12:00pm Tefillah Class on Zoom; 6:00pm Kabbalat Shabbat Services on Zoom
Sat.
Dec 12
9:00am Spanish Services on Zoom; 10:00am Shabbat Services on Zoom
Sun.
Dec 13
9:00am Davening on Zoom; 9:30am Maimonides Class on Zoom; 10:00am Religious School on Zoom; 12:30pm TBS-EV Board Meeting on Zoom
Wed.
Dec 16
12:00pm Mishnah Class on Zoom; 5:30pm TBS-EV Hanukkah Party on Zoom
Thu.
Dec 17
12:00pm NO Mishnah Class
Fri.
Dec 18
12:00pm Tefillah Class on Zoom; 6:00pm Family Kabbalat Shabbat Services on Zoom
Sat.
Dec 19
9:00am Spanish Services on Zoom; 10:00am Shabbat Services on Zoom
Sun.
Dec 20
9:00am Davening on Zoom; 9:30am Maimonides Class on Zoom; 10:00am Religious School on Zoom
Abraham, Isaac and Jacob are often invoked in our prayers and rituals for their role as “forefathers” of the Jewish people. Every Amidah begins with what I sometimes playfully refer to as a reminder of the familial connection we share with God’s favorite humans, our forefathers. It serves as a functional reminder of the promises God made to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Yakov about the future fortunes and wellbeing of their offspring. You know, us, their descendants, who could really use some of that extra blessing and attention in this moment.
When we read about the parenting practices of these forefathers, though, there is much left to be desired. From Abraham being a moment away from sacrificing his own son Isaac on an altar, to the games that Isaac and Rivkah play with their children leading to one wanting to murder the other, to the favor Yakov shows to Joseph that generates animosity such that his brothers want to murder him in response in this week’s parsha… it seems like our forefathers may not be particularly good fathers at all. They seem more like cautionary tales than models to follow, proof that God’s favor does not confer greater wisdom or parental instinct along with Divine blessings.
That, though, could be the point of the whole story of our patriarchs in total. Each of these menis shown in their full, human character. Abraham rushes to offer kindness and hospitality to strangers, rescues Lot without hesitation when he learns his nephew is in trouble, defends entire cities against God’s wrath on principle. But he also sends off Ishmael to make Sarah happy and almost kills his son Isaac at God’s request. Isaac is a devoted husband to Rivkah, but favors one son over another despite seeing that they are in constant conflict. Yakov wrestles with God, makes peace with his brother Esau, and grows into a good man before our very eyes. But he cannot put his obligations to care for all his children’s needs above his love for Rachel, his love for Joseph, and what Joseph represents. And so the mistakes of Abraham, which lead us to the errors of Isaac, become the failings of Yakov and result in a young, well loved boy being despised by his brothers for that love.
No doubt these stories, these mistakes, these struggles live outside of the characters whose stories we learn in our Torah, in the lives of each of us. We all have family we struggle with, people we fight with, pain and trauma that influence us and sometimes result in actions and outcomes that, upon reflection, are as much manifestations of our past as our present. We are blessed to see these heroes of our tradition, the great and Divinely chosen men, as human beings. Warts and all. These heroes are not on pedestals, but rather down on the ground with each of us as we navigate the pitfalls and challenges of Abraham, Isaac, Yakov, Joseph, Moses, Joshua, and on and on until us, here and now, today.
As Hannukah begins, may we be blessed to see our light kindle, that the miracles each candle represents be manifest in the miracles that each of us are. And furthermore, may we be blessed to see ourselves and our heroes clearly, blemishes and beauty, in their entirety as we celebrate the rededication of our Temple in these times, in those days.
Additional Zoom information for Hanukkah Celebration
Meeting ID: 960 4125 7244
Passcode: 640319
Save the Date Sunday January 24th, 2021
7PM on Zoom Movie discussion sponsored by
Men's Club and Sisterhood
Watch the movie ABE on your own, anytime between now and January 24th, and we will have a gathering on Zoom to discuss the movie.
(Link will be provided in January)
Prayers are needed for Chaim Laib ben Esther, brother of Walter Berkey; Alexander Moshe HaLevi ben Rivkah, father of Regina Fischer; Brenda Carson, sister of Rebecca Toledo;Donnie Carson, brother-in-law of Rebecca Toledo; Roberta Rosenberg (Rivkah Fradel bat Sara);Shimson ben Etel, father of Florence Wibel; Irene Simpkins (Yocheved bat Miriam); Barbara Tricoci (Baila bat Rifka); Elazear ben Dreisyl; Eric Taylor; Sid Brodsky (Zundel Be'er ben Esther); Linda Heartquist;Allen Simon (Aaron Hirsch ben Ceil);Carol Osman Brown, friend of Linda Radke; Rijon Erickson; Chano Ruven ben Shaina Chaya; Matthew Werdean, friend of Regina Fischer; David ben Sarah, father of Rabbi Aberson; Jack Heller; Liba Yetta bat Tova; Ilana bat Bella, sister of Ruti Keren; David Ramirez, brother of Louis Ramirez; Pasha bat Fayge, friend of Gloria Windmiller; Moshe ben Hana, brother-in-law of Ruti Keren; HaRav Haim Baruch ben Chana; Raphael ben Rebekah, friend of Alan Sapakie; Jack Rosenberg (Ya'acov Avram ben Sarah Ruchel); Walter Berkey (Yossel Velvel ben Esther); Sarah Caliandro (Sarah Nechama bat Leah); Ingrid Gallegos;Alex Shekhel;Mordechai Shimon ben Sarah, brother of Roberta Rosenberg; Chana Nassia bat Civia; Aharon Shmuel bat Tzinyah; Yedidah Sarah bat Shayna Bracha, friend of Scott and Mara Jaffa; Juliette Harvey (Zarie bat Esther), Annie Jimenez;Rachel Yehudit bat Rifkah;Phillip Skirboll;Ben Zion Sarfati ben Avraham.
It is with great sadness that we inform you of the passing of Benjamin Weinstein (Benjamin Yoman ben Yosef), father of Barbara Steel.
Notes of Condolence may be sent to Barbara Steel at 3370 E. Fairview St., Gilbert, AZ 85295. The family appreciates the thoughts and prayers of the community during this very difficult time.
May God comfort you together with all the other mourners of Zion and Jerusalem
Andrew Lawrence Fier, father of Lisa Caliandro Iris Feldman, aunt of Mark Feldman Pearl Blanche Israelton, mother of Fraidel Miller Samuel Cullen, father of Corrine Brooks
HaMakom yenakhem etkhem b'tokh she'ar avelei Tzion Virushalayim.
May God comfort you together with all the other mourners of Zion and Jerusalem
