can't make it on either of those days, you are welcome and encouraged to sign up for any of the days that the tent is operating. And if you are unable to volunteer, please consider making a financial contribution to Metropolitan Ministries or any of the organizations that are providing hope through food, clothing, shelter, and other necessities.
Please join me this evening at 7:30 pm and tomorrow (Saturday) morning at 9:30 am in-person and virtually on Zoom for our Shabbat services and help make a minyan as we enter this holiday season. Also, remember that we will be participating in the Interfaith Thanksgiving Service on Monday, November 25th at 7 pm at Temple Beth David in Spring Hill. In addition, mark your calendars for our Hanukkah events including:
Saturday, December 7th at 6 pm for our pre-Hanukkah party while watching the holiday boat parade on the Cotee River.
Sunday December 29th for our sharing Hanukkah with those in assisted living at 2 pm and our annual holiday dinner and party at 6 pm (see below for details for both).
Shabbat Shalom!
Ron Becker,
Spiritual Leader
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FRIDAY and SATURDAY
JCC is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: Shabbat Service, Friday 11/22/2024 7:30 pm and Saturday 11/23/2024 9:30 am
Time: Friday and Saturday
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 497 903 0958
Passcode: 5QdVaA
Thank you Ron for the updates and the HaftTarah of this week. I look forward to see you tonight for the Shabbat Service.
Shalom!