Shabbat Inspiration, Worship Schedule, and LifeCycle Notices
Friday, January 7, 2022 / 5 Shevat 5782
This has been a hard week. It was the anniversary of the January 6th insurrection, Beth Emet has transitioned to all virtual again because of the pandemic, and even this week’s Torah portion, Bo, covers the grim, final plagues in Egypt. With all the political fighting and continuing struggle to encourage people to mask up and vaccinate, it feels like we have moved from Martin Buber’s "I and Thou" to "Us vs. Them.” 

If you’re like me, you’re probably feeling some combination of anger, fear, frustration, and sadness. So it’s all the more essential for us to find healthy coping mechanisms, not just distractions, to help us through these tumultuous times. Even as an introvert, I’ve found the power of camaraderie and community cannot be understated. 

If you’re feeling like I am and want to be reminded of all the good we can do and joy we can bring, if you need a little more light in your life, consider coming to our Kabbalat Shabbat services tonight at 6:30. I’ll be leading them on Zoom with the rabbis and my dad. If you do decide to log on, consider making a ritual of it. Light candles, pour a drink, have a meal, and let’s worship together. Let’s use our time together tonight to separate the mundane from the holy.

And don’t forget to set a reminder for this Sunday the 9th at 10am when Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky will join us on Zoom for our Mitzvah Appeal brunch. Stay warm, stay safe, and Shabbat Shalom everyone. 

Shabbat Shalom,
Cantor Kyle Cotler