August 19 & 20 - no CMT services For those observing yahrzeit this week, your loved ones names will be read at the KI service and at our Monday evening minyan. Click here for Monday evening minyan - 7:00 PM
August 27 - In person (hybrid) Shabbat morning service 9:30 am. Celebration of Andrew Greenspon and Becca Cohn aufruf
If you would like to attend services in person, you are warmly invited to KI services. The times are: 6:00 PM for Kabbalat Shabbat/Friday Evening 9:00 AM for Shabbat Morning Services Click here to join KI online
If you would like to attend services via online, here are some services you might enjoy: Park Avenue Synagogue, NYC: https://pasyn.org B’nai Jeshuran, NYC: www.bj.org
High Holy Days 5783/2022
On behalf of the High Holy Day Task Force, as we are prepare for in-person services this year with streaming available for those who cannot attend in person, we need your help to gather some important information.
While we understand that for many, it is too early to commit to what you will be doing at the end of September, it would be most helpful for us, as we prepare for our in-person High Holy Days, to get an idea of how you are planning to join us. Will we get to greet you on campus or will we wave to you and welcome you virtually?
Please click below and answer this very short survey to make our High Holy Day Experience the best it can be.
Please note: this is NOT a formal commitment - a High Holy Day packet, with ticketing information, yizkor forms and other details will be sent next week.
We Remember: This week's upcoming Yahrzeit Observances
Saturday Morris Lichter Frank Friedman
Sunday Bernard Kaye
Monday Herbert Bennett
Tuesday Harry Perlmutter
Wednesday Elinor Kaplan Louis Katz Gerald Schuster George L. Stone
Thursday Paul H. Freedman Gary Fleischer Sumner Z. Cooper
Friday Sylvia 'Sybil' Summers Sarah Lichter Jodi Robin Epstein
A Teaching from our Rabbi
The first verses of our parasha, Ekev, refer to what we have been focusing on every Shabbat during the second paragraph of the shema, since last High Holy Days. Since last year, we have been in the midst of the shmita year, which occurs every 7 years. The land gets a Shabbat year, and rests. Nothing is planted or harvested. The shmita year reminds us to take care of the precious planet God gave us. According to the Shema, if we look after the earth, the earth will look after us.
Our parasha this week tells us to go a step further. Not only should we nourish the earth rather than exploit or destroy it, we should also bless it every chance we get.
וְאָכַלְתָּ֖ וְשָׂבָ֑עְתָּ וּבֵֽרַכְתָּ֙ אֶת־יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ עַל־הָאָ֥רֶץ הַטֹּבָ֖ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר נָֽתַן־לָֽךְ׃ When you have eaten your fill, give thanks to your God יהוה for the good land given to you.
This is the verse that commands us to recite birkat hamazon (the blessing after we eat) after our meals. Blessing our food before and after we eat draws our attention to what a gift the food is, and the source from which it came. The Hamotzi blessing before we eat, and a blessing after we eat, act as spiritual bookends to the physical act of nourishing our bodies. Offering thanks, and paying attention to the fact that our food is a gift, is our spiritual nourishment.
Why do we need a blessing after we eat? Wouldn’t one blessing before we eat be enough?
For me, the ‘after’ blessing is equally important. When I finish my meal, especially at dinner, I love to round it off with a good cup of tea. Michael likes a coffee. When we go out for dinner, it feels incomplete without that final drink. For me, my meal feels equally unfinished if I don’t offer spiritual gratitude after I eat.
A Mussar text says that not saying a blessing when we eat is like stealing – taking something without asking and without saying thank you. The hamotzi before we eat is like asking God if we can eat of God’s harvest. The blessing after we eat says thank you.
When we have eaten our fill, say thank you for this precious planet and all it provides for us. Maybe saying the blessing regularly will inspire us to change our lifestyles in a way that will protect the good land given to us.
A favourite British song is called Jerusalem. It tells us to ensure that England remain a ‘green and pleasant land.’ It applies to all of us across the world – to ensure that all lands are fertile and pleasant.
For the next two weeks, I will be in that ‘green and pleasant land.’ Our family will be on holiday in the UK. I hope you enjoy the next two weeks. I especially wish Rosalie and Bennett, much joy on the aufruf and wedding of their son Andrew and his bride Becca on August 27 and 28th.
I look forward to seeing you all in person at High Holy Days this year. Services will be accessible online but it will be wonderful to sing together, with plenty of space to social distance.
I also hope you will help fulfill our goal of reaching 80% of the congregation renewing its membership by Rosh Hashanah. It’s easy: click on the button below right after you finish reading this and renew. You may also reach out to Toni who can help you pay your dues online.
You’ll feel good knowing that you are supporting our precious community.
This Shabbat, may your home be filled with gratitude and blessings, Rabbi Marcia Plumb
