Parashat Vayishlach (and he sent) Genesis32:4 - 36:43
HafTorah Obadiah 1:1 - 21
Dear friends,
Thanks to all who helped make the minyan at this past week's funeral for an out-of-town family which greatly appreciated our assistance and who will be attending Shabbat services throughout the month of December before returning to Orlando.
We continue with an active late fall season with our service to those in need and our preparations for Hanukkah. The theme of this year's Metropolitan Ministries efforts is that of "hope". You will see it on the yard signs in front of our synagogue and several of our homes. For in giving of ourselves to a community in need, we not only supply food, clothing, and other necessities for families, but we supply hope for the future. We know that as dark as these times can be for those who have lost their homes and livelihoods in recent days, there is also light in this season, the light of hope resulting in the knowledge that nobody has to be alone in his or her struggles. There is a community to support them with current aid and access to future opportunities. So, let's continue our distribution of hope with our service.
There is still a small window of opportunity to sign up for our next volunteer visit to the holiday tent on the grounds of Generations Church at 1540 Little Road in Trinity, which will take place on Thursday, December 19th from 11 am until 2:30 pm. But you must sign up immediately at https://vhub.at/1L1BLIK A very small part of your time will bring hope to many!
This Shabbat, at our services this evening at 7:30 pm and tomorrow (Saturday) morning at 9:30 am, we continue in our reading of the Book of Genesis (Bereshit), the 3rd triennial reading of the portion of Vayishlach (35:16-36:43) beginning with the birth of Benjamin to our matriarch Rachel who dies in childbirth. Rachel's sufferings are well documented over her lifetime and yet she remains a kind and understanding person throughout. We also witness through our reading, the reunion of Jacob and Esau at the time of the passing of their father, our patriarch Isaac and we conclude with detailed genealogies of both Jacob and Esau but with greater detail reserved for the generations following Esau which were to become an anathema to the Hebrew nation. We learn that the evil Amalek is a descendant of Esau as well. All of this is further documented by the Prophet Obadiah which we read as our Haftorah this Shabbat. So why dwell on Esau more than on Jacob? It is said that one must be as aware of one's foes as of one's friends. Memory (Zachor) and history play such an important role in our scripture as they enable us to learn from our ancestors' examples and experiences.
The celebration of Hanukkah is now less than two weeks away and on the Sunday of the holiday (December 29th) we will visit the Trinity Place Assisted Living facility at 8684 Old Route 54, New Port Richey, FL 34653 to once again bring cheer and celebration to that community through song, food, and comradery. We will begin the festivities there at 2 pm and encourage all members of our community to join us there. We will carpool from the synagogue at 1:30 pm. Then at 6 pm, we will hold our annual Hanukkah deli dinner and celebration. Please sign up immediately as the deadline is now upon us and we can only purchase enough food for those who register. December 29th will certainly be a festive day and a day of service for our congregational community.
Shabbat Shalom!
Ron
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FRIDAY and SATURDAY Link
JCC is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: Shabbat Service, Friday 12/13/2024 7:30pm and Saturday 12/14/2024 9:30 am
Time: This is a recurring meeting every week.
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Meeting ID: 497 903 0958
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