Parashat Ki Tisa (when you take) Exodus 30:11 - 34:35
HafTorah Kings I 18:20 - 39
Dear friends,
Chag Purim Sameach! Thanks to all who helped make our Purim celebration so wonderful and meaningful. With Purim behind us, we continue our preparations for Pesach with our readings in the Book of Exodus. We have already read the first part of this Shabbat's portion of Ki Tisa on Shabbat Shekalim containing a census and the financial contributions needed for the upkeep of the Mishkan (Tabernacle) . The middle part of the portion we chanted last year depicts the construction and worship of the golden calf and its consequences as Moses destroys the tablets given to him and the Hebrew nation by Hashem. And as a result, we are reminded how destructive it is for us to worship idols in all ways and at all times. Whether it is money or fame or any other devious purpose, we cannot exist as a people nor can nations survive by pursuing idol worship. This year, we read the third triennial portion in which the children of Israel
are forgiven for their sins on the condition that they lead moral lives and follow the commandments which they are given at Sinai and on their upcoming continued journey through the wilderness with an emphasis on performing all the rituals of Passover. And the attributes of Hashem that are given to us and are repeated often in our liturgy especially prior to the Torah readings on festival days and during Selichot:
יְיָ יְיָ אֵל רַחוּם וְחַנּוּן אֶרֶךְ אַפַּיִם וְרַב-חֶסֶד וֶאֱמֶת: נֹצֵר חֶסֶד לָאֲלָפִים נֹשֵֹא עָוֹן וָפֶשַׁע וְחַטָּאָה וְנַקֵּה
Adonai, Adonai, El rachum vechanun, erech apayim verav chesed ve’emet, notzer chesed la’alafim, noseh avon vapeshah vechata’ah venakeh
Adonai, Adonai, a G-d compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in kindness and faithfulness, extending kindness to the thousandth generation, forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin
So, we know that like the children of Israel in the wilderness between Egypt and the Promised Land, we too can be forgiven, but we must cease the worship of idols.
In our Haftorah from the first Book of Kings, chapter 18, we are introduced to the Prophet Elijah who intercedes when again, the children of Israel are wavering between their worship of Hashem and idolatry in the form of Baal, a Canaanite-Phoenician god of fertility, storms and rain. As there is only one true Hashem the reading concludes with the repetition of Adonai Hu HaElohim, Adonai Hu HaElohim which we repeat eight times at the end of the Neila service on Yom Kippur. אֲדֹנָי הוּא הָאֱלֹהִים אֲדֹנָי הוּא הָאֱלֹהִים
Please join us this evening in-person or virtually on Zoom at 7:30 pm and tomorrow (Saturday) morning at 9:30 am for our Shabbat service as we approach the Passover season and please remember to sign up for our unique afternoon Pesach seder on the first day of the holiday, Sunday, April 13th at around 12:30 pm immediately following the Yom Tov morning service which begins at 9:30 am.
Shabbat Shalom!
Ron Becker,
Spiritual Leader
_____________________________________________________________
ZOOM LINK FRIDAY AND SATURDAY:
JCC is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: Shabbat Services 03/14 @ 7:30 pm & 03/15 @ 9:30 am
Time: This is a recurring meeting Friday and Saturday
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 497 903 0958
Passcode: 5QdVaA
Comments