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Our Torah portion this week includes the famous stories of Sodom and Gemorrah, and the Akedah, the binding and near sacrifice of Isaac. Both narratives, in very different ways, remind us of the sacredness of life.
And so it is rather fitting that this Shabbat is also National Donor Shabbat. Since 1974, Gift of Life has worked to coordinate life-saving and life-enhancing transplants to those waiting, while also supporting the generous donors and their families who have chosen to give others a second chance through organ donation. A number of members of our M'kor Shalom family have had their own lives (or the lives of family members) saved through the sacred work of Gift of Life, and many more have volunteered in a number of ways with the organization over the years. One of Judaism's highest commandments is that of pikuach nefesh, the saving of life, and we are taught that human beings were created in the image of God, a reminder of the sacred nature of protecting life and of helping others to return to health when we are able.
This Friday evening, our Shabbat service begins at 8:00 pm, and Cantor Harrison and I will be joined on the bimah by our M'kor Shalom Adult Choir.
Shabbat morning, Torah Study (at 9:00 am) will be led by Yossi Afek, and our Spice Up Your Judaism session (10:30 am - noon) will be led by Scott Kushner.
And, don't forget to stop by our M'kor Marketplace Sunday morning!
L'shalom,
Rabbi Jennifer L. Frenkel
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.
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