Friday, January 1, 17 Tevet 6:00 PM Please join Rabbi Plumb and Zachary Mayer for a virtual "From Our Home to Yours" Kabbalat Shabbat Service
Saturday, January 2, 18 Tevet 9:30 AM Please join Rabbi Plumb, Marc Stober and Rose Spitzer for a virtual "From Our Home to Yours" Shabbat Morning Service
If you have a simcha, please share it with us and receive a special blessing from Rabbi Plumb during an upcoming Shabbat service. Sponsor a Kiddush by virtually inviting us to your home as you lead the community in KIddush and HaMotzi prayers. (we will provide challah and grape juice!) Please contect Rosalie Reszelbach, Janet Stein Calm or Toni Spitzer to arrange.
The Parasha is Vayechi Genesis 49:1-4 The Haftarah is I Kings 2:1-12
Please click here for the link to the new Conservative prayerbook, Siddur Lev Shalem: Shabbat Shaharit Siddur Lev Shalem The prayers will be the same as in our usual blue siddur, so feel free to use that instead if you wish.
Please click here for the link to the page numbers for Shabbat morning prayers in Sim Shalom (Blue) and in Lev Shalem Page Numbers for Shabbat Morning
A special MLK Weekend Simchat Shabbat featuring The Afro-Semitic Experience Friday, Jan. 15
We Remember: This week's upcoming Yahrzeit Observances
Saturday Miriam L. Sagan
Sunday Esta F. Cutter
Tuesday Bertha Gliksman Harry Oppenheim Perla Modricamin
Wednesday Lillian Hyman
Thursday Alan J Tichnor Mary Kaitz Saul Jacobs Harold Kaitz
Friday David Sands Anna Elman Amy Lee Shuman Harry Kadis Charles Sagan
Words From Yael Hurwitz-Lange, our Director of Innovation and Educational Advancement
2020 was the year of the “out of office message” for me personally and for the whole world. I have spent quite a bit of time thinking about the pesky “out of office message” this past year. What do you say, when do you set it up, what will people think about where you are? The message holds so much weight and at the same time sends an annoyingly short message – someone you need is unavailable and will return at some point. 2020 forced everyone to go “out of the office” and with that we closed door to the social in person interactions at work, with family and within our community. The ripple effects of social isolation have been felt by everyone.
However, the “out of office message” also conveys hope that the person has not deserted us and will return. I love that part of the message. I may not be available this minute, but here is someone else you can reach out to, and, I will be back soon. This message offers us a solution, an alternative to the no-one is here right now message. I think 2020 forced us to seek that alternative. No, we were not in person but we pivoted and created a Makom Kadosh, a holy place in our own homes and together we created a Mishkan Tefila community digitally through a computer screen. We were “out of the office” but we were together and we had hope.
The new COVID-19 vaccines offer us even more hope. While we are not physically together now, there is possibility and there is optimism that soon we can switch off our messages that say we cannot be together, and turn on our “we are available and present” message that offers us the option to hold hands and dance together as a community’.
During this week’s Torah portion, we will conclude the book of Genesis. The timing of this week’s Torah portion and the end of 2020 are especially poignant. We read that both Jacob and Joseph die at the end of the book of Genesis. Jacob blesses his sons as he lies on his deathbed and Joseph offers a message of hope. Both men focus on the future even as they are wrestling with their own mortality. Before passing away, Joseph gives a message to the people of Israel, telling them that "G‑d will surely remember you, and bring you up out of this land to the land of which he swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob." Even as 2 central biblical figures pass away, we are shown a glimpse into the future of the Jewish People. The land of Israel. Like 2020, where we lost so many people and so many day-to-day freedoms, 2021 offers the expectation of something better and more hopeful. We do not forget the past, we carry it with us as we step into the future.
On a personal note, my “out of office message” has been displayed too often this past year. First, my father passed away and then just after I returned to the office, I had unexpected back surgery. However, through this tumultuous time, I felt the love and support of the entire Mishkan Tefila community. I am deeply grateful to Toni, Rabbi Plumb, Caryl and Jamie who were the ones who stepped in to help when I was not able to work. Thank you so much for the care and support that allowed me to take care of myself and my family.
As I return to the office in the new year, I am excited to turn off my “out of office message” and I look forward to our return to our Mishkan Tefila Sanctuary so that we can dance and pray, laugh and sing together in person.
I wish you all a happy and healthy 2021 filled with moments of deep connection, health and happiness for everyone.
Shabbat Shalom, Yael Hurwitz-Lange Director of Innovation and Educational Advancement
Congregation Mishkan Tefila 384 Harvard St. Brookline, MA 02446
