In this week’s parsha, we learn that when drafting soldiers for the army, we should ask who has not yet fulfilled their dreams, and send those people home. How do we balance our responsibilities to ourselves and our duties to our community? Our Friday night service begins at 6:00 p.m. and concludes around 6:50 p.m. This week I will lead the davening and share a teaching.
Our service is designed to create a buffer between the work week and Shabbat rest. We aim to make the atmosphere like a family shabbat table complete with Candle Lighting, Blessing one another, Kiddush, and Motzei. Before and after the service we take time to check in with one another and share greetings (feel free to log on early). Our service has been abridged for ZOOM but includes familiar and new melodies, readings from the margins of the siddur, and some learning.
SHABBAT MORNING:
Justice, Fairness, Refuge
In Parshat Shoftim (Deut. 16:18-21:9), we learn about two extreme cases that each require some kind of communal response to be set right: First, we are told that we need to create cities of refuge so that people who accidentally commit manslaughter can be safe from vengeance. And then we learn how the leaders of a community need to respond if a body is found and it is unclear who is responsible for the death. How do we navigate situations where harm has been done, but there’s no one to blame?
Our Shabbat morning service begins at 10 a.m. in our Seresky Sanctuary, and you can join us in person or on Livestream. This week, Marvin Wolfert will read Torah, Dena Kaufman will read Haftorah, and I will lead services and offer a teaching. Services will conclude around noon and will be followed by a kiddush luncheon.
Shabbat Shalom, Rabbi Lisa Feld
ELUL:
A Time for Turning
Throughout the month of Elul, I will be offering short prompts for those who want to engage in journaling, meditation, or other ways of delving deep in anticipation of the High Holidays. Credit goes to my mother, Merle Feld, whose full set of prompts you can find on her website, Derekh.org/elul2024. For this week, begin a conversation with yourself: “What are some of the questions I need to be asking myself in this season of turning in order to move toward a healthier, holier, happier life?”
Simcha Shabbat & Kiddush
We encourage you to sponsor a kiddush to mark a simcha, celebrate a birthday, anniversary, commemorate a yahrzeit, honor an individual's accomplishment, or just to enhance our Shabbat. Since not every kiddush is sponsored, we hope you will consider a contribution to the kiddush fund so we can provide a kiddush every week. All sponsors are much appreciated and will be acknowledged.
We have streamlined this process to make it easier than ever-- come see our new kiddush sponsorship page on the website!
Starbucks Shabbat: Saturdays at 9 AM onZOOM Enjoy an informal cup of joe while discussing various topics from the weekly parsha to current events. No RSVP needed; come regularly or pop in!
B’nai Tikvah 1301 Washington Street, Canton, MA 02021 Web: bnaitikvahma.org | Phone: 781-828-5250 Office Hours: Monday/Wednesday/Thursday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. | Tuesday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. | Friday, 9 a.m. to 12 noon
