Congregation Shalom Newsletter & Shabbat Message

www.shalomsa.org

Friday, January 13, 2023
21 Tevet 5783

Shabbat Evening Worship at 6:45 PM

Service Leader: Rabbi Lisa Goldstein
Musical Accompaniment: Mike Stern

Join us here on Zoom
or on YouTube

Of Blessed Memory

Yahrzeits
Leon Cahan - husband of Marga Speicher
Julia Adler - grandmother of Lisa Goldstein
Jane Prather - mother of Barbara Silverstein
Scott Langdale - brother of Lacey Dalby
Albert Michelson - stepfather of Adele Herzstein
Dorothy Jenkins - mother of Dorothy Marton

Sunday, January 15, 2023
22 Tevet 5783
Kesher at 9:30 AM

D'VAR TORAH
Torah Reading
Sh'mot: Exodus 1:1- 6:1

“These are the names of the sons of Israel who came to Egypt with Jacob… Joseph died, and all his brothers, and all that generation… But the Israelites were fertile and prolific; they multiplied and increased very greatly, so that the land was filled with them.” So begins the Book of Exodus, which we begin reading this Shabbat. We learn that a new Pharaoh arose who “did not know Joseph,” and who so greatly feared being overpowered by the Israelites that he enslaved them. You can read Sh’mot here.

One of the best-known and most powerful images that comes from this parasha is Moses being called by God at the burning bush. I made a connection recently that I hadn’t made previously.

During the dramatic scene at the burning bush, when God calls upon Moses to return to Egypt to beseech Pharaoh to let the Israelites go free, Moses asks God what he should tell the Israelites when they ask God’s name. God responds, “Ehyeh-Asher-Ehyeh,”(“I will be what I will be”) and then continues, “Thus shall you speak to the Israelites: Adonai the God of your ancestors, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob — has sent me to you: This shall be My name forever…” (Exodus 3:15)

Did you catch the connection I made?

Normally, in Jewish prayer, if a sentence begins with the words “Blessed are You, Adonai, our God,” we expect the next words to be “Sovereign of the universe.” And in most instances, that’s the case. However in the first blessing of the T’filah/Amidah, we instead say, “…and God of our ancestors...,” followed by "God of..." each of our patriarchs and matriarchs (a modern addition).

It seems clear that the author of the T’filah/Amidah is linking the prayer to the scene at the burning bush. The phrase “God of your/their ancestors, God of Abraham, God of Isaac, and God of Jacob” appears three times in this one scene alone, and nowhere else in the Torah! Why else would they repeat “God of” for each of the patriarchs, rather than simply saying God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob?

Making this connection enables us to understand the T’filah in a whole new light. One possible example is the voice: In the T’filah, the voice appears, at first glance, to be the worshiper speaking to God. But in the biblical narrative, it is God speaking to Moses. Connecting this to our prayer, we may want to consider a change in voice, starting out not by speaking, but by listening. God is calling to us, like God called to Moses at that very first moment of encounter. What might we hear in this moment of prayer if we listen very carefully?

In addition, God is sharing new information with Moses – his true lineage. Moses was raised in Pharaoh’s palace since he was just a few days old; he never knew his birth family. He likely sees Pharaoh as his father and Jethro as his adopted father — the one whose family he marries into. Now, however, God reminds Moses of his real lineage: Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. For us as worshipers, this is a powerful reminder of our own connection to our past – both personal and communal. L’dor va-dor – from generation to generation – we are reminded of our familial ancestors, and we are reminded that we are each a link in a very long chain of tradition that extends from the past, to the present, and into the future.

This week, as we celebrate Shabbat Tzedek – Justice Shabbat, honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s legacy, the lessons connecting the T’filah and our Torah portion are particularly relevant and resonant. Just as Moses heard God’s call, so did Dr. King hear God’s call to serve. While Dr. King didn’t free an entire nation, nor did he enjoy the same success Moses did, still he answered the call to justice and spurred on a movement that continues to this day, albeit much too slowly. If we listen carefully, we can hear not only God’s voice, but Dr. King’s voice calling us as well, and as Reform Jews, we are obligated to answer “Hineini” – Here I am, ready and willing to do my part to repair our broken world.

Shabbat Tzedek connects us as well to some of the giants of Judaism, including Rabbis Abraham Joshua Heschel, Alexander Schindler, and Maurice Eisendrath (the last two, former presidents of the Reform Movement), who all marched alongside Dr. King, both physically and metaphorically. They are but a few shining examples of the prophetic vision upon which Reform Judaism is built; they are our ancestors upon whose shoulders we stand.

There is a full weekend of MLK events happening. There are two community-wide events that I encourage you to attend. See the box below for more detailed information:

On Sunday, January 15 at 4:30 pm, there will be an Interfaith Service held at St Gerard's Catholic Church, 1523 Iowa St, 78203. I have been invited to offer the benediction.
On Monday, January 16, San Antonio will hold the largest MLK March in the country. The route is 2.5 miles long, and it’s a leisurely stroll. The Jewish community will gather and walk together. Free buses are available from the JCC and from Temple Beth-El however you must reserve your spot in advance.

But first, I have planned a special service for this Shabbat Tzedek – this Justice Shabbat, with readings and a sermon that reflect the theme. And I’m absolutely delighted that Mike will be back at the piano tomorrow night! I hope you’ll join me – in person if at all possible – to honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s legacy tomorrow at 6:45 pm at House of Prayer.

