Parshat B’hukotai
In the haftarah for parshat Bhukotai, Jeremiah teaches:“Blessed is the man who trusts in God. . . for he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, that spreads out its roots by the river. . . [It] does not worry in a year of drought, nor cease bearing fruit.”
Jeremiah, who struggled a great deal in his life, knew better than to claim that trust in God will save us from bad things. He knew that drought strikes good and bad people alike. What he promised was something else: that when we find ourselves in trouble, our trust in God will make it possible for us to persevere, to keep bearing fruit. At times when our normal sources of nourishment are cut off, faith will provide a deeper source of strength.
One of the purposes of a spiritual community is to help us to discover deeper sources of nourishment in our own lives, so that during times of drought, we too can still bear fruit.
- 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, May 17, is sponsored by Jeff and Laura Karp.
- Childcare is available from 10 am to 12 noon on Shabbat mornings.Munchkin Minyan for pre-schoolers and parents meets this Shabbat from 11 to 11:30 am.
- Minyanim during the week are on Sunday mornings at 9:30 am and Wednesday mornings at 7 am.
- The New Shul will host the Women’s Jewish Learning Center’s annual siyyum (concluding program) on Sunday May 18 at 2 pm.
- Join us for our Tikkun Leil Shavuot, our all-night study vigil on the night of Shavuot, Tuesday June 3 beginning at 9 pm. Our theme this year is The Mussar of Mount Sinai. We will explore the character traits that we can cultivate to help us to be more open to revelation in our lives. The Tikkun will end with morning prayers outdoors at sunrise on Wednesday morning.
- The New Shul is collecting food donations for “Just Three Things,” to help young adults who have aged out of the foster care system. Please bring packaged items that are either ready-to-eat or require only microwave preparation. Contact usto arrange a drop-off time.