There are a lot of problems in the world.  Our tradition teaches, “you are not required to finish the work but neither are you free to desist from it."  But there is so much wrong in the world how do I know where to start?

Foodstock

During the academic year the Cheshire food pantry receives a steady stream of donations. However, those donations dry up over the summer as minds turn to other activities.  At the end of this month, as a part of the larger Cheshire community, we will have an opportunity to engage in a true act of Gimilut Chasidim with Foodstock. The food pantry is low on food and has asked us to help stock their shelves.

On May 19^th-21^st, members of Temple Beth David went to the Consultation on Conscience, a gathering of 1200 social-justice minded Reform Jews at the Religious Action Center (RAC) in Washington. The following is an article written by TBD member Lori Sudderth and her experience while attending the event:

On May 19^th-21^st, six of us representing Temple Beth David went to the Consultation on Conscience, a gathering of 1200 social-justice minded Reform Jews at the Religious Action Center (RAC)  in Washington, DC. While there, we learned about advocating for legislative and social change about some of the most pressing issues of our times and heard from activists, politicians and leaders within our movement. We prayed, learned and visited our Senatorial and Congressional offices together and came back inspired to affect change in our towns.

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: