The following is a Hasidic parable about how earning our destiny, even if the road is hard, is always better than being given something for free. Shabbat Shalom!

The rabbi of Kobryn told this story:

 "When I was young I once spent Purim with my teacher Rabbi Mordecai of Lekhovitz. In the middle of the meal he cried: Today is the day of gifts, the hour for giving has come. Whoever reaches out his hand, will get from me whatever strength in the service of God he desires for himself.'

There are many in the Jewish world that lament the steep drop off in engagement of young men and women after their Bar or Bat Mitzvah.  As a result, a lot of money and time has been spent trying to figure out how to keep these young Jews engaged in their teen years.  What is interesting is that the solution can be found in a midrash (a teaching) from 2000 years ago:

As part of our continued series of speeches from our weekend with the RAC below is a speech by Alex Math and Anna Curran on LGBTQ Rights. The views that follow are those of the Religious Action Center, the political advocacy wing of the Reform movement, and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Temple Beth David.

As part of our continued series of speeches from our weekend with the RAC below is a speech by Joey Kosover, Freshman, and Zoey Carim, Senior, on criminal justice reform. The views that follow are those of the Religious Action Center, the political advocacy wing of the Reform movement, and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Temple Beth David:

On Monday at 7pm Temple Beth David in concert with the JCC will host author Marc Dollinger as he discusses Jewish-Black relations.  I really hope you will be able to join us for what promises to be a fascinating look at the civil rights movement of the 60’s as well as our current social climate.  What follows is an interview from NPR by Leah Donella with Marc Dollinger about his book, “Black power, Jewish Politics”.  I look forward to seeing many of you Monday night:

On Friday night at Ruach Shabbat I asked everyone to think about one thing that happened to them in the past week that they were grateful for.  The reason we opened the service with this is exercise is because expressing gratitude has been found to be spiritually significant.  When we express gratitude that is specific and linked to others it has a host of spiritual side effects for our souls.

A Pew study has good news for Jews in pews and dues-paying Hebrews — going to synagogue, or regularly engaging with any religious community, really does make you happier.

Visit Forward.com to read the rest of the article, written by Jennifer Singer on February 10, 20, 2019.

Forward.com

One of my favorite things about sports are the metaphors that are created for me from watching the game.  This past weekend watching the Superbowl I began to contemplate how the game I was watching helped me understand the nature of people’s connection to God.  A football team is two things at the same time:  On the one hand it is a group of individuals with individual characteristics, personalities, egos and skills.  At the same time they are a team who function as one unit.