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It's said that "a pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty."
In Torah this week, twelve spies are sent out to scout the land of Israel. They then come back to the community to share their experience. Ten of the spies see only obstacles and challenges. Two see possibility and potential. The majority of the community opts to believe the version told by the ten, and, full of fear, they decide they do not wish to go any further along the journey to the Promised Land. Frustration grows as anxiety sets in. The unknown can be an incredibly scary place to walk.
It is so easy for us to fault the Israelites, to not understand their lack of trust and faith. But that is because we know how the story ends. Hindsight is always 20/20. But I imagine we have each, at some point in our lives, been like those Israelites - held back from reaching our full potential by our own fears, or choosing to deal with the situation we are in (as difficult as it might be) rather than take a step forward into the unknown. What, at first glance, seems to be a portion about thousands of people complaining to Moses and God, quickly becomes a portion about the stories we tell ourselves about our experiences, and what it truly means to be human.
We'll explore this idea a bit more Friday evening. Cantor Hochman and I will be joined on the bimah by Bob Bross for our Erev Shabbat service (8:00 pm) this week.
Shabbat morning, I will be leading our Torah Study session beginning at 9:00 am in the Chapel. At 10:15 am, our Spice Up Your Judaism session will be on the topic of "The Ten Commitments," led by congregant Carl Viniar. Our Shabbat morning service begins at 10:30 am in the Sanctuary, during which we will celebrate the Bar Mitzvah of Jacob Cohen. And our Shabbat afternoon service starts at 5:45 pm in the Sanctuary, during which we will celebrate the Bar Mitzvah of Ethan Kauffman.
Wishing you a good week!
L'shalom,
Rabbi Jennifer L. Frenkel
If you wish to have a Mi Shebeirach said during our Shabbat services, please let us know by noon each Friday so we can give the names to the rabbis.
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WE CELEBRATE
The B'nai Mitzvah of
Jacob Cohen
son of Jeff & Kathleen Cohen
Ethan Kauffman
son of Philip & Shari Kauffman
The Anniversary Blessing of
Gary & Marla Vecchio
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THE WEEK AHEAD
Friday, June 16
8:00 pm Erev Shabbat Service (Sanctuary)
Saturday, June 17
9:00 am Torah Study, led by Rabbi Frenkel (Chapel)
10:15 am Spice Up Your Judaism & Potluck Lunch (Social Hall)
The Ten Commitments, led by Carl Viniar
10:30 am Shabbat Morning Service (Sanctuary)
Bar Mitzvah of Max Jacobs
5:45 pm Shabbat Afternoon Service (Sanctuary)
Bar Mitzvah of Ethan Kauffman
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UPCOMING EVENTS
Please click on each event name for more information or to register for that event.
Health Care Forum presented by M'kor Shalom's Social Justice Initiative
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For late-breaking news, please visit our website at
www.mkorshalom.org.
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Michelle Bross
Executive Director
Congregation M'kor Shalom
850 Evesham Road
Cherry Hill, NJ 08003
(856) 424-4220
(856) 424-2890 (fax)
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