A Blessing for a Community of Blessings

 

At the end of the secular year, we encounter numerous lists of all the things that happened in the past year.  For us as Jews, it is all too easy to focus only on the terrible things that have been happening, of which 2024 has held a record number. 

Yet, I’d like to focus on the positives that have occurred for our synagogue.  NSJC in 2024 has accomplished some wonderful things. 

Starting with Israel we have:

-          Contributed to IsraAid as a community.

-          Supported the family of slain Israeli police commander Vadim Bich, HY’D, who was killed responding to the October 7^th attacks.

-          We raised funds to dedicate a Torah mantle in memory of Sgt. Omer Smadja, HY’D, killed in battle in Gaza.  This was part of the worldwide Mizrachi Movement campaign to dedicate mantles in memory of all those killed on October 7^th and in the aftermath.

-          We held a community-wide October 7^th memorial and were joined by our friends at Temple Isaiah and by local leaders.

-          We had a hugely successful drive to collect supplies for the IDF with Temple Isaiah and Terri’s Angels.

In our own community:

-          2024 saw the very successful gala honoring Marcie Platkin, our executive director and Mary Ellen Shouler our bookkeeper.

-          We also had the wonderful Dueling Pianos event this year.

-          Religious school held its second annual Veterans Day program.

-          Sisterhood, Men’s Club, the Seniors, the religious school, membership and others have hosted many programs to bring the community together. 

-          Our Toddler & Me group expanded to meet not just monthly on the first Sunday of the month but also to meet once a month on Shabbat for a Tot Shabbat service conducted by our b’nai mitzvah students. 

Our community is a blessing, and it provides many blessings.  The proper blessing for a community so dedicated to doing good deeds is recorded in the commentary of Rashi.  When the Israelites complete the work on the Mishkan, God’s Tabernacle, we are told that Moses blesses the people.  The Torah does not record his words, but the scholar Rashi provides what he thinks they are.  They are the blessing I gratefully share with all of you for the new secular year ahead:    

Yehi ratzon shetishreh haShechinah b’chol ma’asei yedaichem

 

“May it be the will of God that the Shechinah, the Divine Presence, find a dwelling place in all the work your hands do.”