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Weekly Message 12.29.2023 Parashat Vayechi

Parashat Vayechi (And he lived) Genesis 47:28 - 50:26

HafTorah Kings I 2:1-12





Dear friends,


As we approach the new year, I would like to take a moment to thank you all for participating in all of the JCC's services, initiatives, and other activities during the past year. We have shared simchas as well as very difficult moments and I hope your affiliation has helped to get through them all as a stronger and more caring community with the sponsorship of numerous interfaith events.


We have several activities planned for January including the mental health first aid training day on the 17th (registration information below) and our participation in the Martin Luther King Day activities on the 15th. We will also be celebrating Chris and my 50th wedding anniversary with a kiddish luncheon on the 6th to which you are all invited and the kiddush luncheon commemorating the anniversary of Gregory Cohen's Bar Mitzvah sponsored by his parents, Paula and Barry Cohen. Please try to attend as many of these events as possible so that we may share both our simchas and our concern for our community and our region.


This Shabbat, we conclude the reading of the Book of Bereshit (Genesis) with our patriarch Jacob's final blessings of his children and grandchildren. The "blessings" are also fraught with predictions and warnings. Our Haftorah from the book of Kings contains David's final blessings to his son Solomon who will be assuming the leadership of the Hebrew nation. Like those of Jacob, these "blessings" foreshadow the dilemmas to be faced in the future. As we take leave of our patriarchs and matriarchs, we have learned much from them, for their strong belief in a single deity, the power of faith, and the beginnings of our heritage as a holy people. We say Chazak Chazak V'Nitchazek as we conclude our reading: May we grow stronger through the study of Torah and from each other!

Our Shabbat services will be conducted as usual in-person and virtually on Zoom tonight at 7:30 pm and tomorrow morning at 9:30 am. Please join us so that we will have a strong minyan as we gather strength to conclude Bereshit!


Ron Becker,

Spiritual Leader

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FRIDAY:


JCC is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: Shabbat Service, Friday 12/29/2023, 7:30 pm

Time: Dec 29, 2023 07:30 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)


Join Zoom Meeting


Meeting ID: 497 903 0958

Passcode: 5QdVaA

____________________________________________________

SATURDAY:


JCC is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: Saturday Service, 12/30/2023 9:30 am

Time: Dec 30, 2023 09:30 AM Eastern Time (US and Canada)


Join Zoom Meeting


Meeting ID: 497 903 0958

Passcode: 5QdVaA

______________________________________________________________

SEE BELOW

___________________ _____________________________________________

Lifeline University and St. Petersburg College are excited to host a FREE Mental Health First Aid Training on Wednesday, January 17, 2024 at the JCC of West Pasco. I’ve attached our flyer and the registration steps to follow to ensure you receive the certification for free.

Please register by Tuesday, January 2, 2024. Limited spots are available. We look forward to your participation in the training!

VALUE TO YOU

One in five Americans has experienced a mental health challenge, but many are reluctant to seek help or don’t know where to turn for care. Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) is a skills-based training course that teaches participants about mental health and substance-use challenges.

Peer-reviewed studies show that individuals trained in MHFA:

Expand their knowledge of signs, symptoms and risk factors of mental health and substance use challenges.

Can identify appropriate types of professionals and self-help resources for individuals with a

mental health or substance use challenge.

Have increased confidence in and likelihood to help an individual in distress.

Show increased mental wellbeing themselves.

These strategies can also be applied to help when clients or fellow team members are experiencing:

A panic attack

Changes in behavior and performance

Frustration or anger

COMMITMENT

The training is an 8-hour commitment to obtain the nationally recognized certification, consisting of:

2 hours of online self-paced pre-work to be completed 7 days before the live training class

7 hours of a live training class

TRAINING DETAILS

This training will take place:

Date: Wednesday, 1/17/2024

Time: 10 AM – 5 PM

Location: Jewish Community Center West Pasco (9841 Scenic Dr, Port Richey, FL 34668)

REGISTRATION

This training is free to you thanks to grant funding.

Follow the registration steps attached to redeem the training for free.

Proceed to Step 1 and select our unique training named: Mental Health First Aid Training – Faith-Based Organizations

OR

Skip to Step 2 by clicking HERE for the direct link to our training

Best,

Joanna

Joanna Corde

Project Coordinator

Addressing Crisis Today in Tampa Bay

Workforce Institute

St. Petersburg College | EpiCenter TE-1-335


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