Parashat Toldot (Generations) Genesis 25:19 - 28:9
HafTorah - Samuel I 20:18 - 42
Dear friends,
I hope you enjoyed your Thanksgiving Day and that it was a meaningful one and safe one for you and your families. Many thanks to those congregants (Ana, Chris, Debbie, Renee, Wendy, and Yair) who joined me at Metropolitan Ministries on Tuesday to help provide food for the hundreds of clients. And thanks to Publix Supermarkets for donating over 30 pounds of delicious Brooklyn, NY based Lilly's Baking Company honey cakes, babka, and dark chocolate dipped coconut macaroons to the synagogue which we in turn donated to the holiday tent. Please consider joining us on December 19th from 11 am until 2:30 pm for our next volunteer visit to the Metropolitan Ministries holiday tent on the grounds of the Generations Church on Little Road in Trinity. It's so easy to sign up and I guarantee that you will have much joy and satisfaction for performing this important mitzvah. To sign up, simply click here https://vhub.at/1L1BLIK and scroll to December 19th and follow the instructions for registering. You are guaranteed to be uplifted by serving!
If you were unable to join us at the moving Holocaust Torah event in Sarasota, you could now view it at https://youtu.be/cE5LPtA8GVU
It was truly a remarkable and unforgettable experience!
This week our triennial Torah reading is from Genesis (Bereshit) 27:28-28:9 in which our patriarch Isaac is deceived by his wife Rebekha and son Jacob and gives the blessing intended for his favorite son Esau, a continuation of the theme of the dangers of favoritism and dishonesty. As Esau in his rage threatens his brother, Jacob escapes to his uncle Laban's home and ultimately is deceived by him. The portion ends with the marriage of Esau to the daughter of Ishmael, and we are left with a fractured family and yet one that does much good for the world. Let's select their good qualities and learn from their mistakes as we travel life's road.
This is a very special Shabbat that only occurs once or twice a year if at all. It is Shabbat Machar Chodesh, the Sabbath of the eve of the new month of Kislev which is the month in which Chanukkah occurs. To celebrate this Shabbat, we read the Haftorah (Samuel 20:18-42) which chronicles the story of David and Jonathan, an incredible friendship between young men occurring at the most trying of times. Jonathan places David's life above his own as by warning him of his father King Saul's rage and plot to kill David, Jonathan gives up his right to inherit the throne. After reading about family members deceiving others in the Torah stories of our patriarchs and matriarchs, Jonathan and David prove that love and friendship can win out if we only try!
Please join me in shul this Shabbat (7:30 pm this evening and 9:30 am tomorrow morning in-person and virtually on Zoom) and don't forget that right after next Shabbat, Saturday, December 7th at 6 pm, we will gather at my home on the Cotee River for Havdalah and our annual pre-Hanukkah holiday boat parade party. We promise potato latkes, sufganyot, hot chocolate and great company and cheer!
Shabbat Shalom,
Ron Becker,
Spiritual Leader
_______________________________________________________________
FRIDAY and SATURDAY
JCC is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: Shabbat Service, Friday 11/29/2024 7:30pm and Saturday 11/30/2024 9:30 am
Time: This is a recurring meeting for FRIDAY and SATURDAY
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 497 903 0958
Passcode: 5QdVaA
Comments