Spring and Summer weather is here. The sun is shining and we are all breaking out of our "hibernation". This time though, it is not only weather that kept us in, but the Covid pandemic has us indoors and more socially isolated than ever before.
With more and more people being fully vaccinated, there are certain parts of life that seem to be getting back to "normal".
With camp on the horizon, many overnight camps have asked their families to quarantine for 14 days to ensure everyone stays Covid-free, so that all who want to participate in the camp experience will have their chance.
Getting out and seeing people is so important for our mental, spiritual, and even physical feelings of well-being. Meanwhile, we all must still remain vigilant to ensure that we all stay healthy. Even though it may feel like this "game" has gone on long enough, by acting to take care of our own health and the health of everyone else in our communities, we can reap the rewards of a carefully executed job-well-done. SCROLL DOWN FOR MORE PROGRAMMING INFORMATION!
TORAH TALK FOR THE TABLE with Rabbi David
Parshat CHUKAT - Staying Healthy Parshat Chukat jumps 39 year. It takes us from the start of the second year after we left Egypt to the 40th year - before the nation of Israel enters the land of Israel. Once again, the people compain about being thirsty and wonder if Egyptian slavery is better than freedom in Israel. HaShem, through Moshe, provides fresh water but soon after, we complain again and this time poisonous snakes come after the people.
Moshe constructs a copper snake on top of a very tall staff and tell the nation that if they look at it, they will be saved and healed from the onslaught of snakes.
How could a copper snake heal the people?
The Hebrew word for snake is Nachash נחש. The Hebrew for copper is Nechoshet נחשת. The copper snake helped the people remember that HaShem is in charge and that some illnesses are treated with something that might look similar to the same problem.
The Covid vaccine (and all vaccines) work by putting something similar to the virus into our bodies to teach our bodies how to fight the sickness. Moshe's Nachash Nechoshet was like a vaccine for the attack of the snakes.
Questions for Discussion: 1. Why do you think the people keep asking to go back to Egypt? 2. How many years does Parshat Chukat cover? 3. Where in modern society do we see the symbol of a snake around a staff? 4. What are other examples of something good and something bad looking similar, even though they are very different?
Shabbat Shalom!
Coming Soon from :
Upcoming Programs include:
Social action Family Shabbat Bnai Mitzvah Experience Guest Speakers Pizza and Parsha Kids Programming Holiday Parties Choose Your Own High Holiday Adventure....
AND MUCH MORE!
So, stay tuned for upcoming events and programs, which can be found at beby.org
BEBY NEXTgen Community Connection
Do know a Jewish student starting university in Ontario this fall?
Hillel Ontario, your home for Jewish campus life, will send them a welcome gift package! We will also enroll them in our newsletters so they don’t miss out on Jewish programming, opportunities to make new friends and other great events.
Let Hillel welcome your first year student to campus before they even arrive.
For more information about what is happening at Beth Emeth check out www.beby.org.
SHABBAT SHALOM!!!
Rabbi David, Director of Ritual and NEXTgen Community rabbidavid@beby.org
Beth Emeth Bais Yehuda Synagogue 100 Elder Street Toronto, ON M3H 5G7
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