Re'eh - To See Deuteronomy 11:26 - 16:17
Dear friends,
It's good to be back home in Florida after an eventful annual reunion vacation to the beach in Delaware. We thought long and hard about whether to travel during these perilous times and ultimately concluded that we would be as isolated if not more isolated than at home as we stayed in a cabin in a pine forest and our only trips out of the cabin was to an equally isolated private beach. What we didn't count on was being directly in the path of Hurricane Isaias which toppled two large trees on the property, one of which tore down the power line leading to the house leaving a live wire directly in our path and of course, no electricity. We were forced to evacuate, first to New Jersey and then to South Carolina where our grandsons got to spend some time with their mother. Not exactly what we had in mind for a relaxing time, but quite an adventure nonetheless.
So with that introduction, here is the relevancy to today's times as we prepare ourselves for the High Holy Days. We spend the weeks before Rosh Hashanah reading the Haftorot (teachings of the Prophets) of Consolation attributed to the Prophet Isaiah. And coincidentally, the name Isaias is the Spanish/Latin derivative of Isaiah and a popular name given to Hispanic children, more common in their community than Isaiah is in ours. This Shabbat is no exception as we read chapters 54 and 55 in which Isaiah consoles the Hebrew nation and predicts a great return to the land and all of its treasures and comforts if only the people will respect the Mitzvot and be kind and charitable to one another. In the Torah portion of Re'eh, good and bad results are laid bare. If we treat each other well and make sure all are safe and free from hunger, good things will happen. If we don't, then the opposite occurs. Maybe the mighty hurricane with its thunderous power will help remind us of Isaiah's mighty words and prepare us for a better and safer 5781.
I'm looking forward to seeing many of you tonight at 7:30 pm at our Shabbat service either at the synagogue or Zooming in from home following these instructions:
JCC is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: Shabbat Services
Time: Aug 14, 2020 07:30 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/4979030958?pwd=YXJPT2FGVTdzVVV2bVQ3c1ZnS1lMZz09
Meeting ID: 497 903 0958
Passcode: 5QdVaA
With best wishes.....Shabbat Shalom,
Ron Becker,
spiritual leader
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