Shabbat Blast

Dear Congregant,

​​​​​​​The Jewish people are called the "Children of Israel" and the name comes from the original Israel, our father Jacob. In this week's pashas Toldot, we read how Jacob pretended to be his brother Esau in order to be blessed by his father Isaac. He wore the goatskin garments of Esau; which caused the blind Isaac to say in a state of confusion, the voice is the voice of Jacob but the hands are the hands of Esau!
Our tradition has always understood these words to mean that the voice of Jacob is one that studies Torah and prays to G-d, it also refers to the people of the Torah who love their fellow human being and help one another as a means of getting close to G-d. The hands of Esau, on the other hand, are in our times the fist, the gun, physical might and brute force, violence and war.

And the question today is: to which of these are we raising our children? Are we perhaps forgetting who we are and what we are meant to symbolize as a nation?
Let's face it. Our society is an Esau society. Our children are constantly bombarded, by television, movies, video games and a social media madness that glorifies the physical and especially the violent. Never mind the news which is bad enough. Parents need to think twice and three times before allowing themselves the luxury of this electronic babysitter.

When Jews today are being threatened by anti-Semitism or if Israel is in mortal danger from murderous neighbors, then obviously we need to be able to defend ourselves. Self-defense classes are a necessity in today's world, but let us not use violence as an idea to solve our problems. We must teach our children Torah and the pursuit of Jewish thought. When the voice is the voice of Jacob, then no hands of Esau will harm us.We must show the future generations that through love, be it visiting the sick, taking care of the elderly, giving to charity or people less fortunate, is the way of the people of Israel.

​​​​​​​Wishing everyone a warm, joyous shabbas that brings us closer to our loved ones.
 
Cantor Kowitz

Friday
8:00 PM Kabbalat Shabbat
Saturday
9:00 AM Nosh and Drosh
9:45 AM Shabbat Service with Bat Mitzvah of Brooke Lerman
Sunday
9:00 AM Minyan
8:00 PM Shiva Minyan at Hirst Residence, 31 Tidewater Avenue, Massapequa
Monday
6:30 AM Minyan
Thursday
8:00 AM Minyan