From Cantor Joshua Diamond Friday, August 13, 2021
Dear CBO family,
Can we really have perfect steadfast faith in God? As I write this cases are going up and things seem to be getting worse every day with the virus, antisemitism is on the rise, and across the world you read and see terrible things in the news. It isn’t easy or even practical to have faith in God, yet it is exactly what our Torah portion of Shoftim tells us to do. “You shall be wholehearted with the Lord your God.” Deuteronomy 18:13.
This quote is in relation to the other nations living in the land of Israel and their spiritual practices such as sorcery, animal charmers, people who consult with the dead, as well as astrologers. All of these could take away from our ancestor’s wholehearted faith in God. God already knew then that we as human beings would struggle with our faith. God knew our ancient ancestors would struggle when they entered the Promised Land because they did so when the left Egypt and built the Golden Calf.
I would like to look at this quote in a different way instead of the context it was written. Rather instead of having faith in response to the temptations of sorcery, I would like to think about it as our faith in God is what guides us and grounds us which is what makes it stronger every day. When a loved one is very sick we pray deeply to God for their health, when we are in a horrible moment, we pray to God to make it through that moment so we can live to see another day. Moments of being wholehearted with God are all around us without us realizing it. Even the most nonobservant/spiritual person turns to God or a higher power in the right moment. Being wholehearted with the Lord your God is simply increasing the amount of moments that you put your trust in God.
By adding to that trust more and more, it grows and becomes stronger each day and allows you to understand what the meaning of the term “perfect” is in perfect faith.
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As a community, we pray for those in need of healing. May they be granted a Refuah Sheleimah - a complete and speedy recovery.
Glenn Cohen Phyllis Cohen Wallace Leifer Edward Steinman
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NEW PROJECT HOPE This is a program within the New Horizon Counseling Center to offer free, anonymous and confidential counseling to anyone affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. CLICK HERE for more information
Ethan Moskowitz's Mitzvah Project
For my Mitzvah Project I am asking donations of pet supplies which will be given to the Town of Hempstead Animal Shelter and to the Last Hope Rescue of Wantagh. CLICK HERE for supply list
The Town of Hempstead Animal Shelter is a Town government agency and the money they have to spend on supplies is limited to the budget they are given every year by the Town. The Last Hope Rescue (which is down the block from the Town Animal Shelter) is run by volunteers and also has a limited budget. Any donation of supplies is of great help to both shelters and will go a long way to making the lives of the animals they care for a little brighter.
I feel this is in line with my Torah portion because of the part where Abraham’s servant is resting his caravan and camels at the Oasis watering hole when Rebeca offers to bring water to him and the camels-he is impressed by her kindness to his camels- this reminds us that as Jews we have a responsibility to care for animals and wildlife. You can drop off your donations in the collection bin that will be in the Shul lobby by the office between August 9th and August 31st.
Affiliated with United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism