Tidbits of Torah

Shabbat Parashat Re’eh

Shabbat Rosh Chodesh Elul – Day 1 

Israel On My Mind  

August 11, 2018 – 30 Av 5778 

Dear Friends,

It is wonderful to have extra reasons to celebrate this Shabbat!!!  Not only is it the first day of Rosh Chodesh [the beginning of the new Jewish month] Elul, this Friday evening is also our first Barbecue and Barchu and our first Schmooze in our new Temple!  I hope you will join us!  And, Shabbat morning we will be celebrating the babynaming for Sara Traster and David Harris’ new baby!!!!  I hope you will join us on Shabbat morning as well!

With all the joys that await us at Rodef Sholom Temple this Shabbat, we will also keep Israel in mind!  Our Parsha teaches us that we will be blessed with a Promised Land in which our people will eventually enjoy true and lasting peace – both inner peace and peace with our neighbors.

This past week, Israel was barraged with over 200 rockets from Gaza.  Generally speaking, our newspapers downplayed the number of rockets, but if we read the online English news reports from Israel or speak with people who are in Israel, we will know much more than what we can discern from our local news.

Although the Biblical promise of a true and lasting peace has yet to become a reality, the good news is that the present round of hostility may possibly be over – at least for the time being.

Another piece of good news is that the spirit of Israel, and our connection to Israel, remains strong.  So much good has come to the Jewish people and to the world at large thanks to the contributions Israel has made and continues to better the lives of so many, day in and day out.

This Rosh Chodesh, as we begin the month of Elul, the month of spiritual preparation for the High Holy Days, may we keep Israel and her welfare in mind as we prepare our hearts and minds for the new Jewish year of 5779.

May we, and Israel, enjoy the blessings of joyous occasions and of true and lasting peace!

Shabbat Shalom and Chodesh Tov [a good month]!

Rabbi Gilah Dror