Friday, November 15, 17 Cheshvan, 6:00 PM Kabbalat Shabbat Services with Rabbi Plumb and Cantor Elana Rozenfeld Saturday, November 16, 18 Cheshvan 9:30 AM Shabbat Morning Services with Rabbi Plumb and Rabbi Lev Friedman
We Remember: This week's upcoming Yahrzeit Observances
Saturday Morris Aronson
Sunday Minia Hochman Anne Rothstein Samuel Rosen
Monday
Ronald Blumer Betty Nathanson William Goldberg Hazel Schwartz
Myron Cohen Bertha Milder Julius Levine
Tuesday Beatrice Dresner Sadye K. Mezer
Wednesday Lillian Bardfield
Thursday Abraham Katz Nathan Mindess
Friday Stanley Fischer Irene Brown Saul A. Sherman Sarah R. Einstein
In this week’s parasha, we find one of the texts we based our new sacred space upon: that of Abrahams’s act of hospitality. He sees strangers walking by, so he runs out of his tent to draw them in for food and water. ‘Looking up, he saw three men standing near him. As soon as he saw them, he ran from the entrance of the tent to greet them and, bowing to the ground, he said, “My lords, if it please you, do not go on past your servant. Let a little water be brought; bathe your feet and recline under the tree.’ (Gen. 18:1-4) It would become clear that the three strangers were angels who had come to bless Abraham and Sarah, but Abraham does not know that when he runs out to welcome them.
He does not wait for the newcomers to ask for help. Rather, he keeps his tent flap open, and his attention alert for travelers, so that he can jump up and reach out to them. We built our back wall in our sacred space so it could open up, as a symbol of our desire to reach out to welcome all and bring them in.
At CMT, we have set a commitment and intention to practice the Mussar trait of B’Tzelem Elohim, recognizing each person as holy. We want each person connected to Mishkan to feel seen and valued. We are building our renewed community and connections with each other one relationship at a time, just like Abraham and Sarah.
Our Shabbat@Home program is our version of Abraham and Sarah’s open tent. Each month, a member of our community opens their home to a small group of other members or potential members and welcomes each person to their table for Shabbat dinner. Each group is limited to 20 people. Our hope is that every person in the congregation signs up to attend one Shabbat@Home during the year, and gets to know new people.
The way to attend is to sign up. Consider this your invitation to come. In past years, individuals were called and invited. This year, we are all taking responsibility to connect with each other, and embrace the potential (and risk) of meeting new people, so please, I urge you to take the plunge, and sign up here for a Shabbat@Home date. Everyone who attends Shabbat@Home has a great time.'
Be bold, be daring, be like Abraham and Sarah, and get to know someone new who could become an angel in your life.
This Shabbat I hope that we open ourselves to new possibilities and connections that enrich our lives,
