Parshat Ki Tissa

In this week’s parashah, Ki Tissa, we read the story of the golden calf. The Talmud teaches that, when God said to Moses, “Go down [from the mountain] because your people has sinned,” Moses lost his strength, to the point that he could not speak. But when God went further and said “Leave me alone so that I may destroy them,” Moses said to himself “This thing depends on me.” At that moment Moses regained his strength and began to argue with God on the people’s behalf, until God changed his mind.

The point is that, when we realize that we are needed, we find reservoirs of strength that we did not know we had. Far from depleting our energy, the awareness that “this thing depends on me” renews our energy.

That is one of the secrets of true community. We gain strength from the support of others — but even more importantly, we gain strength from knowing that others need our support, that they depend on us. Being needed makes us grow.

May we all find strength, and give strength, in caring for each other.

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, February 15, is sponsored by Jodi Fialkin and Sandra Fialkin in honor of the naming of Jaimie and Stephanie Fialkins’ new daughter.
Childcare is available from 10 am to 12 noon on Shabbat mornings.
Minyanim during the week are on Sunday mornings at 9:30 am and on Wednesday mornings at 7 am.
On Presidents Day, Monday February 17, The New Shul community will serve meals to the hungry at St. Vincent de Paul’s Jackson St. dining room. We are in need of volunteers, so please let us know if you can help.
On Shabbat morning February 22, we will celebrate the bar mitzvah of Nathaniel Anbar, son of Ariel and Marni Anbar.
On Shabbat morning March 15, our guest teacher will be Dr. Steven Kepnes, professor of religious studies at Colgate University.
Saturday night March 15 is Erev Purim. Please join us for our megillah reading and shpiel beginning at 7:45.