From Rabbi Dahlia Bernstein Friday, April 23, 2021
Dear CBO Family,
"Why me?" This is a question that many of us ask at one point or another throughout our lives. Sometimes it comes out as "What did I do to deserve this?" These questions come from such an understandable place: disbelief, grief, frustration, and a desire to make sure that we don't suffer in the future. If I know what I did, then maybe it will make sense or I can prevent it in the future. Our Torah portion challenges us to work through this topic on a number of levels, from the death to the sons of the holiest man, the high priest, and the distinction between one animal that gets sacrificed and one that gets a reprieve.
The Sages state that there are three things in life that are dependent upon mazal (luck): "children, health and longevity, and sustenance (Moed Katan 28a)." Even though the Torah tries to give the death of these two boys a reason, our sages counter that with the teaching that we do not earn our suffering. Some things are just up to luck. So when we look at why one person contracts a disease and not another, why one person gets into an accident and not the car behind them, we can run ourselves ragged trying to pinpoint "what we did wrong."
Making meaning is incredibly important to digest what has happened to us, and learning to prevent is also essential, but when reasoning goes in the direction of blaming oneself, this is the time to accept that not everything is in our control. If you are having a hard time letting go of something that is blocking you from moving forward, reach out, I would love to meet with you (rabbi.bernstein@cbohr.org).
Shabbat shalom, Rabbi Bernstein
CLICK HEREfor the Schedule of Services, Minyans & Events
May 16th at 12 PM through May 17th at 12 PM Conservative/Masorti Tikkun Leil Shavuot Program on Zoom (More information to follow) Sunday, May 16th at 4PM Shavuot Ice Cream & Storytime Event Minyan at 7:45 PM
Monday, May 17th 9:45 AM Shavuot Service (In Person) Tuesday, May 18th 9:45 AM (On Zoom)
GRATITUDE We have been packing bags and putting them in our pantry clients’ trunks in our parking lot every two weeks since April 2020.
The following people make phone calls every two weeks to tell our clients the day of the distribution:
Myra Broder Harriet Emers Adrienne Hausman Resa Hauptman Jackie Kirschman Fran Rosen Susan Staller Barbara Wiener Glenda Yurman
Mark Finkelman and Mark Rosen have picked up food for the pantry. Laura, Michele and Cynthia in our office have been a tremendous help as well as Hector.
Thank you to all. Without you we would not have been able to do these distributions.
Iris Astrof Chairperson
Congregation Beth Ohr 2550 South Centre Avenue Bellmore NY 11710 (516) 781-3072 officestaff@cbohr.org
Affiliated with United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism