As a people, as survivors, as a nation who is 3332 years young we have come this far because in difficult times, we focused on two things:
1. Hoping and preparing for a better future.
2. Being productive in the present moment.
Some may call this "putting your head in the sand"
While others will call this "thriving in difficult times"
Our connection and faith in G-d, and belief in the Torah's map of life, which instructs us to focus on what good needs to be done now, regardless of what is going on all around us, is what keeps us immune from outside forces.
Tonight is Shabbos, everyone in your family who can get involved in dinner preparation, should be involved. Make a royal feast for your family, then before sunset, put candles on the table and light them, giving your dinner table a festive touch and a holy vibe. Your family deserves to celebrate life and love. This is what needs to be done now. Stop reading this, disconnect from all media, go shopping, get cooking, and at dinner, talk, sing, discuss, play....ENJOY YOUR FAMILY! A strong happy family is powerful immunity!!
Shabbat Shalom!!
CHANUKAH 2020
Chanukah is in the air,
The weather is getting colder
the trees are almost bear,
Latkes, Donuts, Menorah lighting
All these thoughts are very exciting.
SUMMER CAMP IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF A CHILD'S EDUCATION
Sending your child to Fair Lawn Jewish Day Camp helps raise an independent child, it means teaching responsibility, encouraging exploration and providing a safe environment to make decisions independently. FLJDC nurtures all three of these elements in a Jewish environment, while having fun and making new friends.
Don’t Delay, Returning families enroll before Nov 16 and save up to $400 per child. New families enroll Nov 23 and save up to $300 per child. 2021 DATE & RATES | ENROLL NOW | REFUND POLICY | CAMP MEETING
WOMEN'S PAINT AND WINE
Women's Paint and Wine 5781
Wednesday, December 2 at 8pm
Enjoy a night out with friends, painting your own Jewish themed painting and a selection of wine and desserts.
Reserve your table with your friends! Tables will be spaced to allow for social distancing.
Admission: $36
After November 23: $40
Complimentary for Partners in Pride
A young Jewish Mom walks her son to the school bus corner on his first day of kindergarten.
"Behave, my bubaleh," she says.
"Take good care of yourself and think about your Mother, tataleh!"
"And come right back home on the bus, schein kindaleh." "
Your Mommy loves you a lot, my ketsaleh!"
At the end of the school day the bus comes back and she runs to her son and hugs him.
"So what did my pupaleh learn on his first day of school?"
The boy answers, "I learned my name is David.
WEEKLY eTORAH
G‑d helps those who help themselves"
Is this statement heresy? Does it deny the hand of G‑d in our successes? I recall a conversation with a self-proclaimed atheist who used the expression very cynically, suggesting that his considerable achievements were entirely his own and that G‑d had nothing to do with it.
I beg to differ. To my mind, "G‑d helps those who help themselves" is a perfectly religious statement. What it means is absolutely consistent with traditional Jewish thinking. G‑d does indeed help us to accomplish things, but He requires us to help ourselves first. If we just sit back and wait for miracles to happen, we may be disappointed.
"G‑d will bless you in all that you do," (Deuteronomy 15:18) makes it very clear. Our blessings come from G‑d, but we must do. Of course, we believe in miracles—but we mustn't rely on them. The combination of our own hard work and efforts coupled with G‑d's blessing is the ideal road to success.
The classic analogy is the farmer. He can plough and plant, sow and shvitz from today until tomorrow but if the rains don't come nothing will grow. Conversely, all the rains in the world will not cause anything to grow if the farmer hasn't planted first. After the farmer has done his work and the rains come from above, there will be a plentiful crop. And it's the same story whether we are farmers or shopkeepers, professionals or artisans, employers or employees.
This week's Parshah tells of Isaac taking Rebecca as his wife. "And Isaac brought her to the tent of Sarah his mother." Rashi, quoting the Midrash, explains this to mean more than the obvious. When she entered the tent, it was as if she was Sarah, Isaac's mother. Because Sarah was of such saintly character, she was granted three special miracles. Her Shabbat candles burned the entire week, her dough was particularly blessed, and a heavenly cloud attached itself to her tent. When Sarah died, these blessings disappeared. When Rebecca arrived on the scene, they resumed immediately. In fact, this was a clear sign to Isaac that Rebecca was indeed his soul mate and that the shidduch was made in Heaven.
Each of those three miracles, however, required some form of human input first. A candle and fire had to be found, the dough had to be prepared and a tent had to be pitched before G‑d would intervene and make those miracles happen. In other words, He does help us but we must help ourselves first.
It's a little like the fellow who would make a fervent prayer to G‑d every week that he win the lottery. After many months and no jackpot in sight, he lost his faith and patience. In anguished disappointment, he vented his frustration with the Almighty. "Oh, G‑d! For months I've been praying to you. Why haven't you helped me win the lottery all this time?" Whereupon a heavenly voice was heard saying, "Because you haven't bought a ticket, dummy!"
I wish it were that simple to win lotteries. But the fact is that it is the same in all our endeavors. G‑d helps those who help themselves. May we all do our part. Please G‑d, He will do His.
