M'KOR MAIL
November 27, 2019
Modim Anachnu Lach... We thank you.

These three words, we thank You, form the opening of the penultimate blessing of the Amidah, the central rubric of prayer in our worship services. This Modim prayer is also known as Hoda-ah, literally "thanksgiving" or "acknowledgment," and is present in daily, Shabbat, and festival versions of the Amidah. A couple of interesting facts about our Jewish prayer of thanksgiving: 
  • It is old. Very old. It is referenced in both the Mishnah and the Talmud as being a part of the earliest formulations of the Amidah. It is likely that it has antecedents in Temple period worship.
  • A Talmudic era opinion holds that a latecomer to worship must not begin his recitation of the Amidah if he cannot finish by the time the prayer leader gets to this opening phrase, Modim Anachnu Lach, thus ensuring everyone offers these words together.
  • The numerical value of the Hebrew word modim = 100 giving us one of the earliest sources for the Rabbinic mandate of reciting 100 blessings a day.
We don't read this prayer aloud regularly in our worship services here at M'kor Shalom; we generally conclude our recitation of the Amidah silently. However, as we approach our American holiday of Thanksgiving, the history and traditions of Modim Anachnu Lach, our Jewish prayer of thanksgiving, can serve to remind us of the importance of expressing gratitude not just once a year, but every single day.

Friday evening, we will join together at 6:30 pm for Kabbalat Shabbat services in the chapel. Shabbat morning, there is no Torah Study or Spice up your Judaism this week due to the holiday weekend.

Happy Thanksgiving & Shabbat Shalom,

Cantor Rhoda J. Harrison


If you have the name of someone you would like to have included in our Healing Prayer (Mi Shebeirach) that is recited at our Shabbat services, please let us know by noon each Friday so we can give the name to our clergy. 
In This Message
WE CELEBRATE
The Birth of  
twin grandsons of Michael & Phyllis Levy 
 
WE REMEMBER
Sandra Adams
wife of Thomas Adams
 
Bernice Birnbaum
aunt of Bonita Blazer and Elinor Hecht
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THE WEEK AHEAD
Thursday, November 28
Offices & School Closed - Thanksgiving Break
 
Friday, November 29
Offices & School Closed - Thanksgiving Break  
6:30 pm Kabbalat Shabbat Service (Chapel)   
Join us for pre-service refreshments starting at 6:00 pm.
 
Monday, December 2
7:00 pm Education & Youth Committee Meeting (Chapel)
 
Wednesday, December 4
10:30 am Liturgical Gems: The History, The Theology, The Music led by Cantor Harrison (Chapel)
12:30 pm Achim (The Men's Group) Lunch (Short Hills Deli)
 
Thursday, December 5
7:00 pm Social Action Cooking (Kitchen)
 
Friday, December 6
5:30 pm Tot Family Dinner (Oneg Room)
6:15 pm Tot Shabbat Service (Sanctuary)
8:00 pm Erev Shabbat Service (Sanctuary; webcast
UPCOMING EVENTS:
Please click on the event name for more information or to register for that event.    

Theater Group Performances: Shakespeare: The Musical
Saturday, December 7, 8:00 pm
Sunday, December 8, 2:30 pm

Sunday, December 8, 11:30 am

December 8-15

Saturday, December 14, 7:00 pm

IHOC Hospitality Program
December 15-29

Wednesday, December 18, 10:30 am

December 24 & 25

Home Improvement Meet & Greet
Sunday, January 12, 9:00 am - 2:00 pm
Vendor-style event to find and meet contractors to discuss future home or office projects. 
Exhibitors Wanted! Click here for more information
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)
ExecutiveDirector@mkorshalom.org