This Shabbat: Celebrate with Sisterhood and New Borns

Tonight join in the celebration of our Neveh Shalom Sisterhood.  Each year we honor our Sisterho0od at a Friday evening Kabbalat Shabbat service.  Many of the women help lead the congregation in prayer.  Today we take women's full participation in our services for granted, but most of us can remember when that was revolutionary.

Then Shabbat morning we encourage you to rejoice in one of the most "delicious" Shabbat services of the year.  We invite babies who were born this past year to drag their parents and grandparents to synagogue to receive an Aliyah at the main service beneath a Tallit covering.  Over 20 families have been invited.  They will each receive a "goody bag" which includes a plush Torah and a Jewish book to read to their parents.  Following services we will cuddle together and coo over the babies at a Kiddush in their honor.  What a delight!

Comforting the Bereaved

"Rabbi Shimon ben Elazar taught:...Do not attempt to comfort your fellow when his dead lies before him." (Pirkei Avot 4:23)

Janet Landsberg's sudden pulmonary embolism and death this week shocked her family and those who knew and cared for her.  Hanan Van Herpin, teacher in our religious school, flew to Holland this week to bury his father after a long illness and returned home to be with family and friends to sit Shiva.  Gary Fiske emailed to let us know that his mother died this week back East.

One of the uncomfortable aspects of greeting the bereaved is not knowing what to say.  The best advice is that of Rabbi Shimon ben Elazar above.  No words are necessary or welcomed usually beyond, "I'm sorry".  Simple physical presence is the most appreciated.  Allow the bereaved to set the tone, to share memories of their loved one or feelings of loss.  

We too often have a desire to say something comforting, but in all too many cases what we have to say is inappropriate if not down right insulting or hurtful.  I was reminded of this not only by being surrounded by death, but by a recent op-ed piece by David Brooks: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/21/opinion/brooks-the-art-of-presence.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

His sage advice:

"Be there

Don't compare, ever, i.e. to say I understand what you are feeling

Bring soup

Don't say, "You'll get over it"

Be there for the long haul

Don't attempt to make sense of the loss."

I couldn't agree more.

OBR Introduction to Judaism Class and Followup for Those Desiring to Study for Conversion

The Introduction to Judaism course taught by members of the Oregon Board of Rabbis is offered each Fall and Spring.  This 18-week course gathers on Thursday evenings, meeting in rotation among the several synagogues.  This course is a prerequisite for anyone considering conversion to Judaism.  Other participants include Jews who would like a refresher class on Judaism's highlights:  God, life cycle, calendar, Bible, history, anti-Semitism, mysticism, etc, or non-Jews who would simply like to learn about the Jewish faith and heritage.  Interested enrollees for the soon to begin Spring semester should contact Sheri Cordova at [email protected] for information and schedule.

We are currently organizing a Followup Class for those who have completed the Introduction to Judaism class and would like to continue on their path toward Judaism here at Neveh Shalom.  In addition to the class individual meetings make up the bulk of the process.  Please contact Marci Atkins ([email protected]) to join the follow up class.

Another Fascinating View of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon

"Forward" contributing editor David Hazony provides yet another view of recently deceased Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, who he claims was loved in Israel and far less so here in the Diaspora: http://forward.com/articles/190649/the-sharon-they-loved-the-sharon-we-hated/?p=all

I find Hazony's observations of particular interest, because he paints a picture of where Israelis and Diaspora Jews divide, how living in very different circumstances we view the world from very different perspectives.  American Jews are more comfortable with a clearly ever-peace pursuing Israel.  Israelis loved the ever evolving and mercurial Sharon, who could be the father of settlements in the territories one day and decide they were an impediment the next.

Bible Study: Proverbs  Thursday afternoons 3:30-4:15pm

Bible study continues to scour the Bible for new thoughts and insights.  Having completed our reading of Ezra, Nehemiah and the Book of Daniel, we have moved on to the Book of Proverbs.  Known as one of the books of wisdom literature along with Job and Ecclesiastes, Proverbs is a book of collective Jewish wisdom.

All are welcome.

Parshat haShavua: Mishpatim        Exodus 21:1-24:18

Last week's powerful revelation of the Decalogue amidst thunder, lightning, Shofar blasts and smoke, lead to this week's much more sobering extensive list of practical laws.  The Decalogue provided basic overriding principles.  Mishpatim not offers us specifics for creating a just society.

"The Laws of the Torah are not given in the names of kings or even in the name of Moses.  They are religious and moral instructions given by God.  Obeying the laws creates not only a harmonious society but a just and holy one.  Violations are seen as offenses against God, not just against the violated person.  Unlike the secular legal traditions of other societies, the laws of the Torah are cited not as the products of human wisdom and experience but as a reflection of divine principles built into the world.  Thus the dignity of a human being is as much a permanent part of God's Creation as the law of gravity....Judaism is based not only on the major pronouncements of the Decalogue but on the hundreds of minor ways in which  we are called on to sanctify our relationships with other people...Our standards for how we treat others must be based not on social-utilitarian concerns, the desire for an orderly society, but on the recognition of the image of God in every person and the presence of God in every relationship." (Etz Hayyim p456)

This parashah opens with civil and criminal matters: treatment of slaves, murder, assault, kidnapping, relations with parents, compensation and damages, negligence, theft, bailment, seduction.  The parashah continues on other topics, focusing particularly on humanitarian considerations: sorcery, apostasy, concern for the stranger, widow, orphan and the poor, humane treatment of the enemy, etc.  We read of religious laws: obligations to God, holidays.

The parashah concludes with the acceptance of the covenant by the people.  When presented with the obligations by Moses the people responded, "we will do and we will listen", classically understood to mean they were prepared to accept even before they heard what was being asked of them.

"Now the Presence of the Lord appeared in the sight of the Israelites as a consuming fire on the toip of the mountain.  Moses went inside the cloud and ascended the mountain; and Moses remained on the mountain forty days and forty nights."

Shabbat Shalom

Candle lighting: Friday, January 24, 2014                 4:47pm