To add or remove a name to/from our Mi Shebeirach (Prayer for Healing) list, visit our website at
https://shalomsa.org/mi-shebeirach-prayer-for-healing/

If you or a loved one is in the hospital or ill at home and would appreciate a call or a visit, please let Rabbi Lisa know.
Email: lisa@shalomsa.org or call: (210) 474-6082

City-Wide MLK Interfaith Service
Sunday, January 15 at 4:30 pm

Don't miss the
36th Annual City-Wide Interfaith Worship Service
and reception in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr.
Join us in person on
Sunday, January 15 at 4:30 pm
St. Gerard's Catholic Church
1523 Iowa St., 78203
-OR-
Save THIS LINK to view the live stream of the service.
This year's featured speaker will be Andrea Vocab Sanderson,
the first Black Poet Laureate of San Antonio.

Join the Jewish community as we march together in the 35th Annual MLK March and Legacy Celebration.
The full march route is 2.75 miles and is the LARGEST in the United States!

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY!
We are hiring an Administrative Assistant.
This is a part-time, 12-15 hours/week,
contract (1099) position. It is mostly remote, with an occasional need to be on-site (i.e. High Holy Days).
For job description and application information, click here.

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Prayer: A 3-Part Series

Sundays, 1:30-3:00 pm
In-person at House of Prayer Lutheran Church
10226 Ironside Drive, 78230
Each session will stand on its own;
together, they form a cohesive series.
There is no fee for these classes

January 29 - Why Pray?

What is the purpose of prayer, according to Judaism? What can we hope to achieve? Is God listening? And if we can't know, why bother?

February 26 - Movement in Prayer

When do we bend and bow, stand and sit, go on tiptoes, cover our eyes, and all those other strange movements we see at services? What do they mean, and why do we do them?

March 26 - The Music of Prayer

How do you decide which music to use for each of the prayers or for each service? Why is the music for High Holy Days so different than for Shabbat? And what's with all the new melodies? Can't we just sing the ones we know already?

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Intermediate Hebrew Reading for Adults
Wednesdays from 6:00-6:55 pm
began January 11 for 12 sessions
but you can still join the class if you register this week!
Fee: $72 non-members, no charge for members

This is the continuation of Hebrew Reading for Beginners. You know the Hebrew letters and vowels and can read Hebrew words. You want to learn to read the prayers more fluently and understand what they mean. This is the class for you! In addition to getting lots of reading practice, we'll learn prayer vocabulary and the (VERY) basic building blocks of Hebrew grammar.

Textbook: Aleph Isn't Enough

REGISTER FOR
INTERMEDIATE HEBREW

TONIGHT!
The Wellness Institute invites you to join them for this parenting and mental health event:

THURSDAY, JANUARY 12
7:00-8:30 PM CST

We know that a parent's effectiveness in lovingly setting limits with their child directly impacts their child's overall well-being, yet most parents struggle with this.

Dr. Brenner is a leading parenting expert whose "connect before you correct" method has helped countless parents build a strong relationship with their children as a foundation of understanding and trust for effective connection and limit-setting with their child.

For questions and scholarships, email info@wellnessinstitute.org
Produced by the Wellness Institute, a division of the Rohr Jewish Learning Institute (JLI)

Sponsor an Oneg Shabbat!

Do you have a birthday or anniversary coming up in our family? Sponsor an Oneg Shabbat to celebrate your simcha (joyous occasion)! Your donation of $36 helps to cover the cost of wine, baked and paper goods, and soft drinks. If you prefer, bake or purchase brownies, cookies, or cake to donate. If you bring a large batch, we can store them in the freezer for a later date. Please let Sondra Singer know if you can bake.

We are Grateful to...

...Cobb and Min Mutter - for their gift to the Oneg Fund

TO MAKE A DONATION

P.O. Box 700187
San Antonio, TX 78270

or use the link below to donate by credit card

NO FEES with Zelle!

We can now accept payments and donations through Zelle with no fees to either you or to Congregation Shalom! You can find us by scanning the QR code in this box or by searching Congregation Shalom of San Antonio at lisa@shalomsa.org.

Congregation Shalom of San Antonio
PO Box 700187
San Antonio, TX 78270

Congregation Shalom phone number:
(210) 474-6082

Invite a Friend to Join Congregation Shalom

NOW is always the perfect time to become a member of Congregation Shalom! Invite your friends to our joyful and friendly Shabbat services and extend a warm invitation to join our congregation.

Congregation Shalom Membership Applications

If you or someone you know would like to become a member of Congregation Shalom, please contact Rabbi Lisa at Lisa@shalomsa.org or (210) 474-6082 for an application or visit our website.

If you see or experience an act of antisemitism, report it:

Report to ADL (Anti-Defamation League)
Report to JCRC (Jewish Community Relations Council of Jewish Federation of San Antonio)

COMMUNITY NEWS AND UPCOMING OPPORTUNITIES

EVERYONE NEEDS A LITTLE HELP SOMETIMES!

If you do, or if you know someone who does, please reach out to the Hebrew Free Loan Association of San Antonio. Donations are also very
welcome! Please click HERE for more information.

SAJSS SHABBAT DELIVERIES

This Week