Shabbat Blast

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Shabbat Blast

11/18/2022 02:04:50 PM

Nov18

PLEASE NOTE: The temple office will be closed on
Thursday, November 24th and Friday, November 25th
for Thanksgiving

Shabbat Blast
Friday, November 18, 2022
From: Reb Rishe Groner

Dear CBO Family,

In last month’s Torah portion, Bereshit, we learned that at the beginning of time, there were no humans to pray for rain, so a Divinely-orchestrated mist welled up from the earth, to water the garden. Rain is a sign of Divine abundance – shefa; but it is also one of those unpredictable things that no matter what we do, even as we work towards a sustainable way of living, remains in the hands of God.

And so, we pray for rain.

As humans, we are dependent on water. Our bodies are literally made up of it. And that means constantly hydrating ourselves and being conscious of water around us: What we drink, what’s the weather, and spiritually – how we care for and nourish ourselves.

Our Matriarchs, the foremothers, feature throughout the Torah in relationship to water. This week’s Parsha showcases the first of many narratives where a woman at the well becomes a future mother of our people. Rivkah (Rebecca) meets Avraham’s servant in this week’s Torah portion of Chayei Sarah; and later, Rachel meets Yaakov (Jacob) at the well. Moshe finds his wife Tsippora at the well; and his sister Miriam is the catalyst to bring water to the people throughout their desert sojourns. It's not incidental that the feminine presence in our tradition is deeply associated with water.

In the mystical tradition of Kabbalah, the ‘feminine waters’ are described as all the waters that well up from the depths of the earth, not unlike the waters of the womb and female sexual desire. These are the waters that are in the rivers and the lakes; that erupt as springs and flow into waterfalls, and receive the ‘masculine waters’ of rain coming from above. These waters, buried beneath the surface, rise to nourish us, water our fields to bring us food, and are the fresh springs that quench our thirst.

In our tale this week, Avraham’s servant is at the well, intent on his mission to find a suitable wife for his master’s son. He sets up a test, deciding that the right woman is one who will respond to his request for water. Not only does the young Rivkah offer him to drink, she proceeds to water all the camels. It’s in Rivkah’s approach to water, to nurturing, to showering abundance, that we understand why this woman’s character is so integral.

How do we find the strength to pour water, and fill up someone else’s cup, while also making sure our own pitcher remains full? How do we feel that we have the capacity to turn to another and say, please, sip and drink your fill! How can we become the channel, a conduit for water flowing through us, knowing that when we are running dry, we can be replenished by the Divine Source of all abundance?

How can we continue to hold that prayer, knowing that the Source is ever-replenishing?

I wonder, and I believe that we can hold this prayer, just as our ancestors did. The Torah tells us that not long after this story, Rivkah leaves her parents’ house and meets her intended, Yitzchak. He brings her to the tent of his mother, and he loves her. There, he is comforted from his mother’s death, and likely, though the text doesn’t specify it, the trauma of his near-death sacrifice not long before.

The waters are not only replenishing, rejuvenating and nourishing. They are healing and cleansing. They are purifying, in a way that can comfort us, heal our trauma, and allow us to grow into becoming who we truly are.

I bless us all that we can hold this prayer, and learn to nourish ourselves as we provide water to others,

May we experience a world that is nourished, healed and blessed
Where there is water for all beings to drink, physically and spiritually
Where all beings are hydrated in body, soul, spirit and mind,
And where we are constantly connected to the never-ending Source of water and abundance.

With blessings for a Shabbat of healing and nourishment,
Reb Rishe

Thank you to Haley and Doron Schnitzer for sponsoring Oneg and kiddush in honor of Ellie's Bat Mitzvah.

FRIDAY
Candle Lighting - 4:15 PM
Kabbalat Shabbat Service 8:00 PM (In Person & Live Streamed)

SATURDAY
Nosh & Drosh - 9:00 AM - Parashat Chayei Sara
Shabbat Service - 9:45 AM - (In Person & Live Streamed)
Bat Mitzvah-Ellie Schnitzer - 4:30 PM
Havdalah - 5:17 PM

CLICK HERE to watch Live-Streamed Services

CLICK HERE for the upcoming events

PLEASE NOTE: Friday night services will be starting
at 6:30 PM beginning December 9th.

MINYAN REQUESTS

Sunday, November 20th - ZOOM (Click here to join minyan)

Fran Firouzan and Sheila Bashkoff have yahrzeit for their father,
Rubin Goldmark at 9:00 a.m.
Iris Astrof has yahrzeit for her mother, Shirley Mindlin at 8:00 p.m.

Minyan with breakfast - Sunday, November 27th)
Join us for minyan and breakfast sponsored by Marshall Zucker on Sunday, November 27th at 9:00 a.m. He has yahrzeit for his parents,
Arthur and Annette.

Monday, November 28th - Zoom

Fred Cohen has yahrzeit for his father, Max Cohen at 8:00 p.m.

Joan Gusoff has been knitting hats for the sick through another organization and has received 2 cartons of yarn.
If you are interested and would like to know what she has available, please contact Joan @ 516-221-2992.

CELEBRATIONS & GRATITUDE
Mazal Tov to Renee and Scott Kornfeld on the birth of their grandson,
Benjamin Leo Kornfeld, born on November 7th. Proud parents are Matthew and
Jillian Kornfeld.

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.

Glen Blackman
Jacalyn Cohen
Judith Feldman
Roy Friedenthal
Ed Hoffman
Gail Kanner
Joshua Kanner
Donald Lindberg
Steven Nachbar
Arthur Seewald
Shirley Siegel
Warren Siegel
Eddie Steinman

If there is someone's name that you wish to add or remove, please contact the office.

CLICK HERE to register

CLICK HERE to register

CLICK HERE to join
Meeting ID: 897 8824 2590
Passcode: 871858

Congregation Beth Ohr
2550 South Centre Avenue
Bellmore NY 11710
(516) 781-3072
officestaff@cbohr.org

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Sat, December 3 2022
9 Kislev 5783

Today's Calendar

Nosh & Drash - In Person

: 9:00am

Shabbat Service - In-Person & Livestream

: 9:45am

This week's Torah portion is Parshat Vayetzei

Shabbat, Dec 3

Candle Lighting

Shabbat, Dec 3, 4:09pm

Shabbat Mevarchim

Shabbat, Dec 17

View Calendar

Tomorrow's Calendar

Minyan on Zoom

: 9:00am

Jewish Learning Center (Hebrew School)

: 9:15am

Minyan requested by Harriet Siegel on Zoom

: 8:00pm

Upcoming Events

All Events

Sunday ,
DecDecember 4 , 2022

Minyan on Zoom
Sunday, Dec 4th 9:00a to 10:00a

MORE INFO
Sunday ,
DecDecember 4 , 2022

Minyan requested by Harriet Siegel on Zoom
Sunday, Dec 4th 8:00p to 9:00p

MORE INFO
Monday ,
DecDecember 5 , 2022

Minyan on Zoom
Monday, Dec 5th 8:00a to 9:00a

MORE INFO
Monday ,
DecDecember 5 , 2022

Sisterhood Book Discussion - The Winemaker’s Wife by Kristen Harmel on Zoom
Monday, Dec 5th 8:00p to 9:30p

MORE INFO
Thursday ,
DecDecember 8 , 2022

Minyan on Zoom
Thursday, Dec 8th 8:00a to 9:00a

MORE INFO
Thursday ,
DecDecember 8 , 2022

Spirituality in Practice: Exploring Mitzvot & Ritual
Thursday, Dec 8th 7:00p to 9:00p

MORE INFO
Sunday ,
DecDecember 11 , 2022

Minyan on Zoom
Sunday, Dec 11th 9:00a to 10:00a

MORE INFO
Sunday ,
DecDecember 11 , 2022

Bagels and Babies Open Playtime
Sunday, Dec 11th 10:00a to 11:00a

MORE INFO
Sunday ,
DecDecember 11 , 2022

Mini Menches
Sunday, Dec 11th 10:00a to 10:45a

MORE INFO
Monday ,
DecDecember 12 , 2022

Minyan on Zoom
Monday, Dec 12th 8:00a to 9:00a

MORE INFO

This week's Torah portion is Parshat Vayetzei

Shabbat, Dec 3

Candle Lighting

Shabbat, Dec 3, 4:09pm

Sat, December 3 2022 9 Kislev 5783

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