Shabbat and Candle Lighting
for Friday, September 6, 2019 / 7 Elul
5779
Light Shabbat candles at 6:29 p.m.
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Dear Co
ngregation Kehillah and Friends,
Parashat Shoftim
("judges") includes the dictum: "
Justice, Justice, shall you pursue
" and describes how Israelite society and courts would operate. In
Shoftim, the Torah introduces the idea of a just society, an idea so powerful that it has deeply influenced the American legal system. The parasha
envisions a society where justice is impartial and fair, irrespective of social/economic status and immune to bribery (think about the American
traditional symbol of justice - a woman blindfolded holding equal scales). There are limits to leadership and what a leader is allowed to do; leadership is
service, not power or status, and constituents are to be treated with dignity. If the rest of the world (i.e., at those times, the Canaanite people) continue
to revere death, Jews must remain different from them, as we celebrate the sacredness of human life. The final section teaches us that there is a
'right' way to fight wars and limitations on who can fight. In modern times, this has expanded to the Israeli army's notion of 'purity of arms,' standard
operating procedure for the IDF.
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A kavannah for Parashat Shoftim
As Mel Brooks said: it may be good to be king, but Gd, please help us to use our powers of influence to spread concepts of justice and
fairness and urge our elected officials to make wise decisions that value life and work toward the common good.
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Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Bonnie Sharfman
Please join us for Torah Talk Saturday, September 7th at 10:30 am at the synagogue.No prior knowledge is needed to enjoy Torah Talk; all are welcome.Be part of an amazing 4,000-year-old conversation, as relevant today as when it began. Torah Talk is one of Kehillah's most-loved traditions -- a morning filled with questions, conversation, and laughter. This session will be lay-led. Please RSVP by Thursday, September 5, and please park in the back when you arrive on Saturday.
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