As a reminder, we will hold a community-wide fast day, a taanit tzibur, on Sunday, January 5, with a fast day Torah reading in the morning. This fast will last from sunrise, at 7:18 am, until the evening, 5:30 PM. For those who cannot fast, they may give tzedakah. I suggest donating to an institution that reflects Torah study in your eyes including, our own Hebrew School.
We invite you to break the fast with us on Sunday at 5:30 PM. A dairy dinner will be served followed by a short teaching. Please notify the office ASAP if you will be joining us for the break-fast.
Congregation Meeting and Vote at Temple Israel Annex
There will be a congregation meeting and vote at Temple Israel Annex on Thursday, January 9, 2020 at 7:30pm to approve the sale of 2788 Covered Bridge Road, Merrick N.Y. (Residence owned by the former TIOSM).
All congregants in good standing are invited to attend this important meeting and vote.
Thank you in advance for your attention to this synagogue business matter.
Bruce Nelson President
From Cantor Joshua Kowitz
Dear CBO Family,
Shabbat Shalom! We are on to parshat Vayigash this week. When discussing the details of this particular Torah portion, most people choose to focus on the reconciliation between Joseph and his brothers. It is a very heartwarming moment and there are many deep underlying themes taking place during this reconciliation particularly between Benjamin and Joseph. However, I want to look at the end of our parsha and examine the choices Joseph makes and the consequences they have in the future of the Israelites.
After Jacob and his sons move to Egypt and live in Goshen the famine continues on and makes it very difficult for the people living in Egypt and the surrounding nations to survive. Joseph knew this was coming and during the years of plenty saved up on grain so that there would be enough food for the people of Egypt. At the moment when the Egyptian people and surrounding nations are coming to him each year for food he does the following: he takes all their money in exchange for food, when they don’t have money to give the he takes their livestock in exchange for food, when they don’t have livestock he takes their land in exchange for food. The medieval commentator Rabbi Shmuel ben Meir also known as Rashbam “criticizes Joseph as ruthless, comparing his dispossessing the people of their lands to the actions of Sennacherib (infamous Assyrian king.” (Etz Chayim 288) Perhaps one of the reasons that the Jews become enslaved while in Egypt is not because Pharaoh was worried about their numbers, but was revenge against the actions of Joseph who reduced a whole generation to slavery so in return they enslaved Joseph’s people.
Today, it’s hard to make sense of something on such a large scale. Today, most people feel that if there are people who are hungry that we as a human race should help each other not take away everything from them in exchange for food. I think Joseph was being selfish and was not living up to the words of our prophets who tell us time and time again they desire us to help one another. Joseph may have kept these people alive but in return he took everything else they had away.
We must remember in our time to never take away a person’s dignity, for embarrassing someone is just as bad as murder in the Jewish tradition. It takes courage to beg for food when you have nothing. So I ask of you when you are out and about in this dark world we live in, be the light to the nations, feed those who are hungry and do so without taking away their dignity.
May you all have a restful, relaxing, and rejuvenating Shabbat.
Cantor Kowitz
SERVICES
Friday, January 3 - Thursday, January 10, 2020
Friday 6:30 PM Kabbalat Shabbat
Saturday 9:00 AM Nosh and D'rash 9:45 AM Shabbat Service
Sunday 9:00 AM Minyan 5:30 PM Break Fast & Torah Reading Monday 6:30 AM Minyan 8:00 PM Minyan requested by Eileen Scherer
Tuesday 8:00 PM Minyan requested by Susan Gardner
Thursday 8:00 AM Minyan
Click on the links below to register for any of these programs
Our Alix Rubinger Kosher Food Pantry needs Increased membership contributions as well as ideas for other sources of income. We are now serving 15 to 20 families per week. While a lot of food is contributed to our pantry from supermarkets and other synagogues, it is still necessary to purchase needed food items.
Checks can be made out to the Alix Rubinger Kosher Food Pantry or made out to CBO with an indication that the funds go to the pantry account.
Please remember that this is OUR Pantry.
Thank you.
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Affiliated with United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism