Shabbat Sneak Peek

Nitzavim

October 1, 2016 – 28 Elul 5776                                                                                          

Light Candles for Shabbat:             6:24pm                                                                            Shabbat Ends:                                       7:22pm                                                               

Torah / Annual & Trienniel Cycle:    Deuteronomy 29:9 - 30:20                                                                                                   Scroll down for Parsha Summary and Discussion Questions

Haftarah:        Isaiah 61:10 - 63:9

Yishar Koach to last week's Torah readers Rabbi Gerson, and Evelyn Hutt; to our Gabbayim: Fredie Halvorsen and David Dezen; and to our Greeters:  Gayle Spelts and Marcus Oginsky.

RABBI’S RECAP (a synopsis of last week’s remarks from the pulpit):

In his sermon on Parshat Kee Tavo, Rabbi Gerson cited the maverick “No Homework Policy” of a Texas elementary school teacher, who urged her students and their parents to use their evenings for quality time at the dinner table, engagement in hobbies, and pleasure reading.  This strategy meshes well with the research of Marshall Duke, a professor of psychology at Emory University, who discovered that “The more children knew about their family’s history, the stronger their sense of control over their lives, the higher their self-esteem and the more successfully they believed their families functioned.”

This week’s Parasha begins with the obligation of farmers to bring the first fruits of their land as an offering to the Lord. When they delivered the basket of produce to the priest, the farmers would recite a prayer of thanksgiving to the Almighty. But instead of simply saying thank you, the farmer needed to make a long declaration, recounting the history of Israel since the time of our forefathers, through the servitude in Egypt and the ensuing exodus, and through the arrival into the Promised Land.

The Torah is teaching an important lesson. A person is part of a larger historical context and must understand that context and tradition. We are not disconnected fragments of humanity, but are part of an extended family. We gain strength and resilience when we know who we are, where we belong.

Praise belongs to teachers who understand the need for children to spend quality time with their families. Praise belongs to parents and grandparents who genuinely relate to their children and grandchildren in a loving manner, giving generously of their time, listening patiently to the children and grandchildren. Praise belongs to those who value genuine communication, who understand how precious it is to spend quality time with the young generations. Praise belongs to those who understand their history and family traditions, and who find meaningful and happy ways of transmitting these things to their family members. Praise belongs to the nation that understands where it has come from, what it has undergone, where it is headed.                                    (with thanks to Rabbi Marc Angel)