How do we maintain hope and work towards change when the news on the ground seems so dire? This question comes up every time a war forges forward or a terrorist attacks. This is the sentiment that many are sharing with me especially following the war in Ukraine as well as the violence by the terrorist in Bnei Brak.
So what is our emotional course of action? It is understandable to stay despondent, but when we drop into hopelessness we are no good to individuals who may needs help with supplies, words of comfort, or advocacy.
Luckily, we are not alone. We join together with thousands of years of Jews who have tackled these issues and we have mechanisms in place to cultivate hope.
One of the most powerful strategies for building hope is the Passover seder which is an ancient resilience exercise. Not only is it a tradition to have a bag packed at the Passover seder as if we were leaving, but we tell the story of slavery to freedom to remind ourselves that slavery can turn into freedom. We do not know what the catalyst will be, but we know it is possible. It challenges us to believe that what seems impossible can actually come to be.
And if you do not want to wait until Passover, we can turn to other words spoken by our ancestors: “I look up to the mountains and hills, longing for God’s help. But then I realize that our true help and protection is only from the Lord, our Creator who made the heavens and the earth (Psalm 121).”
We must cultivate hope. We do that with words, with questions, action and song.
Look up and ask God for help to get through this moment and see what shifts inside.
Shabbat shalom, Rabbi Bernstein
CANDLE LIGHTING Friday, April 1 at 7:00 pm
HAVDALAH Saturday, April 2 at 8:01 pm
CLICK HERE to check for upcoming events and services.
Kabbalat Shabbat at 8:00 PM (In Person & Live Streamed)
Saturday
Nosh & Drash at 9:00 AM on (In Person)
Shabbat Service at 9:45 AM (In Person & Live Streamed) Bat Mitzvah - Alanna Romanick Thank you to Raquel and Seth Romanick and brother, Drew for sponsoring kiddush in honor of Alanna's Bat Mitzvah.
REFUAH SHELEIMAH (A SPEEDY RECOVERY)
As a community, we pray for those in need of healing. May they be granted a Refuah Sheleimah - a complete and speedy recovery.
Savannah Ambrosecchio Glen Blackman Judith Feldman Roy Friedenthal Rivanna Hyman Steven Nachbar Ed Hoffman Donald Lindberg Warren Siegel
If there is someone's name that you wish to add or we need to remove, please let us know.
Dinner for Bill and Elayne - Sunday, April 3rd at 4:30 pm Good Luck to Bill and Elayne on their new adventures
We will be participating in the Celebrate Israel parade Sunday, May 22 in New York City.
Please contact Iris Astrof at irisastrof@aol.com or call (516) 835-6428, if you know you are planning to join us. Bus transportation will be available.
UKRAINE RELIEF
More help needed for Ukraine
The response to our request for items for Ukraine relief was overwhelming! Thank you to all who brought in supplies and a special thank you to Fran and Mark Rosen who not only brought all of it to the Ukrainian church but also sorted and packed all the items.
Right now, what is needed most is money for transporting supplies. Checks can be made out to the Holy Family Ukrainian Catholic Church and sent to the church at 225 4th St., Lindenhurst 11757.
Thank you for your support
Iris Astrof Chair, Social Action Committee
Congregation Beth Ohr Sisterhood THEATRE GROUP Enrollment for 2022 Season For more details, pleaseCLICK HERE Join us for THREE Matinees!
Affiliated with United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism