Mazal Tov to Cantor Kowitz and Jamie on your marriage
Friday, August 28, 2020
Dear CBO Family,
This week we read the dicey Torah portion of Ki Teitzei. It contains a wide array of laws dealing with the individuals, their families and their neighbors. When I studied all of these laws I noticed there was one idea that kept coming up again and again: dignity and self-worth Our Chumash articulates this by saying “One theme is prominent: the irreducible dignity and worth of a human being.” (Etz Chayim 1112)
There are a few ways that the Torah promotes this idea of that a human being’s irreducible dignity. First is the treatment of a woman who was taken in battle. She is given time to mourn her family and to have time to herself without being rushed into marriage by her captor. Another way is when a woman’s virginity is questioned regarding a marriage and the man defames her character and reputation unjustly he is punished by means of a fine, public flogging, and lose of the right to divorce her, thus her reputation is restored. Finally, when a person falls on hard times they fall into debt the creditor cannot invade their home to collect the debt. This provides the person with the dignity of respecting their home and private space since so much has been taken from them.
Each of these examples shows how the Torah values a person’s dignity in their time of struggle. When life has got the better of a person the Torah shows us how to keep the honor we feel may have been lost. We have been living in this new world with COVID 19 for over six months, a lot of us have felt that our dignity was taken away as this virus took over our world. Our worth as human beings is not dictated by a virus. We are able to bring each other honor by helping one another and giving comfort in times of tragedy. By lifting one another up, being patient with one another, showing kindness and love in our actions and words our worth as human beings is unquantifiable. Times like these test our patience and character but they do not diminish the nature of the human spirit and the dignity that we all possess by being made in the image of God.
Wishing everyone lots of health and happiness. Please send me an email to schedule a 30 minute slot to schmooze and eat cookies on your front lawn on Sundays from 2-4pm.
Shabbat Shalom, Cantor Kowitz
PLEASE REGISTER ON THE WEBSITE TO ATTEND SHABBAT SERVICES
Remember to check the website for High Holiday Information.
The Truth About Safe Singing for Cantors and Congregations with Dr. Edward Septimus, Infectious Disease Specialist Monday, August 31 at 2:30 PM
While our clergy partners and lay leaders make plans for how they think we should be leading our congregations safely, what really constitutes safe singing for us and our congregants from a scientific perspective may be a very different matter entirely. Dr. Edward Septimus, a leading expert in infectious diseases, will provide us with the latest guidance.
Meeting ID: 893 8483 9484 Passcode: 050309 One tap mobile +16465588656 (New York)
CELEBRATIONS AND GRATITUDE Mazal Tov to our Hey 2020 Graduating Class. We would like to thank the class for giving the Hebrew School a beautiful kiddush cup. We look forward to using this each week in class.
Thank you to Scott and Jackie Brecher for coordinating the Shabbat Under the Stars, Jr. Happy Birthday to Barbara Ringel and to Iris and Sam Astrof’s granddaughter, Binah.
Happy Anniversary to Laura and Mark Silver.
Please let us know if you have any celebrations, including anniversaries, birthdays, college acceptances, honor society, etc. that we can announce in our weekly blast.
MINYAN REQUEST Cynthia Jacobson requests a minyan on Tuesday, September 1st at 8:00 PM. She has yahrzeit her husband, Herbert and her father, Charles A. Hirsch. Click here to join the service.
We will be part of the Stop’n’Shop “GIVE” Bag program again for the month of September. For every reusable “GIVE” Bag bought at the following Stop’n’Shop stores, our pantry receives a $1.00 at 2450 Jerusalem Avenue in North Bellmore. Please support this program. We have been doing food distribution’s from the pantry since April and every extra dollar we receive goes towards providing food for people in need.
Congregation Beth Ohr 2550 South Centre Avenue Bellmore NY 11710 (516) 781-3072 officestaff@cbohr.org
Affiliated with United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism