IN THIS ISSUE: Message and Announcements from Rabbi David Torah Talk for your Table - Shmot: Mindfulness Upcoming Events for the BEBY NEXTgen Community (for all age groups): - THIS WEEK: FAMILY HAVDALLAH, PIZZA, and PARSHA -RIVKA CAMPBELL and THE EXPERIENCE OF JEWS OF COLOUR BEBY NEXTgen Community Connection - NEW: Kids Pre-Shabbat Party with Mora Debbie - NEW: Bialik Parent Speaker Series - Challenges Families Face During Covid - Teen Community Service opportunity - Toronto Community Havdallah Service - January 16, 2021
Shalom Everyone,
I hope you are all doing well and your 2021 is off to a good start and you are successfully leading your best Covid life, with all the ups and downs that offers.
For the parents here, I'm sure you were looking forward to sending our kids back-to-school in the week ahead, but as of this morning, they are back-to-HOME-school. I am so grateful to the schools and teachers for all their hard work creating meaningful virtual classrooms, but making sure that the kids are "in" all their classes and paying attention as much as possible isn't always easy. What are your strategies to keep your kids focussed on their Zoom classes and getting their work done?
As a community we are all here to support each other. If you need an ear to listen, help finding resources and other supports your families need, please don't hesitate. With the colder weather outside, it is so important that we all take care of our mental and physical health and your Beth Emeth community is here for you. Please do not hesitate to reach out.
FLYERS FOR ALL UPCOMING PROGRAMS BELOW!!! (For programs from the broader Beth Emeth Community, visit the Beth Emeth website: www.beby.org.)
At 6:30pm we will join together, as families, for a Havdallah sing-along, followed by a family-oriented learning experience. We will learn about the weekly Torah reading and how it is relevant and inspirational for each one of us.
After the brief learning opportunity, we can all share a meal together. Maybe Uber Eats yourself a Pizza to arrive at 7pm? I suggest pizza because "Pizza and Parshah" sounds fun (yay alliteration), but really, you should feel free to have whatever you love! Obviously, if it wasn't for Covid and we were together in person, Pizza would be provided.
I'd love to see you and your families there.
We are also looking to create a NEXTgen Team of volunteers who are lookng to make things happen for the benefit of their friends, families, and our community in general. If you are interested in getting involved, pease let me know!
For more information about what is happening check out www.beby.org.
SHABBAT SHALOM!!!
Rabbi David, Director of Ritual and NEXTgen Community rabbidavid@beby.org
TORAH TALK FOR THE TABLE with Rabbi David
Shmot - Mindfulness
Our parshah begins with Pharaoh making the entire nation of Israel into slaves. After 210 years of slavery, Moshe (Moses) is born and is chosen by HaShem to lead the nation from slavery to freedom.
When HaShem tells Moshe his mission, Moshe is not excited. He recognizes all the challenges that he will face to fulfill his mission. HaShem tries to calm him down and says that "I will be with you". HaShem even goes on to say that "I will be as I will be" is one of His names.
God's message to Moshe is one of mindfulness. Moshe needs to learn that everything that is happening is because HaShem wants it to be that way. HaShem is telling Moshe that even when we feel scared and unsure of our selves HaShem is there. The same is true when we feel confident; HaShem is there.
HaShem will always be there and when we are mindful of that, we can calmly observe our situations and act as we feel appropriate and we can trust that eventually, even if it feels like we are trapped right now, freedom is on its way soon.
Questions for Discussion:
1. If God came to you and said you were going to free millions of slaves from the most powerful nation in the world with the biggest army, how would that make you feel?
2. Do you think Moshe felt better after HaShem said that He will be there when Moshe goes to Pharaoh? Why?
3. What are some times you felt trapped? What are some times you felt free?
4. What is a way that you can feel free all the time?
UNIT ONE, Connecting to Israel and how that impacts Jewish Identity is now complete. You can watch the recorded programs here . UNIT TWO - The Mitzvah in Bnai Mitzvah will be starting at the end of January. Watch for the full program description and flyer, coming soon.
You can still register your kids for the rest of this year's Bnai Mitzvah Experience.
If you have a child who recently had, or is about to have their Bar or Bat Mitzvah, this program is for you. It will be fun, experiencial, educational, engaging, thought provoking and will give your Bnai Mitzvah kids a real sense of connection to our local and broader Jewish community. Sign up here!
UPCOMING EVENTS
BEBY NEXTgen Community Connection
In this section we will be including programs, articles, links, and updates from our community members. It is one way we can all support each other - as a community!
Beth Emeth Bais Yehuda Synagogue 100 Elder Street Toronto, ON M3H 5G7
