Dear Congregation Beth Ohr, In our Jewish tradition, mens stories and male voices predominate. That is why Genesis Chapter 21 part of this weeks Torah portion Vayera is so exciting! The first eight verses focus on Sarah conceiving and bearing
Congregation Beth Ohr
Dear Congregation Beth Ohr,
In our Jewish tradition, men’s stories and male voices predominate. That is why Genesis Chapter 21 (part of this week’s Torah portion Vayera) is so exciting!
The first eight verses focus on Sarah conceiving and bearing Isaac. Sarah is mentioned by name in this text as many times as Abraham, and she is credited with as much action as Abraham. Sarah conceives and bears a son; Abraham names him and circumcises him. We even have two short passages of Sarah’s own words.
It is comparatively rare in the Tanakh that women speak. Here Sarah says, “God has brought me laughter; everyone who hears will laugh with me,” and then, “Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would suckle children? Yet I have borne a son in his old age.” (Genesis 21:6, 7) Some commentators have pointed out that the latter is in a poetical structure of three lines; three words per line: מִ֤י מִלֵּל֙ לְאַבְרָהָ֔ם הֵינִ֥יקָה בָנִ֖ים שָׂרָ֑ה כִּֽי־יָלַ֥דְתִּי בֵ֖ן לִזְקֻנָֽיו׃ This might mean that the verse we have preserved in the Tanakh is only the first stanza of a longer song, now lost. Who knows? Maybe more fragments are out there somewhere, waiting to be rediscovered and brought to light. In the meantime, here is my setting of Sarah’s song: CLICK HERE to listen to Sarah Laughs Recorded and composed by Cantor Sarah Myerson (voice) Genesis 21:7 I look forward to our 6:30pm Family Shabbat Service tonight, also celebrating the B’nei Mitzvah of Andrew Isaac and Chloe Davis. Shabbat Shalom, Cantor Sarah Myerson
Mazal Tov
Mazel Tov to the Isaac family on the occasion of Andrew becoming Bar Mitzvah Mazel tov to the Davis family on the occasion of Chloe becoming Bat Mitzvah
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Nosh & Drash Saturday, Nov. 4, 9:00 AM
Morning Service Saturday, Nov. 4 9:45 AM Minyan Sunday Nov. 5, 9:00 AM Minyan Sunday, Nov. 5, 8:00 PM Minyan Tuesday, Nov. 7, 6:30 AM requested by Ira Faber in memory of his mother, Mimi Faber. Minyan Thursday, November 9, 6:30 AM Minyan Monday, November 6, 6:30 AM Minyan Friday, Nov. 10, 8:00 PM requested by Gary Goldberg in memory of his brother, Stuart Goldberg.
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