The New Shul

Miketz/Hanukah

Rabbi Levi Yitzhak of Berditchev taught that, just as the lighting of a flame is the essence of observing Hanukah, so it is the essence of every mitzvah. A true mitzvah is an expression of the sacred spark that is hidden deep inside us. Whenever we perform a sacred deed — an act of worship or an act of compassion — we make that hidden spark more visible to ourselves and to others. We cause it to burn more brightly, like a candle in the darkness.

The ancient rabbis taught that the purpose of the Hanukah lights is pirsum ha-nes, making the miracle known. The same can be said of all mitzvot. The greatest miracle of all is that each human being has a spark of the divine within. Through every sacred deed that we perform, we increase awareness of that miracle and bring light into the darkness.

  • Shabbat services at The New Shul are on Friday evenings from 6 to 7 pm, and on Saturday mornings from 9 am to 12 noon. The kiddush this Shabbat is sponsored by Jason and Carey Lamm and by Esperanza Andujar in memory of Esperanza’s parents and in honor of her birthday.
  • Childcare is available from 10 am to noon on Shabbat mornings. Learning services for children this Shabbat are: Beyond Bim Bom for grades K to 3, from 10:30 to 11:15 am, and Tween Tefillah for grades 4 to 6, from 10:15 to 11:30 am.
  • This Shabbat afternoon Dec. 24, after kiddush, Rabbi Yosef Garcia of Congregation Avdey Torah Hayah will speak about his work with descendents of Crypto Jews in the Latino community who are returning to Judaism. Childcare will be provided.   Chil   C
  • This Saturday night Dec. 24, join us for our annual Hanukah Coffee House at 7:30 pm. The cost is $5 at the door.
  • Minyanim during the week are on Sunday mornings at 9:30 am, and on Wednesday mornings at 7 am. \
  • On Sunday Dec. 25, The New Shul community will participate in a valley-wide social-action day, sponsored by a consortium of local synagogues. Please contact us for information on how you can participate.
  • On Sunday Jan. 1, The New Shul community will serve meals to the hungry at St. Vincent de Paul’s Jackson St. dining room. Please let us know if you can help.
  • The annual meeting of The New Shul community is on Sunday Jan. 22 at 10:30 am.