Shabbat Blast

TONIGHT!
5:45PM Music and Ice Cream
6:30PM Kabbalat Shabbat on the Lawn

From Cantor Joshua Kowitz

Dear Congregant,

Food glorious food! It is constantly on our minds as human beings and especially as Jews and like most of you I am constantly wondering what I will eat for my next meal. Yet we sometimes take for granted how easily it is to get something to eat. We stop by Bagel Boss or the supermarket and pick up something to eat. However, many people in the world are starving and don’t know where their next meal will come from. This was similar to the ancient Israelites as they wandered in the desert. Our Parsha this week states, “וַֽיְעַנְּךָ֮ וַיַּרְעִבֶךָ֒ וַיַּֽאֲכִֽלְךָ֤ אֶת הַמָּן֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר לֹא־יָדַ֔עְתָּ וְלֹ֥א יָדְע֖וּן אֲבֹתֶ֑יךָ לְמַ֣עַן הוֹדִֽעֲךָ֗ כִּ֠י לֹ֣א עַל־הַלֶּ֤חֶם לְבַדּוֹ֙ יִחְיֶ֣ה הָֽאָדָ֔ם כִּ֛י עַל־כָּל־מוֹצָ֥א פִֽי־יְהוָ֖ה יִחְיֶ֥ה הָאָדָֽם׃     “He subjected you to the hardship of hunger and then gave you manna to eat, which neither you nor your fathers had ever known, in order to teach you that man does not live on bread alone, but that man may live on anything that the LORD decrees.” (Devarim chapter 8 verse 3)

The manna we received from God in the desert was miracle food, it fell every day and fed the entire people. What is most miraculous is that each person received an exact portion sized to satiate one’s hunger, and if that wasn’t enough it could taste like any food that a person desired. What more could a person want on a 40 year long trek? Well, as Jews we love to complain, and understandably so. Imagine having to rely on a miracle every day in order to eat or going to bed every night for forty years wondering if God would send food the next day. You would always be thinking about food and not knowing when your next meal would be.

Another noteworthy section of Parshat Eikev is וְאָכַלְתָּ֖ וְשָׂבָ֑עְתָּ וּבֵֽרַכְתָּ֙ אֶת־יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ עַל־הָאָ֥רֶץ הַטֹּבָ֖ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר נָֽתַן־לָֽךְ “You will eat and be satisfied and bless the lord your God for the good land he gave you.” (Devarim Chapter 8 verse 10) This line may be familiar to some of you as it comes from the Birkat Hamazon or Grace after meals. It is interesting to note that this quote is in reference to the manna we received in the desert.

Let’s think about this in terms of life today; from one perspective, the food you buy with the money you have earned is far more satisfying than the potential manna still to fall from heaven. Your resources are measurable and quantifiable, and you can relax in the knowledge that you have enough to eat today. However, from another perspective, the money you’ve got right now and the food that you can buy with it is limited. Our resources can easily be determined and quantified.
God, however, is infinite and has unlimited resources to share. No matter how difficult it is now and how tough your current circumstances, you can feel confident that things can and will improve. Even in times of loss and suffering, you can look forward to a better tomorrow, with hope and confidence that G‑d will provide the resources for your salvation.

The manna that comes to us as a gift directly from G‑d is the truest and most satisfying food one can possibly receive. And the sprinkling of Godliness that falls in our life is the daily bread of faith that sustains our body and spirit forever.
As I embark on the beginning of my time here at CBO I think about all of the wonderful ways I can connect with you all. Using music and spirituality I hope to be able to develop deep and meaningful relationships with you and look forward to learning from you. May this Shabbat bring us peace, time with the people we love, and closeness with God.

Shabbat Shalom and looking forward to meeting you,
Cantor Kowitz

SERVICES
Friday, July 3 - Thursday, August 9
Entrance doors are now open.  
(You no longer need to enter through the Social Hall doors.)

Tonight
5:45PM Music & Ice Cream
6:30 Family Kabbalat Shabbat on the Lawn

Saturday
9:00 AM Nosh & Drash
9:45 AM Shabbat 

Sunday
9:00 AM Minyan

Monday
6:30 AM Minyan
8:00 PM Minyan, requested by Adrienne Hausman

Thursday
8:00 AM Minyan

High Holiday Information is now available HERE
Look for it in your mailbox next week. 

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