Among its many laws, Parshat Mishpatim includes a number of rules regarding unintended consequences: accidentally starting a wildfire, or borrowing an item that is then stolen or damaged. Where does our responsibility end? 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:
Seeds of a New Order
Parshat Mishpatim (Ex. 21:1-24:18) continues on from the Ten Commandments we heard last week to give us the first of the Torah’s three legal codes (the other two appear in Leviticus and Deuteronomy). These are certainly not the first legal codes of the ancient world, but they seem to be the first laws that were followed for more than one generation. How have these laws transformed our world?
Our Shabbat morning service begins at 10 a.m. in our sanctuary, and you can join us in person or on Livestream. Dena Kaufman and I will lead services, Ellie Sirk and I will read Torah, Debbie Gladstone will read Haftorah, and I will offer a teaching. Services will conclude around noon and will be followed by a kiddush luncheon. Shabbat Shalom, Rabbi Lisa Feld
We Want YOU… to be a Gabbai!
Our talented gabbais fulfill a number of important roles during Shabbat and holiday services: distributing honors, calling people up to the Torah, coaching honorees who are less familiar with the Torah blessings and choreography, and supporting our Torah readers by following along with the reading and offering gentle correction. We are seeking to train volunteers in these skills; if you have always wanted to be more involved in our prayer services and strengthen your knowledge and confidence, this is a great opportunity.
Volunteers should have solid Hebrew skills and be willing to commit to arriving in the sanctuary by 10:15 to help the First Gabbai distribute honors on days when you are training or serving. We will provide training, mentorship, and materials for practice/study. If you are interested, please send an email toritual@bnaitikvahma.org.
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 12 PM 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!
